Source... t r u t h o u t . o r g
Saturday 29 March 2003
Truthout.org's 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