Another US Diplomat
Resigns in Protest
March 19, 2003
The following is the text of Mary Wright's letter
of resignation to Secretary of State Colin Powell. Wright is the
third state department official to resign in protest of the US
war on Iraq and other aspects of the Bush Administration’s
foreign policy.
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
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