Col Ann Wright's resignation letter, 3/19/2003

[Diamond Dave]

Mary A. Wright's resignation letter
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

snip to the end of long letter:

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

go to link for the full body of the letter:
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0303/032103wright.htm

And now tonight Ann is in jail in DC, sentenced with 75 hours of community service, 6 months probation and 3 "days" in jail for disrupting the hearing with Petraeus by saying "swear him in" -----

My mind is gone, it is boggled past belief. We are living in a twilight zone. Damn it all - what the f happened to that american dream thing?

oh yeah, right it was a dream thing. nevermind......

[Diamond Dave]

1. Kick to the top - hope some of you read it and pass it along. n/t

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

2. I've never heard of such a punishment for speaking out at a public hearing.

Has this happened before?

[Richard Steele]

3. K&R

[libnnc]

4. kick for the Col.

:kick:

[emlev]

5. In the words of

"The Atomic Comics," Fran Peavey and Charlie Varon, from way back in the eighties:

Why are there so many retired military personnel in the peace movement
And so few retired peace activists in the military?

[SharkSquid]

6. Resignation is the way to go

If you feel that stongly. She has the means to do so and I applaud her.

[Greyskye]

7. K & R

:kick: for the Colonel.

[AntiFascist]

8. This is how fascism starts...

by being punished for speaking out or holding contrary views.