FYI..and no, I cannot reveal my sources..Just remember you learned about it on the AH BBs first!
March 21, 2003
>
>The following is a copy of Mary (Ann) 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.
>
>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.
>
>Resignatio
>
>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
>
