[PEN-L:36192] another resignation

[Dan Scanlan <dscanlan@xxxxxxx>]

March 21, 2003 Mary A. Wright's resignation letter


The following is a copy of Mary (Ann) Wrightís 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 Departmentís Award for Heroism as 
Charge díAffaires 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 Administrationís policies on Iraq, 
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, North Korea and curtailment of 
civil liberties in the U.S. itself. I believe the Administrationís 
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 Administrationís 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 communityís demand that 
Saddamís 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 Americaís 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 ìpreemptive attackî against Iraq and 
believe that this preemptive attack policy will be used against us 
and provide justification for individuals and groups to ìpreemptively 
attackî 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 ìholy soilî 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 
peoplesí 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 Administrationís 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 Administrationís long-needed ìRoadmap for 
Peaceî will have the human resources and political capital needed to 
finally make some progress toward peace.


I disagree with the Administrationís lack of policy on North Korea


Additionally, I cannot support the Administrationís position on North 
Korea. With weapons, bombs and missiles, the risks that North Korea 
poses are too great to ignore. I strongly believe the 
Administrationís 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 Administrationís policies on Unnecessary 
Curtailment of Rights in America


Further, I cannot support the Administrationís 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 Administrationís 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 Administrationís 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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Drop Bush, Not Bombs!
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"During times of universal deceit,
telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."
George Orwell

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