I'm late to the party, as always, sorry.
My 2 cents
To put the selection process in riders hands is dangerous. To let a rider, or riders have influence over the selection process is dangerous... to not have a clear selection process in place is plain stupid, as even the distinguished MR. Whitelock may have realized by now. The privilege to represent your country at an international event can not be granted based upon subjective views of a selected few. It will NEVER work, there will ALWAYS be debate, arguments, bad blood. It has to be through qualification...i.e, race results and point standings at a certain cut off date. Simple as that.
Brownie got caught in something he should not have been caught in, the lack of capability of the AMA.(..unfortunately this seems to be the only constant with this organisation).
It really doesn't matter if you like Brownie or not, if you think he should go or not...thats not the point. The point is that he was asked to commit and then got canned...and that, in my humble opinion, is wrong.