This week’s news seems to be filled with news and opinion articles on three themes:  Mr. Charles Freeman, President Obama’s intelligence pick who seems to be anti-Israel; Secretary of State Clinton’s visit to the Middle East, and the upcoming Durban 2 conference. 

Please find below various links to news and opinion articles (a ’link dump’ to check out resources that might be of interest):

Mr. Charles W. Freeman, Jr, Intel pick (see press release of February 26):

…”Earlier on Thursday, the Obama White House threw National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair under the bus, saying that the White House had not vetted Freeman’s nomination. And later on Thursday, ‘a person familiar with their conversation’ leaked that New York Senator Charles Schumer ‘privately’ called White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to ‘express concern’ over Freeman’s positions on Israel”… Read the whole blog post

…”Does Freeman really believe that Israel’s actions caused Bin Laden’s terror? Who knows? He’s put forward two completely contradictory explanations”… read the whole piece to learn what Freeman has said in the past

“After I wrote the assessment below of the threat already posed by Obama’s policy towards Israel and the Islamist war against the west, news emerged of a further possible appointment to his administration which exceeds in sheer brazenness the malice even of the others. Chas W. Freeman Jr., a former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, who is tipped to become chairman of the National Intelligence Council, is a piece of work…” Read the whole thing

…”I am reminded of that moment as I watch the all-too-predictable smear campaign against Charles Freeman’s appointment as chairman of the National Intelligence Council.”…

“The Obama administration’s choice for the usually obscure, though important, post as chairman of the National Intelligence Board (NIC) has become their most controversial appointment to date. The reason is not what Charles Freeman Jr. did during his successful diplomatic career but his employment afterward”… Read the whole thing

…”Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL, 10th District), requesting a full investigation into the conflict of interest between Charles “Chas” Freeman’s new position as Chairman of the National Intelligence Council and his long-standing role as a as a public relations advocate for, and all around cheerleader of, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The National Intelligence Council (NIC) has a strong influence on the content of Presidential intelligence briefings and the NIC Chairman is often called upon to directly brief the President..” Read the letter

Secretary of State Clinton’s visit to the Middle East:

…”What’s the story here?
While the ins and outs appear complex, the issue itself is not.
Simply – but damningly – put, world leaders will not rest until an Islamic Arab state called Palestine has arisen on the ruins of the Jewish hope to return home.
Nurtured by millions for thousands of years, it was for the realization of this hope that tears flooded the Exile, and prayers without number rose to God’s throne.
Now, professing friendship at every turn, Crusader Clinton is coming to dash the dream…” Read the whole post

And finally, the upcoming Durban 2 Conference (website of Conference HERE):

…”Barack Obama just added double-dealing to his foreign policy repertoire. On Friday, administration officials led many Jewish leaders to believe that they had decided to boycott the United Nation’s “anti-racism” conference known as Durban II. At the same time, however, human rights organizations were being led to believe that the administration was not pulling out and was looking for a way to “re-engage.” Read the whole “Durban Alert” “The Obama Administration Double-Deals On Durban” fom March 1