But while his appointment was foiled, the fact that a man like Freeman was even considered for the post tells us two deeply disturbing things about the climate in Washington these days.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Intelligence and the anti-Israel lobby

It was a tremendous victory for Seamus McEnaney's side, without star man Tommy Freeman, and it will give them great heart and genuine belief that they can at least get back to Croke Park for the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

BBC: Rory's verdict

Mr. Longueuil was the best man at Mr. Freeman's 2009 wedding, and Mr. Freeman was to return the favor this month as a groomsman when Mr. Longueuil got married.

WSJ: They Were Best of Friends, Until the Feds Showed Up

Derry led through Championship debutant Christopher McKaigue but Thomas Freeman was Monaghan's star man and his fifth point clinched the narrow victory.

BBC: Monaghan 1-13 1-12 Derry

In fact, in the course of a long career in the Foreign Service, Freeman served in capacities - notably as ambassador to Saudi Arabia and as the number two man in Embassy Beijing - where the job often is seen as representing the host government to his own, rather than the other way around.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Garbage in, garbage out