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Condoleezza Rice
Former Secretary of State, Former National Security Advisor
Foreign Policy Architect, Iraq War Planner, Intelligence Failure Overseer
Overview
Condoleezza Rice served as National Security Advisor (2001-2005) during the 9/11 attacks and Iraq War, then as Secretary of State (2005-2009). She ignored pre-9/11 warnings including the"Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US"memo, promoted false WMD claims to justify Iraq invasion, authorized enhanced interrogation techniques, and oversaw catastrophic foreign policy failures. Her infamous"mushroom cloud"rhetoric helped sell an unnecessary war to the American public.
Key Affiliations
U.S. Department of State
Secretary of State (2005-2009)
agency
National Security Council
National Security Advisor (2001-2005)
agency
Stanford University
Provost (1993-1999), Professor
organization
Hoover Institution
Director, Fellow
organization
Chevron Corporation
Board Member (1991-2001)
corporation
Dropbox
Board Member
corporation
Controversies & Concerns
9/11 INTELLIGENCE FAILURE: Ignored August 6, 2001 PDB titled"Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US"- dismissed warnings
MUSHROOM CLOUD RHETORIC: September 2002 CNN interview:"We don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud"- fearmongering for Iraq War
FALSE WMD CLAIMS: Repeatedly asserted Iraq had WMD programs despite thin intelligence
ENHANCED INTERROGATION: Authorized CIA torture program as NSA, later defended techniques
CHEVRON OIL TANKER: Had Chevron oil tanker named after her (renamed 2001 due to controversy)
KATRINA SHOPPING: Went shoe shopping at Ferragamo during Hurricane Katrina while people drowned
IRAQ WAR PLANNING: Central figure in planning invasion based on false premises
NO ACCOUNTABILITY: Never held accountable for intelligence failures that led to 9/11 or Iraq War
RENDITION PROGRAM: Oversaw extraordinary rendition sending suspects to torture in foreign countries
Related Investigations (4)
Criminal Charges & Violations
6 documented violations
Rome Statute Article 8(2)(a)(ii)War Crime; Torture authorization (enhanced interrogation)(War Crimes)
Rome Statute Article 7(1)(f)Crime Against Humanity; Torture program approval(International)
Convention Against Torture Article 2Torture; Authorized CIA enhanced interrogation(International)
Nuremberg Principle VI(a)Crime Against Peace; Planning aggressive war on false pretenses(International)
18 U.S.C. § 2340ATorture; Authorization of waterboarding and other techniques(Federal)
Geneva Convention Common Article 3Outrages on personal dignity; Torture program(International)
Known Associates & Connections
George W. Bush
President, close advisor and confidante
Dick Cheney
Vice President, Iraq War co-architect
Donald Rumsfeld
Secretary of Defense, bureaucratic rival
Colin Powell
Predecessor as Secretary of State
George Tenet
CIA Director during tenure
Paul Wolfowitz
Deputy Secretary of Defense, neocon ally
Sources & Documentation
6 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- November 14, 1954
- Birthplace
- Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Also Known As
- Condi, The Warrior Princess
Education
- •Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Denver (1981)
- •M.A., University of Notre Dame (1975)
- •B.A., University of Denver (1974)
Key Timeline
November 14, 1954
Born in Birmingham, Alabama during segregation
1974
Graduates University of Denver at age 19
1981
Earns Ph.D., begins Stanford career
1989-1991
Serves on NSC under George H.W. Bush
1991-2001
Serves on Chevron Board, has oil tanker named after her
1993-1999
Stanford Provost, first female and Black provost
January 2001
Becomes National Security Advisor
August 6, 2001
Receives PDB"Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US"- dismisses concerns
September 11, 2001
9/11 attacks occur under her watch as NSA
2002
Authorizes enhanced interrogation techniques
September 8, 2002
"Mushroom cloud"interview on CNN
October 2002
Supports Iraq War resolution
March 2003
Iraq War begins
January 2005
Becomes Secretary of State
August 2005
Goes shoe shopping during Hurricane Katrina
2009
Leaves State Department, returns to Stanford
2012
Joins Augusta National Golf Club
Present
Stanford professor, Hoover Institution director