- A group of heavy-hitting former US diplomats and military
officials has called on the American public to vote George Bush out of
office in November, accusing the President of undermining the nation's
interests and failing to provide proper leadership.
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- The 26 former officials - calling themselves Diplomats
and Military Commanders for Change - say they are not explicitly endorsing
the Democrat John Kerry. But they say Mr Bush's handling of issues ranging
from the war in Iraq through to the environment and Aids policy has left
them disillusioned.
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- "We agreed that we had just lost confidence in the
ability of the Bush administration to advocate for American interests or
to provide the kind of leadership that we think is essential," said
William Harrop, who served as the first President Bush's ambassador to
Israel, and previously in four African countries. "The group does
not endorse Kerry, although it more or less goes without saying in the
statement."
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- He said some of those involved in the project felt uncomfortable
making an explicitly political statement. But he added: "We just feel
very strongly that the country needs new leadership."
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- Among the group are 20 ambassadors appointed by both
Democratic and Republican presidents, other former state department officials
and long-serving military leaders.
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- © 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=531946
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