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Anniversary of My Dissent
From Three Decades as a Colonel and Diplomat to Six Years as a Peace Activist
It was six years ago today that I resigned from the Bush administration and the U.S. diplomatic corps in opposition to the war on Iraq. I remember the day so well. I woke up about 2 in the morning.
Like so many mornings in the past months, I could not sleep through the night. I was very worried and upset hearing the comments out of Washington, that we, the U.S. government, were being forced into taking military action against Saddam Hussein and his Iraqi government.
I, like so many US diplomats and US citizens, were wondering, why must the United States attack Iraq right now. Should we not wait and hear the results of the United Nations weapons inspectors on whether there was a weapons of mass destruction program in Iraq? How could we take military action without the agreement of the members states of the United Nations Security Council? When President Bush launched “shock and awe” on Baghdad on the morning of March 19 (Mongolia time) and March 18 in the U.S., I decided I was not going to continue working in the Department of State.
Upon arriving at the Embassy, I asked our communications officer to send my letter of resignation from the United States government to my boss, Secretary of State Colin Powell. I expected to join quickly the two other U.S. Federal employees whom had resigned (both were also U.S. diplomats.)
Several minutes later, the communications officer came back to my office and said “Ms. Wright, I read your telegram to the Secretary of State and I wish that you would reconsider your resignation. I don’t agree either with the Bush administration’s decision to attack Iraq, but I’m not going to resign. I haven’t yet sent your telegram to Washington and wish you would not resign!”
I told the Communications officer that I appreciated very much what she felt, but I needed her to send my resignation telegram. She went back to her office visibly disturbed. 15 minutes later, I called her and asked: “Have you sent my telegram?” She answered, “No, I was hoping you would reconsider.”
I told her of my appreciation of her concerns about my resignation, and repeated my request/order that she send the resignation telegram to Washington. A few minutes later, she brought me my copy of the telegram that she sent to Washington announcing my resignation from the Federal government.
As the telegram went to Washington, I forwarded emails to friends in U.S. diplomatic missions around the world explaining why I felt I must resign in opposition to the Bush administration’s war on Iraq. Within hours, I received over 400 emails in support and not one email in opposition to my decision.
One week later I left Mongolia. It took that long for packing materials to be brought from China into Mongolia as there were no household packing/moving companies in Mongolia.
Now, six years later, many have asked whether I have had any regrets about resignation from the U.S. government.
I must stay that, honestly, my only regret has been that so many people who felt the same way that I did, did not resign too. For me, my resignation freed me to speak freely about my concerns of the Bush administration’s war on Iraq, the treatment of prisoners in Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib and the unnecessary curtailment of civil liberties under the Patriot Act.
I cannot image working the past 6 years in the Bush administration and I fully intend to the Bush administration accountable for what it has done.
Since that fateful day, March 19, 2003, I have worked for peace in Iraq and have travelled for peace in other parts of the world, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran and Gaza.
After six years of no longer working for the United States government, I have no regrets. I have met and become a part of a strong movement within the United States that works for peace in the United States and in countries throughout the world-Iraq, Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran and Gaza.
As I was honored to serve my country by working within our government for over 35 years, I am now honored to be serving my country by actively and visibly confronting our government, demanding peace and justice and accountability for actions of government officials. Challenging government policies that are harmful, much less illegal, is a responsibility for us as citizens.
There are many ways to serve one’s country. I fully believe challenging policies that one feels are harmful to our nation is service, not treason.
So, six years after my resignation, I am proud to have resigned and value so much the new friends I have made, as well as the old friends from the past.
I will continue working for peace and justice every day.
Peace!
15 Comments so far
Show AllYou will forever be one of my heroes.
Your strength, courage, integrity and humility have been beacons to us all. You have led by example - something we rarely witness in the leadership of this country today.
Thank you so very much,
VFP Member
Thank you Ann,
Your courage and steady influence has encouraged me through a painful time of watching my country engage in a disaster of foreign aggression and destruction of an foreign nation, (Iraq) as well as greatly crippling our own country with debt, division, and loss of character. During even the worst of times, there are faithful Americans who inspire pride and hope. Thank you, God bless, and keep up the good work.
It is most unfortunate that more officers did not follow Ann's example to resign rather than participate in an illegal and unjust war.
Love you Ann,
You did the right thing then, you're doing the right thing now. Rock Solid. Keep going.
-Woody
The resignation dignifies the integrated scope of a people in the world community above the falability of a given administration. The activism in resilient, well documented and articulated confrontation of failed policy, perspective, actions, is a practice that aids the true record of history.
Thank you Ann Wright
Ann Wright would make an excellent secretary of state. With leaders like her, there is still hope for our planet.
Ann Wright, you are a true patriot and a real hero!! Thank you for your courage and example!! If only their were many more brave Americans like you then , perhaps, we would have a much better chance of getting out of the mess we are in and the criminals that orchestrated these crimes of war and crimes against humanity would be brought to JUSTICE! I wish you God Speed in your mission and may you find all the support you require and find success in this honorable task!
Conservatives/Liberals the terms are outmoded. Governors are less interested in the governed than they are about Re-election. Would *"Native Criminal Class", be a better descriptor? *Gore Vidal
Dear Ms. Wright;
Thank you for your contributions to this community. Whenever I have the opportunity to read a story, essay or report written by you I am always inspired and educated by your efforts to inform us at this website.
I am indebted to you for public announcements like your letter "Why I resigned", to journalism like "Is There an Army Cover Up of the Rape and Murder of Women Soldiers", thank you for your efforts to report the stories that have inspired you and for sharing those stories with our community.
Please help myself and the other members of our community to make informed decisions by continuing to produce articles for this website. I have written to my elected representatives to ask for their help to support legislation that would uncover the abuses of women soldiers, to legislation that would help to expose the real reasons for engaging in a war to look for weapons of mass destruction.
Thank you for your efforts to help to inspire and involve our efforts to change the ways that the U. S. Government is responsible for it's actions to the people of the nation.
Happy Anniversary, Colonel... if it ain't out of keepin' with the situation.
· Yr Obd't Servant
Mongolia? While I appreciate her ethical display...I wonder if anyone has noticed she has left yet?
"The only means of strengthening one's intellect is to make up one's mind about nothing, to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts." - John Keats
ignorance can be tolerated but an ignorant fool can only be pitied...
Freedom isn't free. Courageous people - moral people - are in such short supply these days, in any country. It's not just the US - this country has forced most of the rest of the world into accepting criminal behavior as the new 'norm' - but that doesn't make it either right, or workable. The criminal class rules - and until that is accepted and digested, there can be no 'recovery' - not of the economy, not of moral stature, not of society - and probably not of the planet itself. When criminals lead, the followers become criminals and/or enablers as well - if that's what people allow. Until we - the collective 'we' - divest ourselves of this immorality, cowardice, and fantasy - there is no hope for the future. All we have to look forward to is more misery, poverty, and grief - a society built on a foundation of lies, cheating, stealing, and barbarism is no society at all. It is just an amalgamation of losers.
I always feel a sense of pride when I hear Ann Wright's name mentioned - there is at least hope, even in the darkest of times. This new Dark Age will end, one way or the other. But at least some of us will have a clear conscience.
Dear Ann,
Thanks you for your principled stand at a time when most others of the same opionion were content to turn their backs and look the other way. Your military and diplomatic background give your views added credibility.
I shall always remember you sitting behind David Addingtom and John Yoo during their farcical and contemptous testimony before the house committee. The look of angry contempt on your face said it all for me too--so thank you for that.
My idea was to get about four husky Guantanamo types to strap these guys to a slant board put the towell over their face, start pouring water on them, and see if such "enhanced interogation techniques" would refresh their amnesiac memories. But your stare was probably a better idea.
Poet
Thank you Ms. Wright, for your courage and integrity and continued commitment.
When these things were announced this old Indian said the people of the Middle East get to be the new Indians. When I first saw your previous Head Honcho on the thing you call the tv when he was just running for his Party's nomination to run against Gore, I said he would lead your Nation in wars, start taking your Right away under your Constitution, and call for the New World Order.
He did all three things.
I figured his looting of your Treasury was a given.
I just forgave him as Creator has given all human beings Freewill Choice & your world of money money money is predictable as is the ambitions of the NWO.
According to what I read, meaning according to what I read, the Seventh Day Adventists thought your Govt was the Beast of Revelation when they were murdering off the Tribes & swiping the land? They may be right, but I can't say for 100 percent so see how things play out down the road of time.
Life is good. What an experience! It's always best to forgive.