Monday, March 9, 2009

WASHINGTON — Under pressure by Congress, the U.S. intelligence community has agreed to investigate links connecting the new chairman of the National Intelligence Council to China and Saudi Arabia.   

Charles Freeman, right, meets Chinese President Hu Jintao at a 2006 reception in Washington.

Members of Congress have raised concerns over the fact that Charles Freeman, former ambassador to Riyad, served as a board member of the state-owned China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) and has been a longtime lobbyist for Saudi Arabia in Washington.

National Intelligence director Dennis Blair has agreed to an investigation of Freeman's connections and to his fitness to serve in the sensitive post.

Officials said Freeman, appointed on Feb. 26, would be asked to respond to the concerns of the House members. They said Freeman would be given 30 days to identify and resolve potential financial conflicts of interest.

In 2007, NIE asserted that Iran had terminated its nuclear weapons program in 2003, a claim later renounced by senior officials in the Bush administration.

In a March 5 letter, House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner and party whip Rep. Eric Cantor said Freeman served on an international advisory board of the China-owned CNOOC.

In 2007, the Chinese firm signed a $16 billion agreement with Iran to develop an oil field.

Under the decision, the inspector-general of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence would probe Freeman's background. Since 1997, Freeman was president of the Middle East Policy Council, which he acknowledged had received funds from Saudi Arabia.

"We hope this will put to rest any questions about ambassador Freeman's suitability, character and financial history," Blair said.

In his new post, Freeman would report to Blair and his deputy, Peter Lavoy.

House Republicans told Blair that Freeman's annual salary of $87,000 was paid by Riyad. In 2006, Freeman said Saudi Arabia contributed funds but indicated that the amount was negligible.