By Tim Starks, CQ Staff

The nation’s spy chief is defending his pick to head the National Intelligence Council even as every Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee signaled their qualms about the choice.

In letters sources said were sent March 6 to key lawmakers, including the leaders of both the House and Senate Intelligence committees, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair responded to congressional complaints about Charles W. Freeman Jr.’s former service as president of the Middle East Policy Council and on the board of the China-owned Chinese National Offshore Oil Company.

In a copy of one of the letters obtained Monday by CQ, Blair wrote that the Middle East Policy Council has received no more than a twelfth of its annual budget from Saudi Arabia and does not take stances on issues or lobby; Freeman, he also wrote, did not discuss any of the Chinese company’s dealings with Iran while on the company’s board, a position which provided him with about $10,000 annually. The MEPC job provided Freeman with between $76,000 and $84,000 annually, the letter said.

Freeman, a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has never been a lobbyist, would not serve the director in any policy capacity, and his international-business development firm, Projects International, has never had foreign governments as clients, Blair states.

Blair wrote that an inspector general review of Freeman’s service on the council combined with the security-clearance process, and a required public financial disclosure form “will put to rest any questions about Ambassador Freeman’s suitability, character and financial history.”

Meanwhile, Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee prepared a draft letter to Blair about Freeman’s appointment, a copy of which was provided to CQ by a Republican aide.

The letter stops short of expressing full-throated opposition to the pick, although the Republicans said they were “surprised” by the choice. They cited Freeman’s lack of expertise in intelligence and “highly controversial statements” he has made. Freeman’s critics cite comments he has made about the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and against U.S. support for Israel.

“Given our concerns about Mr. Freeman’s lack of experience and uncertainty about his objectivity, we intend to devote even more oversight scrutiny to the activities of the NIC under his leadership,” the senators wrote.

The letter was slated to be signed by GOP Sens. Christopher S. Bond of Missouri, the top Republican on the panel; Richard M. Burr of North Carolina; Saxby Chambliss of Georgia; Tom Coburn of Oklahoma; Orrin G. Hatch of Utah; Jim Risch of Idaho; and Olympia J. Snowe of Maine.