At a glance: Condi Rice, hawk among hawks

10-point reminder of the low-points of Condaleeza Rice’s career:

1. “We don’t want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.”
In September 2002, Rice lies to the world about the Iraqi nuclear “threat”.

2. 9/11 – an “opportunity” for US imperialism
In the days after 9/11, between public displays of grief Rice rounded up senior staff of the National Security Council and asked them to think about “how do you capitalise on these opportunities” to fundamentally change American doctrine and the shape of the world.

3. Ignored 9/11 advanced warnings from CIA
July 2001: CIA director George Tenet knew of the increasing likelihood that al-Qaeda would soon attack the US. The case was so compelling he met Rice, then national security adviser, to demand action. Rice gave him the brush-off.

4. Bush’s closest adviser on the “war on terror”
“During the last four years I’ve relied on her counsel, benefited from her great experience, and appreciated her sound and steady judgment,” says Bush in November 2004.

5. Iraq “was worth it”
December 2006: Rice defends the invasion as eight US marines are charged with a massacre in Haditha.

6. “I know we’ve made tactical errors - thousands of them, I’m sure.”
March 2006: Rice drops her guard on Iraq.

7. The SS Condoleezza Rice
So close to the oil industry she had an oil tanker named after her.

8. Backs bloody crackdown in Uzbekistan
May 2005: Rice refused to censure Uzbekistan over the massacre of hundreds of protestors in Andijan. Uzbek dictator Karimov had allowed the US a military base on the Afghan border.

9. Rejects negotiations with Iran
2003: Iran puts everything was on the negotiating table, including full cooperation on nuclear programs, acceptance of Israel and the termination of Iranian support for Palestinian militant groups. But national security adviser Rice rejects the initiative.

10. Brings back Wolfowitz
January 2008: Rice appoints Paul Wolfowitz to head a State Department arms-control panel. Wolfowitz, the No. 2 official in the Pentagon under Rumsfeld and a key architect of the Iraq war, was ousted last summer as president of the World Bank for giving his lover a well-paid job.

2 Responses to “At a glance: Condi Rice, hawk among hawks”

  1. Phil Doran Says:

    HOW TO MAKE CONDOLEEZA RICE

    A recipe for success/disaster* *according to taste.

    1. $700bn of American Long Grain (GM natch), preferably brown - it looks better.
    2. a big juicy stake in oil - not olive.
    3. global artichoke - Jerusalem will usually do
    4. road map(s) - available in real politik
    5. fox (news)- one
    6. pinch - Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran.

    Poach oil from Iraqis. Divide population into warring factions. Should peace break out, add Sunni minority & turn up the heat, stirring continuously. By now, the Rice should appear very soft, but will still be quite dry & hard to the core. Don’t let this fool you into thinking it’s finished yet. Bring Afghanistan to a slow boil. Meanwhile, arrange Gaza in strips, pour gasoline on fire & surround with apartheid wall. When ready, divide profits in half, get the CIA to roll out the American flag & stitch up the UN.

    Best served cold.

  2. R H Redford Says:

    Rice not welcome here
    Please no more of our lads and lassies into Afganistan
    Known associates P Welfowitz and Rumsfeld
    All known terrorist
    Throw her out of Britain if she was Muslim she would not be even let in

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