Washington: In the first signs of brewing discontent in the Bush administration over
its Iraq policy, two top US diplomats have so far resigned, saying they cannot
support the President's war plans.
John Brady Kiesling, Political Consular at the US Embassy in Athens, resigned in
February, protesting the administration's Iraq policy.
Joining him, a veteran US diplomat John Brown sent in his papers, saying he could
not support Washington's Iraq policy as it was fomenting a massive rise in anti-US
sentiment around the world.
Brown, who joined the State Department in 1981, said in his resignation letter to
Secretary of State Colin Powell that he agreed with Kiesling's viewpoint.
"I am joining my colleague John Brady Kiesling in submitting my resignation from the
Foreign Service – effective immediately – because I cannot in good conscience
support President Bush's war plans against Iraq," he said.
"Throughout the globe, the United States is becoming associated with the unjustified
use of force," Brown said in the letter.
"The President's disregard for views in other nations, borne out by his neglect of
public diplomacy, is giving birth to an anti-American Century," he said.
PTI
