Resignation
Letter from U.S. Diplomat
t r u t h o
u t | Letter
Saturday 29
March 2003
Editor's
Note: The following is a copy of Mary Wright's letter of resignation to
Secretary of State Colin Powell. Wright was most recently the deputy chief
of mission at the U.S. embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. She helped open
the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, in January 2002. Yet another
diplomat has quit over Iraq.
U.S. Embassy
Ulaanbaatar,
Mongolia
March 19, 2003
Secretary of
State Colin Powell
US Department
of State
Washington,
DC 20521
Dear Secretary
Powell:
When I last
saw you in Kabul in January, 2002 you arrived to officially open the US
Embassy that I had helped reestablish in December, 2001 as the first political
officer. At that time I could not have imagined that I would be writing
a year later to resign from the Foreign Service because of US policies.
All my adult life I have been in service to the United States. I have been
a diplomat for fifteen years and the Deputy Chief of Mission in our Embassies
in Sierra Leone, Micronesia, Afghanistan (briefly) and Mongolia.
I have also had assignments in Somalia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Grenada
and Nicaragua. I received the State
Department's
Award for Heroism as Charge d'Affaires during the evacuation of Sierra
Leone in 1997. I was 26 years in the US Army/Army Reserves and participated
in civil reconstruction projects after military operations in Grenada,
Panama and Somalia. I attained the rank of Colonel during my military service.
This is the
only time in my many years serving America that I have felt I cannot represent
the policies of an Administration of the United States. I disagree with
the Administration's policies on Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
North Korea and curtailment of civil liberties in the U.S. itself. I believe
the Administration's policies are making the world a more dangerous, not
a safer, place. I feel obligated morally and professionally to set out
my very deep and firm concerns on these policies and to resign from
government
service as I cannot defend or implement them.
I hope you will
bear with my explanation of why I must resign. After thirty years
of service to my country, my decision to resign is a huge step and I want
to be clear in my reasons why I must do so.
* I disagree
with the Administration's policies on Iraq
I wrote this
letter five weeks ago and held it hoping that the Administration would
not go to war against Iraq at this time without United Nations Security
Council agreement. I strongly believe that going to war now will make the
world more dangerous, not safer.
There is no
doubt that Saddam Hussein is a despicable dictator and has done incredible
damage to the Iraqi people and others of the region. I totally support
the international community's demand that Saddam's regime destroy weapons
of mass destruction.
However, I believe
we should not use US military force without UNSC agreement to ensure compliance.
In our press for military action now, we have created deep chasms in the
international community and in important international organizations. Our
policies have alienated many of our allies and created ill will in much
of the world.
Countries of
the world supported America's action in Afghanistan as a response to the
September 11 Al Qaida attacks on America. Since then, America has lost
the incredible sympathy of most of the world because of our policy toward
Iraq. Much of the world considers our statements about Iraq as arrogant,
untruthful and masking a hidden agenda. Leaders of moderate Moslem/Arab
countries warn us about predicable outrage and anger of the youth of their
countries if America enters an Arab country with the purpose of attacking
Moslems/Arabs, not defending them. Attacking the Saddam regime in Iraq
now is very different than expelling the same regime from Kuwait, as we
did ten years ago.
I strongly believe
the probable response of many Arabs of the region and Moslems of the world
if the US enters Iraq without UNSC agreement will result in actions extraordinarily
dangerous to America and Americans. Military action now without UNSC agreement
is much more dangerous for America and the world than allowing the UN weapons
inspections to proceed and subsequently taking UNSC authorized action if
warranted.
I firmly believe
the probability of Saddam using weapons of mass destruction is low, as
he knows that using those weapons will trigger an immediate, strong and
justified international response. There will be no question of action against
Saddam in that case. I strongly disagree with the use of a "preemptive
attack" against Iraq and believe that this preemptive attack policy will
be used against us and provide justification for individuals and groups
to "preemptively attack" America and American citizens.
The international
military build-up is providing pressure on the regime that is resulting
in a slow, but steady disclosure of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).
We should give the weapons inspectors time to do their job. We should not
give extremist Moslems/ Arabs a further cause to hate America, or give
moderate Moslems a reason to join the extremists. Additionally, we must
reevaluate keeping our military forces in the Middle East, particularly
in Saudi Arabia. Their presence on the Islamic "holy soil" of Saudi Arabia
will be an anti-American rally cry for Moslems as long as the US military
remains and a strong reason, in their opinion, for actions against the
US government and American citizens.
Although I strongly
believe the time in not yet right for military action in Iraq, as a soldier
who has been in several military operations, I hope General Franks, US
and coalition forces can accomplish the missions they will be ordered do
without loss of civilian or military life and without destruction of the
Iraqi peoples' homes and livelihood. I strongly urge the Department of
State to attempt again to stop the policy that is leading us to military
action in Iraq without UNSC agreement. Timing is everything and this
is not yet the time for military action.
* I disagree
with the Administration's lack of effort in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict
Likewise, I
cannot support the lack of effort by the Administration to use its influence
to resurrect the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. As Palestinian suicide
bombers kill Israelis and Israeli military operations kill Palestinians
and destroy Palestinian towns and cities, the Administration has
done little to end the violence. We must exert our considerable financial
influence on the Israelis to stop destroying cities and on the Palestinians
to curb its youth suicide bombers. I hope the Administration's long-needed
"Roadmap for Peace" will have the human resources and political capital
needed to finally make some progress toward
peace.
* I disagree
with the Administration's lack of policy on North Korea
Additionally,
I cannot support the Administration's position on North Korea. With weapons,
bombs and missiles, the risks that North Korea poses are too great to ignore.
I strongly believe the Administration's lack of substantive discussion,
dialogue and engagement over the last two years has jeopardized security
on the peninsula and the region. The situation with North Korea is dangerous
for us to continue to neglect.
* I disagree
with the Administration's policies on Unnecessary Curtailment of Rights
in America
Further, I cannot
support the Administration's unnecessary curtailment of civil rights following
September 11. The investigation of those suspected of ties with terrorist
organizations is critical but the legal system of America for 200 years
has been based on standards that provide protections for persons during
the investigation period. Solitary confinement without access to legal
counsel cuts the heart out of the legal foundation on which our country
stands. Additionally, I believe the Administration's secrecy in the judicial
process has created an atmosphere of fear to speak out against the gutting
of the protections on which America was built and the protections we encourage
other countries to provide to their citizens.
Resignation
I have served
my country for almost thirty years in the some of the most isolated and
dangerous parts of the world. I want to continue to serve America. However,
I do not believe in the policies of this Administration and cannot defend
or implement them. It is with heavy heart that I must end my service to
America and therefore resign due to the Administration's policies.
Mr. Secretary,
to end on a personal note, under your leadership, we have made great progress
in improving the organization and administration of the Foreign Service
and the Department of State. I want to thank you for your extraordinary
efforts to that end. I hate to leave the Foreign Service, and I wish you
and our colleagues well.
Very Respectfully,
Mary A. Wright,
FO-01
Deputy Chief
of Mission
US Embassy
Ulaanbaatar,
Mongolia