Chas Freeman, under fire for remarks about China’s crackdown in Tiananmen and his connections to Saudi Arabia, has withdrawn his nomination for Chairman of the National Intelligence Council.

Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair announced today that Ambassador Charles W. Freeman Jr. has requested that his selection to be Chairman of the National Intelligence Council not proceed. Director Blair accepted Ambassador Freeman’s decision with regret.

I covered the problems with Freeman here lightly, but the folks at Hot Air have done a much better job. Freeman made his income off of a group directly funded by the House of Saud, so there were concerns about a conflict of interest. But perhaps more important still, he said that China exercised too much restraint in Tiananmen Square. Then we found out the other day that he advocated a national ID system following 9/11.

The National Intelligence Council is responsible for putting out the much-publicized National Intelligence Estimates. It therefore has an important role in driving our nation’s policies. Even considering putting Freeman in such an important role was ill-advised. Does the Obama Administration lack any vetting capabilities? Or did it know about his problems and had no concern about him heading up the NIC?