Bob Earl on Chelsea Manning: “A Mistaken Invitation?”
The Rhodes Trust, which administers the internationally famous Rhodes Scholarships, sponsors an annual Forum on Technology & Society at Rhodes House, its headquarters at Oxford University. The Forum in November 2024 “…will bring together visionaries from the realms of science, technology, arts, and social innovation to discuss ground-breaking developments that paint a hopeful picture of tomorrow.”
The “visionary” that the Rhodes Trust has invited to deliver its “Keynote & Fireside Chat,” is Chelsea Manning. The Trust describes Manning as: “…a technologist and former U.S. intelligence analyst who significantly contributed to discussions on government transparency and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence.”
The Trust’s description did not include any reference to Bradley Manning’s July 2013 conviction by court-martial (as a US Army soldier) of violating the Espionage Act, stealing government property, violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and multiple acts of disobeying orders. Manning was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment (commuted to seven years total confinement), forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and a dishonorable discharge. Manning’s “contributions to discussion on government transparency” appear to be her leaking of about 750,000 classified, or unclassified but sensitive, military and diplomatic documents. Since release from prison, Manning has changed names and sex, and has appeared at whistle-blower conferences. “She now earns a living through speaking engagements….” (February 16, 2018 Baltimore Sun article by John Fritze.)
The Trust does not explain Manning’s qualifications as a “technologist.” Nor is it clear what contributions Manning has made to “the ethical implications of artificial intelligence.” Manning was named a “visiting fellow” at Harvard University on September 13, 2017 by acting director of the Harvard Institute of Politics, Bill Delahunt. Manning, he said, would engage students in discourse particularly on “issues of LGBTQ identity in the military.” However, that invitation was withdrawn two days later by the dean of the Kennedy School, Douglas Elmendorf: “We did not intend to honor her in any way or to endorse any of her words or deeds … I now think that designating Chelsea Manning as a Visiting Fellow was a mistake … Therefore, we are withdrawing the invitation to her to serve as a Visiting Fellow.”
We can only hope that the Warden of Rhodes House and CEO of the Rhodes Trust, Dr. Elizabeth Kiss, who invited Manning to give the opening keynote address at the Forum, will realize that she has made a similar mistake.