U.S. diplomats who quit to protest Iraq war believe toppling Saddam hasn't made America safer

AP ^ | 25 May 2003 | Malcom Foster

[demlosers]

The three U.S. diplomats who resigned to protest the Iraq war say they're glad it ended fairly quickly but still think the war was unjustified -- and doubt toppling Saddam Hussein has made Americans any safer from terrorist attacks.

While there's no clear indication the recent suicide attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco were retaliation for the war, the former diplomats worry the occupation of Iraq could spur similar assaults on U.S. targets -- particularly if order isn't restored soon.

[demlosers]

"There's a lot of consternation at the State Department about the policies" of the Bush administration, said Wright, who visited the State Department earlier this month to see former colleagues and talk about the war.

Waaaaaah wimpy Clintonites! Why don't all you losers resign.

[litany_of_lies]

Since quitting, Kiesling has spoken at several universities, including Harvard, Rice and even the U.S. Military Academy, and written several articles. He is thinking of writing a book on flaws in U.S. foreign policy and some colleges have raised the possibility of a teaching position, he said.

Cashing in on "conscience" alert.

[vbmoneyspender]

I hope these people are forced someday to go visit the graves of the thousands upon thousands of Iraqis who were butchered by Hussein and his thugs.

[Mister Baredog]

"There's a lot of consternation at the State Department about the policies" of the Bush administration, said Wright, who visited the State Department earlier this month to see former colleagues and talk about the war.

Newt is right, the STATE DEPT needs a good house-cleaning, and some additional A*S KICKING.

[KC_Conspirator]

Good riddance to these "hate America" Klintonites. I'm sure they will make plenty of "Chris Hedges-like" speeches at universities in their years to come.

[Agricola]

All three of the above diplomats resigned because they believed the war was not in our interests, not because they somehow supported Hussein or his brutal terror tactics.

If anyone should be forced to visit the mass grave sites of those butchered in the put down of the 91' Shia uprising it is Dubya's dad.

[vbmoneyspender]

What these diplomats did is exactly the same as what the leftists, the French and the Germans did, which is to support a regime that is responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of people. And by the way, Hussein didn't start with his killing of Iraqis during the Shia uprising. Nor did Hussein stop with his killing of Iraqis after the Shia uprising ended. Finally, if you think the killing of Iraqis during the Shia uprising was bad, surely you must have supported the second war against Hussein to finish what hadn't been done during the first war.

[Agricola]

Opposing a war against a dictator is not supporting him as should go without saying. Besides, the war was not fought because Sadaam was a brutal tyrannt. It was supposedly fought because Sadaam's regime and his WMD's were an immediate threat to us.

[vbmoneyspender]

Opposing a war against a dictator is not supporting him as should go without saying.

I seem to recall Scott Ritter making that argument. However, because I am a little fuzzy on the logic of the argument, I had a bit of a problem parsing the distinction.

[GladesGuru]

Newt is a historian, and as such is surely aware that McCarthy was wrong about the number of Communists working at, or at least on the payroll of, the State Department. And the large "C" is the correct usage - see Russian records about how many were being paid by the Communist Party.

There were far more Communistsat State Department than McCarthy ever dreamed there were. And one could make a good case that their proteges are still there, and just as pro-Communist as their mentors ever were.

I hereby humbly make the following "Modest Proposal":
Without any warning, on a Tuesday morning, at 10:15 AM, simultaneously weld shut all doors leading out of Foggy Bottom, and burn the place!
There will, no doubt, be an EPA investigation into the resulting release of air pollutants, but the resulting fines could be paid with what we otherwise would have wasted on Foggy Bottom.

[McGavin999]

The three U.S. diplomats who resigned to protest the Iraq war say they're glad it ended fairly quickly but still think the war was unjustified -- and doubt toppling Saddam Hussein has made Americans any safer from terrorist attacks.

Maybe, maybe not, but getting rid of these three creeps sure has made us safer.

[Cacique]

In most countries the incoming regime after having replaced the outgoing one purges all supporters and sympathizers of the prior regime.

The practice in this country that I find exasperating is that only the top bureaucrats are replaced leaving below them a 5th column to constantly sabotage policy and derail efforts by the administration.

But the problem isn't merely Clintonistas or Democrats, it is much deeper than that. The foreign service agencies draw a large number of their personnel by recruiting from academia which in turn is heavily influenced by an internationalist Marxist anti-sovereignty ideology. This was true during the days of Senator McCarthy in the late 40's and early 50's. It is even truer now.

It matters little who we elect to guide and lead the administration as long as these saboteurs and socialist parasites are left in place to muck up the works.

[stubernx98]

You are absoultly correct. All buearuacracies operate the same way no matter who is on the top. They think they are superior professonals as compared to the politicians. It is true that there are many buearocrats that are dedicated to the country and do know what is going on, and try to protect us from the Pols.

However, The new President should send out a one page memo to each of the departments outlining his policies, and stating any one who does not support them should resign now, and if they don't, and are found subverting them, should be terminated(fired).

[Agricola]

You are correct. The life timers in the federal bureaucracy are far more liberal than the population as a whole. The most "conservative" bureacrat one would find today would resemble McCain in outlook. The furthest left would be outright communists (and they have a choke hold on the Justice Department.)

[dagnabbit]

Danny Glover was an invited speaker at the State Dept within the past year or so.

[donmeaker]

Julius Agricola, what a great name!

Estrada was in the Justice Department. Agh! Another Social Democrat appointed by a Republican, and blocked by the Communists!