Obama's National Intelligence Council pick withdraws

By GottaLaff

Freeman has been the center of controversy for days:

The Daily Beast: Chas Freeman, Obama's pick to head the National Intelligence Council, has withdrawn from contention for the job. The leader of the campaign against Freeman was Steven Rosen, a former director of AIPAC awaiting trial on espionage charges, who has a long history of attacking and undermining anybody he deems hostile to Israel.

From the L.A. Times:

Charles W. Freeman Jr. withdrew Tuesday from his appointment as chairman of the National Intelligence Council after questions about his impartiality were raised among members of Congress and with White House officials. [...]

Freeman had come under fire for statements he had made criticizing Israeli policies and for his past connections to Saudi and Chinese interests.

The National Intelligence Council oversees production of intelligence estimates and shorter assessments on specific issues, tapping experts from among the 16 intelligence agencies. The chairman's position does not require Senate confirmation.