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February 27, 2003

Diplomat John Brady Kiesling resigns his post at the US embassy in Greece with a scathing letter to Colin Powell.

“Our fervent pursuit of war with Iraq is driving us to squander the international legitimacy that has been America's most potent weapon…. We have begun to dismantle the largest and most effective web of international relationships the world has ever known. Our current course will bring instability and danger, not security…. We have not seen such systematic distortion of intelligence, such systematic manipulation of American opinion, since the war in Vietnam.

“Mr. Secretary, I have enormous respect for your character and ability. You have preserved more international credibility for us than our policy deserves, and salvaged something positive from the excesses of an ideological and self-serving Administration. But your loyalty to the President goes too far.”

Posted on 02/27/03 at 9:01 AM

Tags: Doubters, Powell, State

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