Josh Paul, who spent a decade in State's bureau overseeing arms sales, exclusively spoke with HuffPost after quitting over the U.S. approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“When I came to this bureau … I knew it was not without its moral complexity and moral compromises, and I made myself a promise that I would stay for as long as I felt … the harm I might do could be outweighed by the good I could do,” Paul wrote on LinkedIn. “In my 11 years I have made more moral compromises than I can recall, each heavily, but each with my promise to myself in mind, and intact. I am leaving today because I believe that in our current course with regards to the continued – indeed, expanded and expedited – provision of lethal arms to Israel – I have reached the end of that bargain.”
Gutty. Well thanks for trying to change things from the inside, it’s a shame things are set up the way they are. Not to mention having the strength to stick to your morals and leave when you realize there’s no more good you can do.
A minor point, but I’m glad that it’s on LinkedIn. My entire feed is full of 2nd/3rd degree people “standing with israel” and whatnot so they can “virtue”-signal for any future Raytheon job. Absolute amoral worms, but they know which side is hiring. Glad to see at least one lanyard-american going against the grain.
“When I came to this bureau … I knew it was not without its moral complexity and moral compromises, and I made myself a promise that I would stay for as long as I felt … the harm I might do could be outweighed by the good I could do,” Paul wrote on LinkedIn. “In my 11 years I have made more moral compromises than I can recall, each heavily, but each with my promise to myself in mind, and intact. I am leaving today because I believe that in our current course with regards to the continued – indeed, expanded and expedited – provision of lethal arms to Israel – I have reached the end of that bargain.”
Gutty. Well thanks for trying to change things from the inside, it’s a shame things are set up the way they are. Not to mention having the strength to stick to your morals and leave when you realize there’s no more good you can do.
A minor point, but I’m glad that it’s on LinkedIn. My entire feed is full of 2nd/3rd degree people “standing with israel” and whatnot so they can “virtue”-signal for any future Raytheon job. Absolute amoral worms, but they know which side is hiring. Glad to see at least one lanyard-american going against the grain.