Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change
Encyclopedia
Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change (DMCC) was an ad hoc organization of 27 retired and United States military
officers
and Foreign Service Officers who supported Democratic
U.S. Senator
John Kerry
of Massachusetts
against incumbent Republican
George W. Bush
in the 2004 presidential election
.
The group was formed in Washington, D.C.
on June 16, 2004, at the National Press Club. The group published an open letter that stated that President
George W. Bush
had "failed in the primary responsibilities of preserving national security
and providing world leadership" and had harmed foreign relations so badly that only a new leader can repair them.
This statement is especially noteworthy because several of the signatories had supported George W. Bush when he ran for president in 2000
, and a large number were appointed to positions by Republican presidents, including Bush's father, President George H.W. Bush.
A 27th member, Robert B. Oakley, was announced June 15, 2004.
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
officers
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
and Foreign Service Officers who supported Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
against incumbent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in the 2004 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
.
The group was formed in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on June 16, 2004, at the National Press Club. The group published an open letter that stated that President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
had "failed in the primary responsibilities of preserving national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
and providing world leadership" and had harmed foreign relations so badly that only a new leader can repair them.
This statement is especially noteworthy because several of the signatories had supported George W. Bush when he ran for president in 2000
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
, and a large number were appointed to positions by Republican presidents, including Bush's father, President George H.W. Bush.
Members
- Avis T. BohlenAvis BohlenAvis Thayer Bohlen is a diplomat and former Assistant Secretary for Arms Control and United States Ambassador to Bulgaria . Her parents were Charles E. Bohlen, former Ambassador to the Soviet Union , and Avis Howard Thayer...
, former Assistant Secretary of State for Arms ControlUnder Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security AffairsThe Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs is a position within the U.S. Department of State that serves as Senior Adviser to the President and the Secretary of State for Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament...
and Ambassador to BulgariaUnited States Ambassador to BulgariaThe United States Ambassador to Bulgaria is the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary from the United States to Bulgaria.- Ambassadors :* Diplomatic Agent* Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary... - William J. CroweWilliam J. CroweAdmiral William James Crowe, Jr. was a United States Navy Admiral who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, and as the ambassador to the United Kingdom under President Bill Clinton.-Biography:Crowe was born in La Grange, Kentucky...
, Ambassador to the United KingdomUnited States Ambassador to the United KingdomThe office of United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom was traditionally, and still is very much so today due to the Special Relationship, the most prestigious position in the United States Foreign Service...
under President Bill Clinton and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffChairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense...
under President Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor.... - Jeffrey DavidowJeffrey DavidowJeffrey Davidow is a career foreign service officer from the U.S. state of Virginia. Davidow has served as a member of the Senior Foreign Service, as well as having been the U.S. Ambassador to Zambia, Venezuela, and Mexico....
, former Ambassador to ZambiaUnited States Ambassador to ZambiaThe history of Ambassadors of the United States to Zambia began in 1964.Until 1964 Zambia had been a colony of the British Empire, first as Northern Rhodesia and then as a part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. On December 31, 1963, the federation was dissolved into Rhodesia and Northern...
, VenezuelaUnited States Ambassador to VenezuelaThe following is a list of United States ambassadors, or other chiefs of mission, to Venezuela. The title given by the United States State Department to this position is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.-Ambassadors:...
, and MexicoUnited States Ambassador to MexicoThe United States has maintained diplomatic relations with Mexico since 1823, when Andrew Jackson was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to that country. Jackson declined the appointment, however, and Joel R. Poinsett became the first U.S. envoy to Mexico in 1825. The rank...
. - William DePree, former Ambassador to BangladeshUnited States Ambassador to BangladeshThe United States Ambassador to Bangladesh is the official representative of the President of the United States to the head of state of Bangladesh....
and MozambiqueUnited States Ambassador to MozambiqueMozambique was an overseas possession of Portugal until 1975. On June 25, 1975, Portugal granted independence to Mozambique, much later than other European nations had freed their own African possessions.... - Donald B. EasumDonald B. EasumDonald Boyd Easum spent 27 years in the United States Foreign Service at posts in Nicaragua, Indonesia, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Upper Volta and Nigeria...
, former Ambassador to NigeriaUnited States Ambassador to Nigeria-Ambassadors:*Joseph Palmer II - Career FSO**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary**Appointment: September 23, 1960**Presentation of Credentials: October 4, 1960...
and Upper VoltaRepublic of Upper VoltaThe Republic of Upper Volta was established on December 11, 1958, as a self-governing colony within the French Community. Before attaining autonomy it had been French Upper Volta and part of the French Union. On August 5, 1960 it attained full independence from France.Thomas Sankara came to power... - Charles W. Freeman, former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
- William Harrop, former Ambassador to IsraelUnited States Ambassador to IsraelThe United States Ambassador to Israel is the official representative of the President of the United States to the head of state of Israel.Until 1948 the area that is now the state of Israel had been under British administration as part of the League of Nations/United Nations British Mandate for...
- Arthur A. HartmanArthur A. HartmanArthur Adair Hartman is a retired American career diplomat who served as Ambassador to France under Jimmy Carter and Ambassador to the Soviet Union under Ronald Reagan.-Career:...
, Ambassador to FranceUnited States Ambassador to FranceThis article is about the United States Ambassador to France. There has been a United States Ambassador to France since the American Revolution. The United States sent its first envoys to France in 1776, towards the end of the four-centuries-old Bourbon dynasty...
and to the Soviet Union - Joseph Hoar, former commander of United States Central CommandUnited States Central CommandThe United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense...
- H. Allen HolmesH. Allen HolmesHenry Allen Holmes was the United States Ambassador to Portugal from 1982 to 1985 and a career diplomat.-Biography:Born in Bucharest, Romania to American parents, Holmes earned his A.B. in 1954 at Princeton University, where he was a classmate of Donald Rumsfeld...
, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and former Ambassador to PortugalUnited States Ambassador to PortugalThis is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Portugal.Bilateral diplomatic relations between the United States and Portugal date from the earliest years of the United States. Following the Revolutionary War, Portugal was the first neutral country to recognize the United States. On February... - Robert V. KeeleyRobert V. KeeleyAmbassador Robert Vossler Keeley had a 34-year career in the Foreign Service of the United States, from 1956 to 1989. He served three times as Ambassador: to Greece , Zimbabwe , and Mauritius...
, former Ambassador to GreeceUnited States Ambassador to GreeceThis is a list of ambassadors from the United States to Greece.*Charles Keating Tuckerman *John M. Francis *John M. Read, Jr. *John M. Read, Jr....
, ZimbabweUnited States Ambassador to ZimbabweThe first United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe was appointed on May 23, 1980, after the Republic of Zimbabwe came into being to replace the previous white-minority government of Rhodesia, and its successor Zimbabwe-Rhodesia ....
, and MauritiusUnited States Ambassador to MauritiusThe United States Ambassador to Mauritius is the official representative of the government of the United States to the government of Mauritius. The ambassador is concurrently the ambassador to Seychelles, while resident in Port Louis, Mauritius.-Ambassadors:... - Samuel LewisSamuel W. LewisSamuel Winfield Lewis is a retired American diplomat. During his lengthy career with the United States Department of State he served as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs , U.S. ambassador to Israel and Director of Policy Planning...
, former Ambassador to IsraelUnited States Ambassador to IsraelThe United States Ambassador to Israel is the official representative of the President of the United States to the head of state of Israel.Until 1948 the area that is now the state of Israel had been under British administration as part of the League of Nations/United Nations British Mandate for... - Princeton N. LymanPrinceton N. LymanPrinceton Nathan Lyman is a diplomat and former United States Ambassador to Nigeria and South Africa , and former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs...
, former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization AffairsAssistant Secretary of State for International Organization AffairsThe Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs is the head of the Bureau of International Organization Affairs within the American Department of State that creates and executes policy in international organizations such as the United Nations...
, and Ambassador to South AfricaUnited States Ambassador to South AfricaBefore 1902, The southern part of Africa that is now South Africa was under the hegemony of Great Britain. There also were two self-proclaimed independent states: Transvaal and the Orange Free State. The British and the Boers fought two wars known as the First Boer War and the Second Boer War...
and NigeriaUnited States Ambassador to Nigeria-Ambassadors:*Joseph Palmer II - Career FSO**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary**Appointment: September 23, 1960**Presentation of Credentials: October 4, 1960... - Donald McHenryDonald McHenryDonald Franchot McHenry is a former American diplomat. He was the United States Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations from September 1979 until January 20, 1981.-Biography:...
, former Ambassador to the United NationsUnited States Ambassador to the United NationsThe United States Ambassador to the United Nations is the leader of the U.S. delegation, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The position is more formally known as the "Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador... - Merrill McPeak, former Chief of Staff of the United States Air ForceChief of Staff of the United States Air ForceThe Chief of Staff of the Air Force is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Air Force, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Air Force, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the...
- Jack F. Matlock, Jr.Jack F. Matlock, Jr.Jack Foust Matlock, Jr. is a former American ambassador, career Foreign Service Officer, a teacher, an historian, and a linguist. He was a specialist in Soviet affairs during some of the most tumultuous years of the Cold War, and served as U.S...
, a member of the National Security CouncilUnited States National Security CouncilThe White House National Security Council in the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the...
under ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1987 to 1991 - George MooseGeorge MooseGeorge Edward Moose is an American diplomat who served as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador to the UN agencies in Geneva, and as Ambassador to the Republics of Benin and Senegal...
, former Ambassador to SenegalUnited States Ambassador to SenegalThe United States Ambassador to Senegal is the official representative of the President of the United States to the head of state of Senegal. The ambassador is concurrently the ambassador to Guinea-Bissau, while resident in Dakar, Senegal....
and BeninUnited States Ambassador to BeninThe Kingdom of Dahomey was an overseas possession of France—part of French West Africa—until 1958. In that year Dahomey became an autonomous republic, and gained full independence in 1960. The United States immediately recognized Dahomey and began the process of initiating diplomatic relations. A... - David D. NewsomDavid D. NewsomDavid Dunlop Newsom was the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 1969 until 1974. Also, he was the United States Ambassador to the Philippines from 1977 to 1978....
, former Ambassador to the PhilippinesUnited States Ambassador to the PhilippinesThe office of the United States Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines was established on July 4, 1946 after the Philippines gained its independence from the United States....
and IndonesiaUnited States Ambassador to IndonesiaThis is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Indonesia.Indonesia had been a Dutch colony since 1800 as a part of the Dutch East Indies. The Dutch were expelled in March 1942 by the Japanese occupation of Indonesia. After the surrender of Japan in 1945, Sukarno declared independence on... - Phyllis Oakley, former Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research
- Robert B. Oakley, former Ambassador to PakistanUnited States Ambassador to PakistanThe U.S. embassy in Karachi was established August 15, 1947 with Edward W. Holmes as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim, pending the appointment of an ambassador. The first ambassador, Paul H. Alling, was appointed on September 20, 1947. Anne W. Patterson was nominated as United States Ambassador to...
, SomaliaUnited States Ambassador to SomaliaSomalia was formed July 1, 1960, from the unification of the British protectorate of Somaliland with Italian Somaliland. The United States immediately recognized the Somali government and moved to establish diplomatic relations. The U.S. Embassy in the capital Mogadiscio was established on July...
and ZaireUnited States Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the CongoThis is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.From 1877 until 1960, the republic had been a colony of Belgium, first under the name Congo Free State and then Belgian Congo.... - James D. Phillips, former Ambassador to the Republic of the CongoUnited States Ambassador to the Republic of the CongoThis is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to the Republic of the Congo.From 1885 until 1960, the republic had been under the control of France as a protectorate. In 1908, France organized French Equatorial Africa , comprising its colonies of Middle Congo , Gabon, Chad, and Oubangui-Chari...
and BurundiUnited States Ambassador to BurundiThe part of Africa that is now Burundi and Rwanda was a feudal monarchy headed by a mwami and a ganwa, a feudal hierarchy of Tutsi nobles and gentry until 1890. In that year the Germans attacked the nation and attempted to subdue it with armed force. Eventually the Germans backed an attempted coup... - John ReinhardtJohn ReinhardtJohn Edward Reinhardt is a retired American ambassador and diplomat.Reinhardt was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. He attended the University of Chicago, initially pursuing a graduate degree in English, but did not finish on account to serving in World War Two. His doctorate in English was completed...
, former Director of the United States Information AgencyUnited States Information AgencyThe United States Information Agency , which existed from 1953 to 1999, was a United States agency devoted to "public diplomacy". In 1999, USIA's broadcasting functions were moved to the newly created Broadcasting Board of Governors, and its exchange and non-broadcasting information functions were...
and Ambassador to NigeriaUnited States Ambassador to Nigeria-Ambassadors:*Joseph Palmer II - Career FSO**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary**Appointment: September 23, 1960**Presentation of Credentials: October 4, 1960... - William Y. SmithWilliam Y. SmithGeneral William Young Smith is a retired United States Air Force four star general who served as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe from 1979 to 1981 and as Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command from 1981 to 1983.Smith was born in 1925, in Hot Springs, Arkansas,...
, former Chief of Staff for Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers EuropeSupreme Headquarters Allied Powers EuropeSupreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons... - Ronald I. SpiersRonald I. SpiersRonald Ian “Ron” Spiers was a former career diplomat and United States Ambassador.-Early life and military career:Spiers was born in Orange, New Jersey July 9, 1925 but grew up in Peru, London, Paris and Brussels. During World War II, he served as an Ensign in the United States Navy in the war's...
, Under-Secretary-General of the United NationsUnder-Secretary-General of the United NationsAn Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations is a senior official within the United Nations System, normally appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Secretary-General for a renewable term of four years....
for Political Affairs and former Ambassador to the BahamasUnited States Ambassador to the BahamasThe Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Bahamas, usually simply called U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas, is an official position and title appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate by majority vote...
, TurkeyUnited States Ambassador to TurkeyThe United States of America has maintained many high level contacts with Turkey since the nineteenth century.-Chargé d'Affaires:*George W. Erving *David Porter -Minister Resident:*David Porter *Dabney Smith Carr...
, and PakistanUnited States Ambassador to PakistanThe U.S. embassy in Karachi was established August 15, 1947 with Edward W. Holmes as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim, pending the appointment of an ambassador. The first ambassador, Paul H. Alling, was appointed on September 20, 1947. Anne W. Patterson was nominated as United States Ambassador to... - Michael Sterner, former Ambassador to the United Arab EmiratesUnited States Ambassador to the United Arab EmiratesThe Ambassador of the United States to the United Arab Emirates is the official representative of the President of the United States to the head of state of the United Arab Emirates ....
- Stansfield TurnerStansfield TurnerStansfield M. Turner is a retired Admiral and former Director of Central Intelligence. He is currently a senior research scholar at the University of Maryland, College Park School of Public Policy....
, former Director of the Central Intelligence AgencyDirector of the Central Intelligence AgencyDirector of the Central Intelligence Agency serves as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, which is part of the United States Intelligence Community. The Director reports to the Director of National Intelligence . The Director is assisted by the Deputy Director of the Central... - Alexander WatsonAlexander WatsonAlexander Fletcher Watson is a retired American ambassador and diplomat.Watson was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Harvard University, earning a bachelor's degree in government in 1961, and joined the Foreign Service in 1962....
, former Ambassador to BrazilUnited States Ambassador to BrazilThe following is a list of Ambassadors of the United States, or other chiefs of mission, to Brazil. The title given by the United States State Department to this position is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.-See also:...
and PeruUnited States Ambassador to PeruThe following is a list of United States Ambassadors, or other Chiefs of Mission, to Peru. The title given by the United States State Department to this position is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.-See also:...
A 27th member, Robert B. Oakley, was announced June 15, 2004.
External links
- Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change Official Statement - June 16, 2004
- Webcast of the press conference - June 16, 2004 at the National Press Club.