Three State Department Dissenters Visit Wisconsin, Ohio and New Mexico
Officials Resigned in Protest Over Bush Iraq Policy
WASHINGTON -- October 25 -- Three former Foreign Service Officers tell their compelling personal stories this week in a national speaking tour. Beginning today in Wisconsin, they will explain how President Bush's policies made their day-to-day work as US diplomats impossible and forced them to resign (see tour locations and dates below)."I served the United States for 35 years and under seven administrations,"says Ann Wright. "I resigned from a career as a diplomat -- a job I dearly loved -- because I could not defend the policies of the Bush administration toward Iraq. Ironically, as a 29 year veteran of the Army Reserves, I could still be sent there at any time."
"I left the Foreign Service because I thought President Bush had failed to consider the full ramifications of the war, including the number of casualties," says John Brown."I left the US Embassy in Athens at the beginning of March, 2003," says Brady Kiesling. "I emptied out my apartment and flew to New York to put forward as best I could the case that US foreign policy was on the wrong track."
All three reluctantly became activists and joined Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change (DMCC), an unprecedented coalition of over 50 career chiefs of mission and retired four-star military leaders which is urging that President Bush not be re-elected. On September 30 DMCC issued a statement, noting that, "The claim that we
are safer is the biggest lie of this campaign season." Many of the former officials served under President Reagan and President George H. W. Bush.
Schedule:
Monday, October 25, Green Bay, WI, UW Campus, Christe Theater. 12 noon
Tuesday, October 26, Columbus, OH, location TBA
Wednesday, October 27, Cincinnati, OH, UC Law School, 4:30 pm
Thursday, October 28, Albuquerque, NM, University of NM, Mitchell Hall
101, 7 pm
Friday, October 29, Taos, NM, Ramada Inn (615 Pueblo Del Sur), 6:30 pm
Saturday, October 30, Sante Fe, NM, Unitarian Church, Santa Fe, 1 pm
Ann Wright will also be visiting Jacksonville, Florida. Other members of DMCC, including former US Ambassador to Israel Sam Lewis have speaking engagements Tuesday in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.
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