William & Mary Honors War Criminal

[Judi Lynn]

William & Mary Honors War Criminal
May 17, 2015

Exclusive: Condoleezza Rice has crossed the threshold into esteemed celebrity – a welcomed speaker at this year’s 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 Rice’s 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 Rice’s 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 shouldn’t 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. … That’s 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]

1. Embarassing

I grew right down the road. W&M has embarrassed themselves.

[appalachiablue]

2. Feel bad for the grads., reflects poor on the school admin. Next year ask Sen. Eliz. Warren,

Rep. Donna Edwards, Col. Lawrence Wilkerson visiting prof., or alum Jon Stewart again, someone deserving respect, not a war criminal.

[Solly Mack]

3. Goes to show how little (some) people care that the US committed war crimes.

People want to forget, which says a lot about them - none of it good.

[QC]

4. W&M made Henry Kissinger their chancellor a few years back.

Margaret Thatcher also held that position at one time.

They have a history of sucking up on right wing assholes.

[xocet]

5. Condi says,"...always try to serve others and the goals of freedom and justice."

W&M celebrates more than 2,500 new graduates
by Erin Zagursky | May 16, 2015

Education is a privilege and one that bears responsibilities, Condoleezza Rice told William & Mary’s 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:

http://www.ricehadleygates.com/team/#our-principals