William & Mary Honors War Criminal
William & Mary Honors War Criminal
May 17, 2015
Exclusive: Condoleezza Rice has crossed the threshold into esteemed celebrity a welcomed speaker at this years College of William and Mary commencement despite her record as the liar who sold the illegal war in Iraq and choreographed torture at CIA black sites, writes ex-CIA analyst Ray McGovern.
By Ray McGovern
Nothing better illustrates the extent to which the United States has turned its back on the rule of law than when the likes of Condoleezza Rice are asked to address graduates and receive doctoral degrees honoris causa at university commencements. Ms. Rice in my view a war criminal was accorded those honors Saturday by the College of William and Mary, the second-oldest college in the U.S.
Unlike Rices other university appearances in recent years, there was not the slightest sign of unhappiness, let alone protest. Most of the graduating seniors were not yet ten years old in 2003 when Rice played a key role helping President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney launch a war of aggression against Iraq. So, the graduates ignorance may perhaps be understandable, but it does not speak well for their grasp of recent history.
It is far less excusable for the patrician leadership of William and Mary to have bestowed this honor on Rice. Did the news not penetrate their ivory tower that last year Ms. Rice was prevented from being accorded similar honors by irate students at Rutgers University, who were sickened at the thought that their commencement would be sullied by Rices presence?
One of the leaders of the No Rice campaign at Rutgers last year (a senior at the time), Carmelo Cintrón Vivas, told Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! that the students felt that war criminals shouldnt be honored.
Someone who has such a tainted record as a public servant in this country should not
get an honorary law degree for trying to circumvent the law.
Thats not fair to any student graduating or not graduating at Rutgers University.
More:
https://consortiumnews.com/2015/05/17/william-mary-honors-war-criminal/
underpants
(182,802 posts)I grew right down the road. W&M has embarrassed themselves.
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)Rep. Donna Edwards, Col. Lawrence Wilkerson visiting prof., or alum Jon Stewart again, someone deserving respect, not a war criminal.
Solly Mack
(90,766 posts)People want to forget, which says a lot about them - none of it good.
QC
(26,371 posts)Margaret Thatcher also held that position at one time.
They have a history of sucking up on right wing assholes.
xocet
(3,871 posts)by Erin Zagursky | May 16, 2015
Education is a privilege and one that bears responsibilities, Condoleezza Rice told William & Marys Class of 2015 Saturday morning.
So as you leave, I ask you to bear a few things in mind: Be passionate about what you choose to do in life; use your powers of reason; cultivate humility; remain optimistic and always try to serve others and the goals of freedom and justice, she said.
...
William & Mary Chancellor and former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates 65, who served with Rice for several years on the Cabinet of the United States, also spoke at the ceremony, telling members of the Class of 2015 that they have earned a mark of distinction that will serve you well for the rest of your lives a William & Mary degree.
...
http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2015/wm-celebrates-more-than-2,000-new-graduates.php
With Gates as the Chancellor of William and Mary, it seems to be no wonder that Rice was selected to speak. According to the following, Gates and Rice are two of the principals of the firm, RiceHadleyGates LLC: