PROGRESS ON FREEMAN - AT 7:39 A.M. ET:  We've been monitoring the bizarre appointment of Charles W. Freeman Jr. to head the sensitive National Intelligence Council.  Freeman, as Urgent Agenda readers know, never met a dictatorship he didn't like, and has apparently maintained close relations with some of the more accomplished oppressors, like the Chinese.

The Freeman scandal has been blacked out of virtually the entire liberal press, which may tell us something about modern liberalism's concern for human rights.  But a few outlets, like The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Times, and Fox News, have followed the tale.

Now, thanks to the efforts of several members of Congress, the Freeman appointment will apparently be probed, according to the reliable Eli Lake of the Washington Times:

An independent inspector general will look into the foreign financial ties of Chas W. Freeman Jr., the Obama administration's pick to serve as chairman of the group that prepares the U.S. intelligence community's most sensitive assessments, according to three congressional aides.

The director of national intelligence, Dennis C. Blair, last Thursday named Mr. Freeman, a veteran former diplomat, to the chairmanship of the National Intelligence Council, known inside the government as the NIC. In that job, Mr. Freeman will have access to some of America's most closely guarded secrets and be charged with overseeing the drafting of the consensus view of all 16 intelligence agencies.

His selection was praised by some who noted his articulateness and experience as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia and a senior envoy to China and other nations. But it sparked concerns among some members of Congress from both parties, who asked the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's inspector general, Edward McGuire, to investigate Mr. Freeman's potential conflicts of interest.

So far, so good.  But without major press attention, chances are the appointment will go through.  The press disgrace here is as great as the disgrace of the appointment itself. 

By the way, Robert Gibbs, the White House news secretary, was asked about the Freeman nomination at a press briefing.  He said the White House was unfamiliar with Freeman's views.

Great vetting...again.

March 5, 2009.