Iraq Success Poses Problem for Obama

[Podunk]

She sounds like a hero. But not for our side.

[usasince1680]

Pdamerica org wrote:

Colonel Mary A. Wright's resignation letter
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 / Secretary of State Colin Powell US Department of State Washington, DC
Dear Secretary Powell: March 21, 2003 / http://tinyurl.com/835ub
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
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0303/032103wr...

The war began on March 20, 2003 and Ms. Wright resigned the very next day. No surprise here.

Many were angered that day. Ms. Wright was expressing her disappointment in Bush's actions and her feeling were shared by many members of congress who had voted for the Iraq war resolution by relying on Bush's promise to actively seek a United Nations Security Counsel resolution for unlimited inspections and who had expressed their belief that "given the present facts" a unilateral attack was not a good option.

Ms. Wright was certainly right when she said, "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."

We can't take back what has already happened. We need a President who will not make things worse and will keep us safe. That is not Obama.

[Podunk]

I don't remember needing the UN's permission to attack Bosnia.

[usasince1680]

Podunk wrote:

I don't remember needing the UN's permission to attack Bosnia.

The bombing of Bosnia and Kosovo was a NATO alliance and the United Nations was actively involved in law enforcement activities. It was the UN sanctions that led to the over throw of Milosevic by his own people his being tried for war crimes.

Bush decided decided to ignore the warnings of congress and attack Iraq alone and our reputation has been tarnished forever.

[Podunk]

It was UN sanctions that Saddam was in violation of too. I don't see the difference. Oh, no, wait, I know the difference. If Clinton did it, it was okay. If Bush does it, it's bad. gotcha.

[Borat]

Bored wrote:

<quoted text>
This war is not a do or die as you think. I say that as one that was duped right along with you. The US isolated Libya and IT WORKED. We will never win fighting these muslim die hards that have nothing to live for with the exception of a feisty camel flea in their arm pit at sun down.
Do you realize how many soliders come back with no legs, no arms, no eyes? IT IS NOT WORTH IT.
It really isn't. Only a fool would believe we could tame the Middle East like it was Germany. A FOOL!! And I say that with a three year stint in the middle east.

Nice of you to dodge and change the subject. Did you forget that the US Congress approved the war?

We are fully engaged there. There' no time machine to turn back the clock. That would be fantasy land.

Do we finish and turn it over to the new Iraqi government or do you pull out (Obama wanted last spring) and let the cards fall where they may which ensures defeat and ensures that al-qaida returns to America to inflict more damage to your "soft underbelly" of the "Paper Tiger"?

[Borat]

Bored wrote:

<quoted text>
America has really declined when she can only offer Obama or McCain. Neither one of them are fit for the job. I don't think McCain is going to make it until November. He looks eaten up with cancer, he isnot healthy. He has it, you know. Obama is a street kid in an empty suit.
ladeeda...

Agree that both are unqualified but we've been having these lesser of 2 evils contests for many cycles now.

I see a bad term looming for us and them with a quick boot after a single term of suffering.

Can only hope that the suffering is enough to bring people to their senses about real candidates so this lose/lose scenario doesn't happen again...for at least the 8 years that follow.