Posted on 04/06/2008 10:15:30 AM PDT by kingattax
The Clintons are resisting the disclosure of a document that could help clarify the New York senator's claims that she was "instrumental" in Northern Ireland peacemaking. The document's unlikely author: Chelsea Clinton. As a Stanford University senior in 2001, the former First Daughter wrote a 150-page thesis on the subject. Her faculty adviser, Prof. Jack Rakove, has said that Chelsea spoke with her father "at some length" about the negotiations. But the Clinton camp has declined to make it public.
Through Clinton aides, Chelsea has directed reporters to ask Stanford for the document. But Stanford says it doesn't have a copy in its library, and Rakove, who does have one, says that only Chelsea can give the green light. The thesis, says Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines, "was written to satisfy an academic requirement—not media curiosity."
Regardless of what Chelsea's thesis may reveal about her mother's role in the accord, some British officials remain sore at her father for one of his earliest decisions in the negotiating process. In 1994, Bill Clinton granted a U.S. visa to nationalist leader Gerry Adams at a time when the Provisional IRA, the clandestine affiliate of Adams's Sinn Fein movement, was still conducting a terrorist campaign.
A source close to Britain's former prime minister Sir John Major, who asked for anonymity when discussing a sensitive matter, says Major believes that Clinton's decision "set back the peace process," though Clinton was helpful later on.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
PING
Her role varies according to which of the protagonists you talk to. John Hume and Gerry Adams were very complementary, while David Trimble (or Lord whatever the hell he calls himself these days!) was quite dismissive. I wasn’t particularly happy about the US granting Adams a visa at the time, but I think it is hard to argue that it wasn’t for the better. Adams, despite some setbacks and the shedding of a small number of hardliners, as well the swallowing of some unpalatable compromises on the part of just about everyone, brought the Republican movement with him. Almost 15 years later, the IRA is virtually defunct and Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley, formerly archenemies and each a massive bogeyman for the opposite side of the unionist/nationalist divide, are taking trips together on behalf of the six counties.
Wow, thanks for the ping!! I hope someone stays on this story — one thing that thesis adviser Rakove should be asked about immediately is whether HE knows of anything to substantiate Shrillary’s claims..... in other words, reporters could/should try to put him in the limelight, he is a supposedly distinguished historian and academic after all, he should not be allowed to practice Clintonista evasions (I know, how naive I am).
Interesting that Chelsea’s thesis is said to be disappeared from the Stanford library - I believe it’s generally the practice at universities that have undergrad honors theses to keep them shelved in the library — reporters should find out whether this thesis is being withheld within the rules of Stanford, whatever they may be, or is it some special favor to the Clintonistas that will not stand up to scrutiny.
After all, this is an ACADEMIC document about an actual piece of HISTORY. I thought it was dubious than anyone should be allowed to write an academic thesis for a degree requirement on a matter of such close and intense personal and family interest..... after all, objectivity just might be a problem when you are 21 year old Chelsea writing about your step-daddy’s supposed accomplishments.....
But given that Stanford’s Dept. of History allowed Chelsea to take this on as a thesis for her honors degree, they should be pressured to treat this document as part of the HISTORICAL record as any academic thesis is supposed to be. They are trying to deny this document to contemporary scholarship about the details of the Irish peace process — maybe some journalist needs to get a practicing historian of recent Irish history to request the thesis for an academic research project and see what Stanford tries to say to that....
maybe hillary had it put under lock and key.
Fox’s Caroline Shively or something - categorized that incident as “mis-remembering” the story today.
OVARY POWER BABY!
also, isn’t it amazing how documents that are anywhere around hillary all seem to go missing ? (rose law firm records, fbi files, chelsea’s thesis, etc. etc.)
ovary power...lol
maybe we should email the writers of this article at newsweek and see what could be done in that regard
Another point: IF this thesis from 2001 had ANY substantiating info to support Shrillary’s fantasy of playing a central role in the Irish peace process, can anyone doubt that it would have been trotted out already? What will be damning is IF Chelsea interviewed numerous Clintonistas in 2000-2001, including Bill, and none attributed any significant role to Hillary at all.
If the thesis did support Hillary’s account that would not itself be so significant, since that could simply be Clinton family fantasy already being spun in 2001. But if the thesis does NOT lend any support to Hillary’s account, that would prove that Hillary’s fantasies are entirely recent, spun into whole cloth just as her presidential campaign heated up.
the likelihood is that this is another hillary ‘version’ of an event.
at this point i tend to believe that one of hillary’s aides has procured the document and put it in a ‘safe place’.
I suppose they’re next going to say Hilary did not drive the snakes out of Ireland or build the Giant’s Causeway?
We’re just not worthy of her, perhaps she should return to the marvelous land of Tir Na Og.
is there any doubt that hillary really thinks that ?
Check Sandy Burglar’s socks.
LOL....great idea
one-time PING! (hope you don’t mind)
This Hillary fantasy about leading the Irish peace process could be incredibly important because with all the sympathies to Obama in the media and strong support for him among the Demagogues, it could finally send the Clintonistas packing. (ok, I know that’s too optimistic but....)
They are hiding Chelsea’s history dept. thesis on the Irish peace process, for which she interviewed Bill and other participants..... which would seem to suggest rather strongly that her account in 2001 does NOT support Hillary’s recent fantasy......
you’re right. one more proven lie by hillary could be the bucket of water that melts the wicked witch
that's been so much fun to watch so far
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