Veteran US Diplomat resigns over Iraq
Epimenedes | 27.02.2003 19:30
ATHENS, Greece - A veteran U.S. diplomat based in Greece has resigned to protest President Bush "fervent pursuit of war with Iraq."
ATHENS, Greece - A veteran U.S. diplomat based in Greece has resigned to protest President Bush "fervent pursuit of war with Iraq."
J. Brady Kiesling, who served as political officer at the Athens embassy, reportedly said in a resignation letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) that he left the diplomatic service because of his disagreement over the Bush administration's Iraq policy.
"Our fervent pursuit of war with Iraq is driving us to squander the international legitimacy that has been America's most potent weapon of both offense and defense since the days of Woodrow Wilson," Kiesling wrote, according to The New York Times.
The U.S. Embassy in Athens confirmed Thursday that the career diplomat had recently resigned "for personal reasons," and embassy officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the contents of the letter but could not provide a copy.
Kiesling has been a diplomat for about 20 years and had postings in the Middle East, Armenia and Greece.
Kiesling could not be reached for comment. Embassy officials said Kiesling was still in Greece but no longer at his former office.
In 1994, Kiesling received the William R. Rivkin Award "for constructive dissent" from the American Foreign Service Association, the professional organization of the U.S. Foreign Service.
The award recognizes midlevel officers "who have demonstrated the courage to challenge the system from within, no matter the issue or the consequences of their actions." Rivkin, who died in 1967, was a U.S. ambassador in Luxembourg and Senegal.
J. Brady Kiesling, who served as political officer at the Athens embassy, reportedly said in a resignation letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) that he left the diplomatic service because of his disagreement over the Bush administration's Iraq policy.
"Our fervent pursuit of war with Iraq is driving us to squander the international legitimacy that has been America's most potent weapon of both offense and defense since the days of Woodrow Wilson," Kiesling wrote, according to The New York Times.
The U.S. Embassy in Athens confirmed Thursday that the career diplomat had recently resigned "for personal reasons," and embassy officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the contents of the letter but could not provide a copy.
Kiesling has been a diplomat for about 20 years and had postings in the Middle East, Armenia and Greece.
Kiesling could not be reached for comment. Embassy officials said Kiesling was still in Greece but no longer at his former office.
In 1994, Kiesling received the William R. Rivkin Award "for constructive dissent" from the American Foreign Service Association, the professional organization of the U.S. Foreign Service.
The award recognizes midlevel officers "who have demonstrated the courage to challenge the system from within, no matter the issue or the consequences of their actions." Rivkin, who died in 1967, was a U.S. ambassador in Luxembourg and Senegal.
Epimenedes