Condoleezza Rice spoke at a synagogue in St. Louis Park Sunday, addressing issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, terrorism and the spread of democracy in the Middle East.
Rice’s visit is part of Beth El Synagogue’s national speaker series, which has included the likes of Dan Rather, Colin Powell and former President Bill Clinton, and acts as an important fundraiser for the community.
“The only reason that we are able to fight for our freedoms is because there are those on the frontlines of freedom …” Rice said in her speech. “Especially those men and women in uniform on the frontlines of freedom in places like Bosnia and Baghdad …”
Roughly 100 protestors demonstrated outside the synagogue behind a police barricade, chanting “Torture isn’t kosher,” among other criticisms. They held banners and signs denouncing the use of torture and Rice’s alleged involvement.
However, former Sen. Norm Coleman attended the speech and was supportive of Rice’s position.
“Condoleezza Rice is a brilliant woman with experience. I certainly like to hear her perspective and I hope that we can find peace in the Middle East,” Coleman said.
Rice served as the Secretary of State and National Security Adviser for the Bush administration. She now is a professor of political science and a senior fellow at Stanford University.
In her speech, Rice said Israel is an important ally for the United States in the Middle East. She also focused on eliminating terrorism in the region and spreading democracy.
“Every day, terrorists plotted and they planned,” Rice said. “We had to recognize that they had to be right only once, and we had to be right 100 percent of the time and that was an unfair fight.”
During the question and answer segment that followed Rice’s speech, she answered queries relating to the United States’ stance on the Iranian nuclear weapons program, Chinese-U.S. relations and the importance of education, among other topics.
Kaitlyn Steffenhagen, a St. Louis Park High School senior, said Rice did not address questions about her involvement in authorizing torture during her role under the Bush administration, which angered some of the attendees.
Rice has recently been asked by many to explain the Bush administration’s definition of torture and if waterboarding is considered torture.
Rice’s invitation divided the synagogue along traditional political lines.
“Whenever there’s a political speaker it’s more divisive than if they perhaps pick a columnist or an author,” congregation member Anne Devitt said. “I think no matter which way you go politically, it’s going to be a controversy.”
Larry Johnson, a member of Veterans for Peace, believes the Bush administration’s treatment of prisoners of war is hurt the United States’ reputation and gives the opposition the warrant to reciprocate.
“I’m glad we’re in a democracy where [people] can protest, and I’m very glad that the people of Iraq and Kabul can too,” Rice said as she was leaving the speech in response to the protesters.
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