Jim Jones and his worrisome ties

American Thinker ^ | October 5, 2009 | Ed Lasky

[jazusamo]

America's National Security Adviser Jim Jones over the weekend gave a pass to Iran, dismissing concerns that the regime had a nuclear arms program that was dangerously close to success. He stood by the 2007 National Intelligence Estimate that was widely criticized as being grievously flawed when it stated that Iran did not have a nuclear weapons program. That report was discredited two years ago but apparently Jones has his finger to the wind and changed his mind to suit his political patrons. But this shifting to suit politicians is par for the course for him -- he has also done it regarding Afghanistan

Might there be other reasons that Jones gives Iran the benefit of the doubt, despite its long history of killing Americans, lying about its nuclear program, defying UN Security Council resolutions, sponsoring terrorism around the world?

A bit of a biographical sketch might raise some qualms about his veracity and neutrality.

He certainly has a history that concerns the Israelis -- who would bear the brunt of an Iranian nuclear attack.

Condi Rice chose him to be the US security coordinator for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. That ruffled feathers years ago in Israel because of his own record when he was the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Energy.

From Haaretz:

Israeli sources say that Jones is not a favorable choice because of his blatantly cool attitude to Israel.

They point to the fact that in his current position, he has sought to expand trade with Gulf States and has expressed opposition to American laws barring U.S. firms from joining the Arab boycott of Israel.

During this last role, which includes Israel in the group of 91 countries in the geographical area, Jones' cool attitude toward Israel was noteworthy compared to some of his predecessors, such as Alexander Haig and Wesley Clark.

He later wrote a report that was apparently scathing towards Israel regarding its actions in the West Bank. The report was shelved.

When he left the Bush administration he joined the boards of Boeing and Chevron-both with strong interests in currying favor with the oil rich Middle East nations.

He also joined the Atlantic Council, headed by former Senator Chuck Hagel-well-known for his anti-Israel attitudes and actions over the years. .

Coincidentally enough -- or maybe not so coincidentally -- the Vice-Chairman of the Atlantic Council is none other than Charles (Chas) Freeman, whose record on behalf of Saudi Arabia and the Chinese government is shameful. Also, Freeman has compiled his own record of anti-Israel actions and statements, that later manifested itself in anti-Semitic tirades about the Jewish lobby in America when he was compelled to pull his nomination for the Chairmanship of the National Intelligence Council.

Anyone have any qualms?

[GonzoGOP]

National Security Adviser Jim Jones

I would make some comment about drinking the Koolaid, but it is just too easy.

Obama wants Iran to have the bomb. They should just come out and admit it so Israel can get on with the war.

[jazusamo]

Please bump the Freepathon and donate if you haven’t done so!

[Dogbert41]

Israel isn’t just another little nation. Every single time someone puts their hands on the Bible and swears an oath, they do so on a Book they recognize (or not) as the Word of God. That Book is mostly about a nation called Israel and how God is concerned about that nation. And how history is wrapped around God and His dealing with that nation. Even most Christians are ignorant as to the importance of Israel to God and therefore to our own well being.

WE ELECTED a man to office as OUR LEADER who could give a rats ass to the welfare of Israel, or her people. And WE AS A PEOPLE are being judged for that. And the judgement is only just barely beginning.

[r9etb]

That Book is mostly about a nation called Israel and how God is concerned about that nation. And how history is wrapped around God and His dealing with that nation. Even most Christians are ignorant as to the importance of Israel to God and therefore to our own well being.

That's probably not the best argument to make. How many times did God send bad guys out to destroy Israel...?

[mazda77]

Jones was an inside the beltway product from his erly days as the military liason for the Senate under his then boss Capt. John McCain. He is also very chummy with the Clintons, especially Hillary and he had to serve under four different officers in the Pentagon during the Bush years when he had more time in grade than any of those he served under.

Nothing to hang the guy over but it sure could build a case for inside the beltway sour grapes.

[TexasRepublic]

Is that guy a reincarnation of the last Jim Jones?

[jazusamo]

I’ve read he was a ticket puncher as he was rising in the Marines and was not liked by some in the Corps, don’t know it to be fact.

[jazusamo]

I sure hope not. :)

[arthurus]

Wasn’t Jim Jones once associated with a failed business venture- CEO, I think,- that outsourced to Guyana?

[A.A. Cunningham]

The most important thing to know about Jones:

Jones spent his formative years in France

he had to serve under four different officers in the Pentagon during the Bush years when he had more time in grade than any of those he served under.

Who would those officers have been?

[mazda77]

The Marine Corps had only recently begun to take on a larger share of high-level assignments in the Department of Defense. As of December 2006, Jones was one of five serving Marine Corps four-star general officers who outranked the current commandant of the Marine Corps (General James T. Conway) in terms of seniority and time in grade — the others being Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace; former commandant Michael Hagee, commander of U.S. Strategic Command James E. Cartwright, and Assistant Commandant Robert Magnus.[5]

I spent three years as a dependent in Fontainbleau, France. I hated the place and was so happy to be back in the states but missed my mother’s famiily in Bavaria.

[Ben Ficklin]

"The most important thing to know about Jones"

The more important thing to know is that Ed Lasky, author of the above article, is a screaming neocon.

The dems know that the neocons in the Bush administration drove the GOP into the dirt and caused the GOP bloodbaths of 2006 and 2008. The dems won't make that same mistake.

So, the most important thing to know about Jones is that he is a realist/pragmatist. Like Gates, Scowcroft, Powell, Kissinger, etc.

[SunkenCiv]

America's National Security Adviser Jim Jones over the weekend gave a pass to Iran, dismissing concerns that the regime had a nuclear arms program that was dangerously close to success. He stood by the 2007 National Intelligence Estimate that was widely criticized as being grievously flawed when it stated that Iran did not have a nuclear weapons program.

Notice the spin? Not "President Obama's National Security Adviser" or "Obama's National Security Adviser" or even just "National Security Adviser", but "America's..."

[Dogbert41]

and where are they now?