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We Uncovered a Copy of Susan Rice’s College Dissertation — And It Could Reveal a Lot About Her Foreign Policy

Mar. 13, 2013 10:00am Charles C. Johnson

This article is a contribution from freelance writer Charles C. Johnson.

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Susan Rice Dissortation Reveals She Praised Robert Mugabe

NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 07: U.S. United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice votes at a U.N. Security Council meeting on imposing a fourth round of sanctions against North Korea in an attempt to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programs on March 7, 2013 in New York City. Credit: Getty Images

In a 1990 dissertation while she was at Oxford, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice praised the 1979-1980 British peacekeeping operation that led to the rule of Zimbabwean dictator, Robert Mugabe, as “a model and a masterpiece in the evolution of international peacekeeping” missions while journalists on the ground were condemning Mugabe’s mass murder of political opponents and dictatorial control.

The previously unseen 426-page dissertation, “The Commonwealth Initiative in Zimbabwe, 1979-1980: Implications for International Peacekeeping,” sheds new insights into Rice’s foreign policy thinking, especially when it comes to Africa and Zimbabwe.

Writing on the heels of the controversial 1980 election that saw Robert Mugabe’s Marxist party come to power, Rice praised Mugabe’s role, even going so far as to compliment him for the considerable military restraint he had shown in an election contest he was all but certain to win.

Despite viewing Mugabe favorably and as a peaceful participation, Rice noted that Mugabe signed the peace agreement “with great sadness,” described him as “a victim of his own rhetoric” because he had a peaceful election, rather than a full-scale war as he had sought. “Even as I signed the document, I was not a happy man at all,’ Rice quotes Mugabe as saying. “I felt we had been cheated…of the victory we had hoped we would achieve in the field.’”

Rice continued, quoting a Mugabe ally. “Though desperately yearning for a military victory, [Mugabe’s ZANU party] had ‘always said publicly that we wanted a political solution and the military use had been a last resort. [So] we were forced by the international community not to renege, not to appear inhumane. We had to accede to a political solution.’’” (62)

While Mugabe and his ZANU party did not seem to want to be involved in the peace process, Rice made it clear that it was the white Rhodesians that were the impediment to peace. “White Rhodesians were equally stunned [by Mugabe’s party’s victory], as many simply recoiled in terror and amazement,” Rice wrote. “To them Mugabe represented very nearly the devil incarnate. Mugabe’s extraordinary conciliatory speech on national television and his decision to retain the white military leadership and to appoint two whites to his cabinet calmed their immediate fears somewhat. Still, their shock and apprehension persisted.” (309)

Rice praised the Commonwealth Observer Group for its special role in supporting the elections. “By virtue of its thorough observed and widely accepted verdict, the Commonwealth Observer Group rendered Rhodesia a more stable launching pad for Zimbabwe,” Rice wrote. “By legitimizing the Mugabe’s government [sic], the COG fortified it against the inevitable attacks from its opponents who insisted that victory had been unjustly denied them.”

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is seen during celebrations to mark his 89th birthday in Bindura about 100 kilometres north of Harare, Saturday, March, 2, 2013. Mugabe who officially turned 89 on the 21st of February is set to contest in elections set to be held in the country later in the year. Credit: AP

Rice continued. “The COG’s verdict diminished not only the likelihood of a coup but also the chances that the perpetrators could garner outside support….the COG Report gave Mugabe and his government the freedom to act confidently and boldly in fashioning the new independent government… . [The COG Report] constituted a crucial slap on the back of the infant Zimbabwe, opening its lungs and enabling it to breathe.” (339)

Rice singled out Mugabe for special praise. “Though Mugabe ordered a large portion of his forces to stay out of the APs [Zimbabwean meeting places], which resulted in many incidents of intimidation, personally he exercised patience and restraint,” Rice wrote. “In spite of numerous provocations, he never reacted violently or threw in the political towel,” she noted. She credited Zimbabwe with the “success of the transition.” (342)

“’The whole thing really came as a result of Mugabe,’” Rice approvingly quoted Major-General John Acland, a British military official, on his assessment of Mugabe. “’There had been two attempts on Mugabe’s life and Mugabe knew…who was responsible. Mugabe was a pragmatic, intelligent, sensible, gentle, balanced man.’”

Despite these views, Mugabe spent the next several years—that is the time in between the Commonwealth Initiative and the publication of Rice’s dissertation—murdering his political opponents and consolidating political control with mass arrests of rival political parties and dissidents.

Human rights groups, such as the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, which had previously criticized the white minority government, condemned the atrocities committed by Mugabe’s army. The New York Times reported that the extrajudicial killings may have topped 1,000. (“Zimbabwe Killings Said to Reach 1,000,” New York Times, February 26, 1983).

While suggesting that Zimbabwe’s experience may be a model for future peacekeeping operations, Rice did not mention this violence in her dissertation. Rice continued to hold a positive view of Robert Mugabe when she was appointed to Clinton’s National Security Council and later as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

Rice met with Mugabe in December 1997 on an Africa tour and promised that America would have a new relationship.

“In the past there was too much finger waving diplomacy with the United States telling African governments on what to do,” Rice told the Zimbabwean press. “We are ready to listen and hear from the leadership on what role the US can play (in Africa). The US can play a constructive role when it is desired by the governments of the regions.”

Rice met again with Mugabe in November 1998 as part of an effort to stop the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo but was made to wait three hours and mocked by the African strongman in the South African press.

“[Rice] is just an assistant secretary of state for Africa. She came as an envoy of President Clinton,” he said. “Yes, we have friends giving us the benefit of their ideas, but they cannot do more than that.” An end to the war in the DRC “can only come from real commitment by those who decided to invade the DRC,” referring to Rwanda and Uganda.

Rice, for her part, praised the meeting and the exchange of views.

“Zimbabwe is a very special place for me. It is always difficult to leave; I look forward to coming back in the near term,” she said in conclusion.

Rice is rumored to be the frontrunner to Replace Tom Donilon as Obama’s next national security adviser.

Johnson is the author of “Why Coolidge Matters: Leadership Lessons from America’s Most Underrated President.”

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Comments (47)

watashbuddyfriend
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 2:03pm
My first-hand experience, Parents, do not send your children to Oxford!

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- Gyst53
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 3:30pm
  Susan Rice doesn’t understand basic Mugabe economics let alone foreign policy.
  
  Although the dollar was considered to be among the highest-valued currency units when it was introduced in 1980 to replace the Rhodesian dollar at par, political turmoil and hyperinflation rapidly eroded the value of the Zimbabwe dollar to become one of the least valued currency units in the world, undergoing three redenominations, with high face value paper denominations including a $100 trillion banknote (1014).[2] The third redenomination produced the “fourth dollar” (ZWL), which was worth 1 trillion ZWR (third dollar), and 10 septillion “first dollar” (ZWD); overall the ratio of the redenominations was 103 × 1010 × 1012 = 1025.
  
  Despite attempts to control inflation by legislation, and three redenominations (in 2006, 2008 and 2009), use of the Zimbabwean dollar as an official currency was effectively abandoned on 12 April 2009. [3] This was a result of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe legalising use of foreign currencies for transactions in January 2009.[4]
  
  Currencies such as the South African rand, Botswana pula, pound sterling, euro, and the United States dollar are now used for all transactions in Zimbabwe; the policy of the government of Zimbabwe has insisted that any attempts to reintroduce Zimbabwean currency needs IMF backing.
  
  Report this comment
overthecliff
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:56pm
Ms. Rice was right. Mugabe has taken Zimbabwe to a civil, prosperous country. She will do her best to promote similar regimes around the world as Obamas security adviser. She is a marxist revolutionary promoted by Fabians in academia and protected by their prostitutes in journalism.

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- Spqr1
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 2:46pm
  Fabians? What century do you think you’re in?
  
  Report this comment
- nzkiwi
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 4:00am
  Fabians, SPQR, are alive and well. They are very active and have not lost sight of their objective, or any of their insidious cunning…
  
  Report this comment
- dugbru
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 2:05pm
  SPQ… it’s not what cerntury the commentor is in, but what century Rice, Obama, and you are in .. methinks you’re about 1917….
  
  Report this comment
lessoneleg
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:20pm
while in England I stayed with the last British Colony representative to administer government on the closing days of Rhodesia.
He was a wonderful man, and his wife were great people to meet and listen to all the stories. He showed me his photo of shaking hands, and entering the plane leaving Rhodesia.
When he left, the country was turning a profit and had a workable government. Was it great, no, it had its problems. But tribalism was rampant and the use of British Law brought stability to the region and common law.
What is that region now? Socialism ruined the economy, and tribalism ruined the rest.

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rosegrower
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:21pm
Rice made it clear that it was the white Rhodesians that were the impediment to peace. “White Rhodesians were equally stunned [by Mugabe’s party’s victory], as many simply recoiled in terror and amazement,” Rice wrote. “To them Mugabe represented very nearly the devil incarnate.” Maybe they thought that way because Mugabe’s thugs routinely broke into the homes of white landowners and killed the occupants. Rhodesia is now like Detroit, and Mugabe the African version of Coleman Young.

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- JeffersonsPen
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:41pm
  They (Obama and his marxist bunch) act as though they will not have to answer to this Sh$%t. These people truly are enemies of America. They seem to think when thier term is over we will just forget. When if ever will they be exposed for what they are……………………God give me strength !
  
  Report this comment
scarletworm
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:04pm
Does this explain why the Homeland Security has bought millions of rounds of ammo? The people in this administration are starting to look ominous to me.

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- mikem1969
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:26pm
  It sure does, but this is to be expected from an administration that is in love with muslims, hitler, stalin, and mao. We who have learned from history know what is on the horizon. May we stand together, bleed together, and bring back freedom together.
  
  Resist Tyranny Loudly.
  
  Report this comment
IndyGuy
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 11:57am
“”Mugabe’s mass murder of political opponents and dictatorial control.”"

This is exactly what we are up against…We’ll see as soon as they get enough of us disarmed…

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term limits for congress
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 11:57am
A fan of a murdering marxist? Maybe she watched a video and was mislead. It happens.

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buckeye-jo
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 11:56am
So she’s praising a racist dictator responsible for the deaths of thousands of his political opposition who was upset because he couldn’t go to war to win his election? And that’s just the stuff we know about. Sounds about right someone like Rice would choose this person as a role model….Maybe they can adapt his platform to the Democrat platform-or has that already happened?

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paco51
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 11:49am
Shes just a Hack for the black guy in D>C>

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red_white_blue2
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 11:39am
Barry do we have to go over the Constitution and the Bill of Rights AGAIN? Have you heard of the 3 Branches? Sit down, let me “splain” this to you to dumb *** !!

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cliffattheblaze
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 11:35am
I have a 50 Trillion Dollar Zimbabwe note on my computer desk to remind me what can happen to a currency when unscrupulous leaders are in charge. If Rice and probably Obama think Mugabe is a model of leadership, then God help us. Hyperinflation is on the way.

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STREBOR
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 11:24am
She is an enemy of the American People. How much longer will it be before Bronco Bomba goes Mugabe on us?
Our POS “president” does surround himself with Type A POS personalities.
We have a FERAL GOVERNMENT!

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LukeAppling
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 11:17am
So many blacks and young people of Rice’s age were communists it is not hard to believe she is, still is. Obama has the victim mentality and uses it to woo voters rather than facts and ideas. Most of Obama’s administration is Marxist or anti-American and rice is one of many.The media wont care because they are with her in their anti-American leanings. If we had a good President who loved America we would be on the road to wealth but this dolt, and his friends, like Rice, strangle the nation.

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huey6367
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:51am
As Obama said “If you want to know who I am, look at the people I surround myself with”

Says a lot.

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GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:49am
Phillip Zelikow’s graduate thesis, find out how he likes the control religion provides over the masses.

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richauthor
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:45am
Obama ABANDONED our heroes in Benghazi.

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TimeIsUp
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:43am
Oh, God, this fool Rice is a fan of Mugabe the racist killer? Seriously? But why am I not surprised?

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JohnofOregon
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:41am
Nothing all that new here. All forms of socialistic thought lead to death and misery. It doesn’t matter how you slice it up, anytime people turn the ability to think for themselves over to a government authority, it always leads to misery and eventually death.

Rice is just another in a long line of American communist, a word unfamiliar to the media. I used to think journalism degrees involved knowing words, but apparently not anymore. The hatred of America by the left knows no bounds, including the desire to sacrifice their children for the greater good of their cause.

Rices history in government in lined with dead bodies of innocent victims. Once again, that is something the media refuses to look at or acknowledge. If they did it might make their cult leader in the White House look bad. They will do anything for their deity because all great things in their life flow from Obama.

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Quiata
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:38am
All the more reason for suspicion about our Commander-in-Transparency’s SEALED records at Occidental, Columbia, and Harvard.

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- happ77
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 2:03pm
  Attention all you hackers out there. Looking
  for a challange ?
  
  Report this comment
cassandra
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:20am
another progressive that worked at the WH why am I not shocked

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barber2
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:19am
Wish someone would ferret out Obama’s school records. Just what is Mr. Transparency ( wink, wink ) hiding ?

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- civilwarcometh
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:32am
  Inspector General Report: Senior Obama DOJ Officials Call Co-Workers Token Negros; Harassing Co-Workers On Social Networking Sites; Obama Appointee Says Protecting White Voters Is Not What They Do. You should hear this interview with Mark Levine..
  
  Report this comment
Cavallo
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:16am
This doesn’t surprise me at all, nor would the fascistic writings of Bobo the Wonder Marxist. It isn’t like they do a masterful job of hiding their barbaric centrally controlled fascist sympathies.

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progressiveslayer
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:06am
Susan had an affection for Marxist’s back then that explains her affection for the POS Marxist today.

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- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:34am
  Absolutely, and here is my opinion of her love for dictatorships and marxists – if she loves them so much she is free to renounce her citizenship and leave the nation for good.
  
  Report this comment
- Ben__Franklin
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:58am
  Mugabe stole the land of farmers who have been providing food for the country for years and gave it to his cronies that have never farmed. What could go wrong with that? Oh yeah, starving people.
  
  Stealing land for his cronies, extortion, rape, murder, mass killings, starvation, slave labor, etc…. But hey, he did have some good points. All that bad stuff is not the sum total of all his work and should not be used as the sole judgement of his participation on the world stage. We will just have to accept his mass killings as part of being able to sit down at the table with him. Besides, if the UN loves him, America loves him too. ~ Liberal thought 101
  
  Report this comment
Copper Catfish
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:04am
Dissertation, not disortation.

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- Blivit
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:11am
  when i first glanced at it i thought it said ‘distortion’… which may be applicable. don’t they have a spell checker at theblaze?? if not, i’ll buy them one!
  
  Report this comment
- Hungry_i
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:15am
  Indeed. It’s embarrassing.
  
  Report this comment
- john vincent
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:35am
  hey guys-
  
  I’m actually going to defend the writer Mr Johnson for his typo- his article clearly shows the correct word was intended -I noticed it as you, and chose to overlook it. You have seen errors in just aboujt (wink) every writing known to man, but was the substance good?? I think so.
  
  Also, the mistakes of others, and how WE react, may be more telling than the initial infraction. Small potatoes agreed?
  
  Report this comment
- Quiata
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:36am
  @BLIVIT Hello….re-read it. It’s a play on words.
  
  Report this comment
- txannie
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:44am
  @copper, blivit, hungry….do you guys even know what mugabe did to white’s in Africa? Do you not care that a well run, prosperous country when he walked into office is now one of the worst 3rd world despot run countries allowing children to starve just so they can brag that the most if not all whites have been killed or run out of the country? Is it more important to you that all the words are spelled right when describing the kind of thing that this marxist liberal Susan Rice is praising and advocating for the U.S. than the message behind the article? Do you even care that Susan Rice and her ilk are actually praising the wholesale slaughter and confiscation of any and all white owned farms and business by blacks the world over? Come on….
  
  Report this comment
media-bias-steals-elections
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:03am
It is the job of Congress to conduct foreign affairs, not Executive appointees?

We live in a Republic, not a Democracy?

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- john vincent
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:23am
  -media
  
  Its like painting and papering a condemned house- image only- its to-be-expected policy and behaviour at every level of an anti-American admin. who wants all on board to do the actually papering!!
  
  You have heard the song ….’we are the world…. better day………’ ad nausem; its always the same, image, image, image. ABC, NBC, CNN, etc, will tell you and I how ‘wonderful’ Rice is; its all spun to protect the image-
  
  We are being told the ‘house is great, it looks so good’ but the astute observer KNOWS it is condemned-
  
  Report this comment

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