Friends of Courage to Resist

Ann Wright, Col., US Army (ret.)

Former State Department diplomat

I served 29 years in the US Army/Army Reserves primarily in Special Operations units and retired as a Colonel. I also served 16 years in the US diplomatic corps in Nicaragua, Grenada, Somalia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Sierra Leone, Micronesia and Mongolia. I was on the small team that reopened the US Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan in December, 2001.

I was one of three US diplomats who resigned in March, 2003 in opposition to the war on Iraq.

As I resigned my career on principle against an illegal war, I fully support the right of US military personnel who, in acts of conscience, refuse to go to a war of aggression, a war crime. While I could resign my career with no consequences other than not having a job, military personnel who take their stand of conscience face certain imprisonment.

Taking a stand of conscience against an illegal war while in the US military requires courage and bravery. I proudly support those who take such a stand.