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Return to Article: Text of Diplomats' Letters of Resignation

• 536
  

  I am a Federal employee, and a Vietnam Veteran.

  Mr. Kiesling's LOR makes it sound like he is the quintessential idealist. I have no deep knowledge of government diplomatic workings, but Mr. Kiesling's words remind me of some others, including some demonstrators whose attitude was also "I don't agree with the U.S. government position, and my position is not being followed, so something is wrong." RUBBISH!

  Mr. Joseph Anstett Posted May 5, 2003 11:01 AM
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  Congratulations to Ms. Wright for her courageous act. And any of you pro-Bush, pro-war, pro-big oil types that don't like it -- well there are Army recruiting stations where you can enlist to go get your butt shot off for your Fratboy cheerleader President and his rich cronies.

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 3, 2003 9:37 PM
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  I give Ambassador Wright the highest regard for her integrity. She is a very courageous person. A veteran in my congregation asked me about Hitler as compared to Saddam. My response was, "Where was the Church in Germany when Hitler was beginning his campaign?" I am saddened when my clergy colleagues are using scripture to justify this ugly incursion into Iraq.

  Rev. Philip W. Compton, Ada, Ohio.

  Rev. Philip W. Compton Posted April 2, 2003 8:55 AM
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  Dear Ms Wright. Realizing that it must have been a very difficult decision to resign your position with the government it is indeed important for you to know that there are many of us out here that empathize with your reasons. I believe it is a disasterous situation that has come upon us. I have always expected my own government to take a high moral ground but America has fallen a long way since the last presidential election in such a short, short time. Best regards. ALF

  Audrey Fain Posted April 2, 2003 3:25 AM
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  Please note that she may say she resigned, but she really retired from federal service after 30 years with the government. Her pension is most likely in excess of $75,000 a year and could be as high as $90,000. Real crocodile tears.

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 1, 2003 11:54 PM
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  Kudos, Ms. Wright. You are a hero to me for voting your conscience - in the most definitive manner available to you. Perhaps when this administration is over you would consider running for President of the United States - PLEASE?

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 1, 2003 2:14 PM
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  It is with a heavy heart when I say that under the circumstances that we live today, Mary Wright and her colleagues, are the people we desperately need most. She touched upon all the points that I have pondered when this administration decided to go against the UNSC and to go to war. POWs are being executed, young men and women's lives are put on the line for a cause to which many of us are still unclear of. I like to believe that I am a very well educated individual and yet to this day, I cannot even explain why we are at war with Iraq.

  The media has shown many footage of U.S. military being greeted by Iraqis and even handing out candies to children. Why has there been no thorough coverage on the devastation that this war has brought upon to the Iraqi civillians that we vowed to protect? How do we explain that we are there to help them when we are tearing up their cities and their lives that they have tried to built?

  I am 101 percent behind our troops but not behind the cause that sent them there.

  GovExec.com reader Posted March 27, 2003 10:00 PM
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  Just a few lines to congratulate Mr. Kiesling for his courage to take such a decision. I agree that this war will bring only more terrorism in the world and will not suppose the Iraq's people liberation as Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair are trying to convince the world about. As the Pope said: They, both will have to respond to God and to the history some day... Congratulations for being honest! You do represent the real American people. Saludos.

  Rosa Diaz Posted March 27, 2003 5:26 PM
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  If all of these foreign service officers feel that it was alright to support a president that had sex in the Oval Office, (prior to or possibly during phone conversations with heads of states), corrupted the morals of our children and gutted our military so that we have a difficult, time defending our freedoms, then maybe it WAS time for them to resign. WE DON'T NEED THEM.

  Lynn Vickers Posted March 27, 2003 3:59 PM
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  It is her right to resign. Now, I give her on option to have a decent life and leaders. She can go in Iraq and work for Saddam Hussein. It is fair. There nobody will be against you if you choose to be a Muslim. There you can ask for food and water from U.S. soldiers. And not only that. There you can sing songs about Saddam and his family. You can bear a picture of him in your wallet or you can have one on your house.

  victor Posted March 27, 2003 3:15 PM
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  I am awed and humbled by the courage it must have taken for Wright, Brown and Kiesling to resign from their Foreign Service careers in this manner. I was raised in a Foreign Service family and I understand, I believe, what a momentous decision this must have been for these individuals. I agree with them that it is heartbreaking to see the damage the Bush administration's policies are doing to the United States of America, both at home and overseas. My concern with their decisions to resign, however, is that this administration has already shown that it is deaf to the voices that oppose it. The resignation of these fine people leaves a void that may end up being filled by others with less resolve to stand up to the destructive policies of this administration. I fear for our future and would have preferred if they had remained within the ranks of our diplomatic corps to fight for what is right from within.

  Mary Ann Buckley Posted March 27, 2003 2:59 PM
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  GOD BLESS YOU SIR !!!!

  MICHAEL WASILEWSKI Posted March 27, 2003 2:41 PM
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  As with all resignations in the private business community, I hope you have resigned all financial benefits of your position. As in the private community...you can rely only on Social security benefits in your "retirement" or until you find a "real" job.

  R Abart Posted March 27, 2003 2:14 PM
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  I support Ms. Wright's resignation over the reasons she stated in her letter. I pity the current administration who is blind and deaf when it comes to the international communities' outcry and indignation over the Iraq conflict. It's a great loss to us when a good officer, such as Ms. Wright, quits to serve the government.

  GovExec.com reader Posted March 27, 2003 2:11 PM
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  I am glad that John Brown submitted his resignation. If Mr. Brown's view of the world is that much different than President Bush and his administration, he should find another job. I personally think President Bush has explained and answered every question Mr. Brown stated in his letter.

  I am not a proponent of war, but I am tired of Saddam not complying with UN Resolutions. Mr. Brown, Democatic leadership, and protestors around the world would have us believe that continuing to talk and threaten Saddam would evenually convince him to change his behavior. Nothing will change his behavior, but removing Saddam physically from this world.

  I am deeply concerned about our young men and women in the armed forces, I worry about the innocent Iraqi people that may die or at least have their lives in danger for weeks, and I'm concerned that we will not be able to guarantee that the next leader in Iraq will be a better leader and person.

  God Bless America! My hopes and prayers are with our soldiers, President Bush and administration, as well as the Iraqi people.

  Sincerely,

  Brent Slack

  Brent Slack Posted March 27, 2003 2:07 PM
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  Great, another communist out of our government. At time of war we don't need people like Ms. Wright. If you're not with us, you're against us.

  Ernesto del Toro Posted March 27, 2003 2:05 PM
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  GOD BLESS YOU MARY, PLEASE RUN FOR AN OFFICE TO BE OUR PRESIDENT!

  MICHAEL WASILEWSKI Posted March 27, 2003 1:58 PM
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  If Ms. Wright cannot support the administration policy, then she should resign, and the administration is probably better off. President Bush and Secretary Powell's foreign policy will not be easy to install because of the problems created by Presidents Carter and Clinton. But, eight years of President Bush will make the world a safer place. Remember all the naysayers on the Reagan years and all changes he was able to instigate by being firm and staying focused.

  France is no longer a world leader and the UN should realize this and make changes in their structure. President Bush has proven that the current UN is irrelevant and changes will need to be made if the UN organization is to survive.

  George Stratton Posted March 27, 2003 1:26 PM
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  I've served in the military and am proud of that fact, but what I do not understand is why we did not call Iraq on its pledge to cooperate with the inspectors. I feel that if they said that they would cooperate then we should have increased the number of inspectors each time they said that they would make areas more available for inspections.

  Another thing I have a problem with is the administation's continued insistance on links to Al Qaida. With all of the intel capabilities that we have, how come we have not been able to establish this fact? With all of the problems that we face in this country i cannot understand why after ten to twelve years Saddam Hussein is a threat to the world. While 9/11 was tragic, those who had a hand in this we've went after and have located them not in Iraq, but in Pakistan. I support the troops for i know that thay're just doing their jobs. What I do not support is this president's agenda. He put military action as the only solution and has ignored the cries of peace from not only the American people but the world as well. I'll close with this: You have a man in North Korea with nukes and he's not a threat. Why?

  John R. Colonel Posted March 27, 2003 1:16 PM
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  Ms. Wright,

  Thank you very much for retiring. Evidently serving cowtowing, apologist administrations suits you better. In case you forgot, the US was already "preemptively attacked." And the military build-up did not lead to any disclosures of WMD as you misleadingly state. The UN inspectors were there to verify destruction of WMD Iraq is known to have had prior to and since Desert Storm. Instead they had to chase around the desert searching and (surprise, surprise) stumbling upon some unallowed weapons Saddam must not have had time to hide. And your faith in the "international community" is astounding. Where were they when he used these weapons on his own people? Selling him the materials to produce them, I guess. But take heart. Someday the US may be contolled by an international community of countries such as Libya, the Sudan and maybe even Iraq. I'm sure there will be a place for you to comfortably serve then.

  CW3 (RET) Tom Nelson Posted March 27, 2003 1:09 PM
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  Mary A. Wright, along with Kiesling and Brown, are heroes. If we do not think so, that is because our definition of "hero" is flawed and we are looking for heroes in the wrong places.

  Paul Schneider Posted March 27, 2003 12:48 PM
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  Mary has done what a true American would do in these difficult times. I am proud of her stand and her honesty. I truly believe people like her can bring this country back to its senses, where we can truly serve the humanity instead of pursuing the administration's covert agenda, all in the name of peace and democracy.

  Sohail Ansari Posted March 27, 2003 12:46 PM
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  Good luck with your move...Now make room for others.

  GovExec.com reader Posted March 27, 2003 12:43 PM
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  Now that Ms. Wright has resigned from the government service, will she also decline any pension that she might receive from the same government? If not the resignation is only a sham. If she is truly against the way the government is working, she should totally opt out of all the benefits.

  Ken Bowers Posted March 27, 2003 12:35 PM
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  Given my experience with the State Department, if there have been three resignations then I'd guess that anger over Bush foreign policy idiocies is boiling over inside the State Department building in Foggy Bottom. Maybe America could take a minute to listen to the Americans who have the most experience dealing with the outside world?

  Ann Wright is an American hero. Thanks for writing up the story and posting her resignation letter.

  Tim Bishop Posted March 23, 2003 7:00 AM