Global Policy Forum

Mary Ann Wright is a former army colonel and a career diplomat who helped re-open the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. On March 19, she sent a letter of resignation, excerpted below, to Secretary of State Colin Powell. She is the third American diplomat to resign over the war in Iraq.

Dear Secretary Powell:

When I last saw you in Kabul in January 2002 you arrived to officially open the U.S. Embassy that I had helped re-establish 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 U.S. policies. All my adult life I have been in service to the United States. I have been a diplomat for 15 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 U.S. 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 United States itself. 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 wrote this letter five weeks ago and held it hoping that the administration would not go to war against Iraq at this time without U.N. Security Council agreement. I strongly believe that going to war now will make the world more dangerous, not safer.

I strongly believe the probable response of many Arabs of the region and Muslims of the world will result in actions extraordinarily dangerous to America and Americans. Military action now without Security Council agreement is much more dangerous for America and the world than allowing the U.N. weapons inspections to proceed and subsequently taking 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 "pre-emptive attack" against Iraq and believe that this preemptive attack policy will be used against us and provide justification for individuals and groups to "pre-emptively attack" America and American citizens. . . .

I have served my country for almost 30 years in some of the most isolated and dangerous parts of the world. I want to continue to serve America. It is with heavy heart that I must end my service to America and therefore resign due to the administration's policies.

Very Respectfully,

Mary A. Wright
U.S. Embassy, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
March 19, 2003

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