John E. Herbst
Encyclopedia
John Edward Herbst is a retired American
diplomat
who was the United States Ambassador to Ukraine
from September, 2003 to May, 2006 and United States Ambassador to Uzbekistan
from 2000 to 2003. Herbst is married to Nadezda Christoff Herbst and has five children.
Education =
Herbst received a Bachelor of Science
in Foreign Service from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University
in 1974 and a Master of Arts
in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Medford, MA) in 1978. He also attended the Johns Hopkins University
School of Advanced International Studies in Bologna
, Italy
.
Career =
Herbst joined the United States Foreign Service
in 1979. He has worked as a political counselor at the US embassies in Tel Aviv
, Israel
, Moscow
, Russia
, and Riyadh
, Saudi Arabia
. He has also worked as the Director of Regional Affairs in the Near East Bureau of the United States State Department, as Director of the Office of Independent States and Commonwealth Affairs, as Principal Deputy to the Ambassador-at-large
for the Newly Independent States, and as US Consul General in Jerusalem. He was appointed Ambassador to Uzbekistan
in 2000, and to Ukraine in 2003. In 2006, Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice
appointed Ambassador Herbst as Coordinator for the Office of Reconstruction and Stabilization
. He assumed the new position in the summer of that year.
Center for Complex Operations in July 2010. As Director, Ambassador Herbst will use his 30 years of United States Foreign Service
experience to benefit the careers of professionals who will become the next generation of national defense practitioners. As a stability expert, Ambassador Herbst will provide guidance to students and faculty at the National Defense University
, effectively continuing the Center for Complex Operations’ excellence as the leading university in diplomacy, defense and development.
, grew its ranks to over 1,000, and oversaw their missions in countries that include Sudan
, Chad
, Haiti
, Lebanon
, Kosovo
, Iraq
and Afghanistan
. Under Ambassador Herbst’s direction the Civilian Response Corps
and the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization
supported over 20 U.S. Embassies. His responsibilities included planning and coordinating to prevent conflict and deliver sustainable stabilization solutions to countries in danger of, emerging from or in conflict.
Ambassador Herbst was particularly successful in building interagency support and using the concept of smart power
through policy committees and coordination teams that include persons from the United States Agency for International Development
and the departments of Justice
, Commerce
, Agriculture
, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services
and Treasury.
announced the creation of the Australian Civilian Corps (ACC) at the East Asia Summit
in Thailand. In order to collaborate and build capacity of S/CRS
and the ACC, Ambassador Herbst coordinated the signing of a memorandum. The memorandum detailed how the two organizations would exchange lessons learned and performance measurement methodologies in order to arrive at conflict prevention and reconstruction and stabilization goals. The memorandum focuses on building sustainable peace through enhancing interoperability among civilian reconstruction and stabilization organizations and strengthening civilian capabilities across the globe. The memorandum is slated for review in 2013.
and Stability Operations
: Approaches to Interagency Integration given before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee
meeting jointly with Terrorism and Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee of the Committee on Armed Services, Ambassador Herbst discussed how the system has been created in response to ongoing struggles to synchronize and act in tandem with a strategic plan. Identified in National Presidential Security Directive 44 as both complex and challenging, coordinating the interagency became a hurdle that Ambassador Herbst and S/CRS
had to maintain composure and patience but succeeded with in numerous countries.
Ambassador Herbst related the Interagency Management System to the Goldwater-Nichols Act
, saying “I think that the Interagency Management System under National Security Presidential Directive 44 is roughly analogous to Goldwater-Nichols
. This National Security Presidential Directive and our agreement as we implement it have established interagency coordination which did not exist in the past.” In the short term Ambassador Herbst saw the Interagency Management System as a way to immediately meet challenges faced in Iraq
by coordinating with the military in a way that engaged civilians and the interagency. He articulated the results of future engagements in Afghanistan
and foresaw a way to avoid duplicate efforts and reach unity of effort between command structures.
, Ambassador Herbst led the Civilian Response Corps
into the civilian surge, providing whole-of-government expertise and building Afghan capacity at provincial and command levels. His team improved cooperation between military and civilian counterparts starting with a civilian-military group in Kabul
, managed the plans integrating American
efforts in Afghanistan
, and authored the civilian-military operational framework for the twelve U.S.
-led Provincial Reconstruction Team
s.
on October 28, 2000 and presented his credentials to Uzbek President Islam Karimov on November 1, 2000. Ambassador Herbst, serving as U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan during the early stages of Operation Enduring Freedom, helped arrange base access in the buildup stages.
In the aftermath of 9/11, Uzbekistan became an area of heightened importance to the US, owing to its border with Afghanistan
, and a strategic ally in the War on Terror
. One important feature of this during his tenure was the leasing of the Karshi-Khanabad
airbase to support missions against al-Qaeda
. His British counterpart from 2002 was Craig Murray
, who writes about their encounters in his 2006 memoir Murder in Samarkand - A British Ambassador's Controversial Defiance of Tyranny in the War on Terror.
Ambassador Herbst represented U.S.
assistance to the Government of Uzbekistan
and facilitated a number of changes in the country, including granting the International Committee of the Red Cross
access to the prisons in Uzbekistan
. Ambassador Herbst facilitated the creation of a non-governmental organization
focused on human rights in the country. Ambassador Herbst was involved in justice reform and during his tenure the judicial process was applied to two security personnel who abused their authority while working at a prison in Uzbekistan
.
in Ukraine
, Ambassador Herbst was involved in the events which led up to and defined Viktor Yushchenko
’s presidency. Ambassador Herbst was described by the Daily Times as “an erudite, charming and linguistically gifted diplomat” whose accomplishments “conveyed Bush
policy that Ukraine
should not join the Common Economic Space with Russia
, Belarus
and Kazakhstan
because ‘it is not in [its] interests to have this integration complicated’.”
In 2005 Ambassador Herbst, serving as U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine
, called the reputation of Mykola Bilokin, Minister of the Internal Affairs of Ukraine from 2003 to 2005, “unacceptable.” Later in the month Ambassador Herbst worked with newly appointed Minister of the Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Yuri Lutsenko, to reform the ministry. The new ministry was restructured to meet the changing political and socio-economic environment in Ukraine
. During the meeting Ambassador Herbst offered the support of American law enforcement officers and noted that the US is willing to provide aid to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Following the Orange Revolution
, Ambassador Herbst facilitated funding of objective sources of news in Ukraine
. His efforts led to the United States Agency of International Development funding $2.4 million to be spent towards the development of mass media
in the country. Ambassador Herbst implemented his strategy by focusing on readying trainers and educators in the communications discipline, including Ukraine
’s Center for Ukrainian Reform Education and Kyiv non-governmental organization
Telekritika. Ambassador Herbst oversaw tertiary funding including the Open Media Fund, sponsored by the International Renaissance Foundation and worked with his associates at the U.S. Embassy, including press attaché Brent Byers, to allocate $750,000 in 2005. Ambassador Herbst oversaw funding in support of independent media in Ukraine
. Ambassador Herbst coordinated with the European Commission to Ukraine and effectively secured an additional 3.5 million Euro
s between 2003 and 2005.
to gain international support of the Global Partnership Against the Proliferation of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. During the conference Ambassador Herbst delivered Ukrainian Foreign Minister
Kostyantyn Gryshchenko a letter from Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton
. The letter encouraged Ukraine
to support the Global Partnership. The letter also discussed nonproliferation topics introduced at the 2002 G-8 Summit
, a summit which led to the conference in Moscow
discussing the Global Partnership.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
who was the United States Ambassador to Ukraine
United States Ambassador to Ukraine
The history of Ambassadors of the United States to Ukraine began in 1992.Until 1991 the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic had been a constituent SSR of the Soviet Union. Upon the breakup of the USSR, the parliament of Ukraine declared the nation’s independence on August 24, 1991...
from September, 2003 to May, 2006 and United States Ambassador to Uzbekistan
United States Ambassador to Uzbekistan
This is a list of United States ambassadors to Uzbekistan.The United States recognized Uzbekistan on December 25, 1991, and established diplomatic relations on February 19, 1992.The embassy was opened by interim ambassador Michael Mozur on March 16, 1992....
from 2000 to 2003. Herbst is married to Nadezda Christoff Herbst and has five children.
Education =
Herbst received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Foreign Service from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1974 and a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Medford, MA) in 1978. He also attended the Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
School of Advanced International Studies in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Career =
Herbst joined the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
in 1979. He has worked as a political counselor at the US embassies in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. He has also worked as the Director of Regional Affairs in the Near East Bureau of the United States State Department, as Director of the Office of Independent States and Commonwealth Affairs, as Principal Deputy to the Ambassador-at-large
Ambassador-at-large
An ambassador-at-large is a Diplomat of the highest rank or a Minister who is accredited to represent his country internationally.Unlike an ambassador-in-residence who is usually limited to a country and/or embassy, the ambassador-at-large is entrusted to operate in several usually neighboring...
for the Newly Independent States, and as US Consul General in Jerusalem. He was appointed Ambassador to Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
in 2000, and to Ukraine in 2003. In 2006, Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
appointed Ambassador Herbst as Coordinator for the Office of Reconstruction and Stabilization
Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization
The Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations is a United States Department of State Office that coordinates United States' governmental reconstruction and stabilization efforts in developing countries before, during, and after armed conflict....
. He assumed the new position in the summer of that year.
National Defense University Center for Complex Operations
Ambassador John E. Herbst was appointed Director of the National Defense UniversityNational Defense University
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy. It is chartered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Navy Vice Admiral...
Center for Complex Operations in July 2010. As Director, Ambassador Herbst will use his 30 years of United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
experience to benefit the careers of professionals who will become the next generation of national defense practitioners. As a stability expert, Ambassador Herbst will provide guidance to students and faculty at the National Defense University
National Defense University
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy. It is chartered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Navy Vice Admiral...
, effectively continuing the Center for Complex Operations’ excellence as the leading university in diplomacy, defense and development.
Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization
Ambassador Herbst assumed the position of Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization in the summer of 2006. During his tenure, Ambassador Herbst launched the Civilian Response CorpsCivilian Response Corps
The Civilian Response Corps is a program of the United States Department of State, Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization...
, grew its ranks to over 1,000, and oversaw their missions in countries that include Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
, Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Under Ambassador Herbst’s direction the Civilian Response Corps
Civilian Response Corps
The Civilian Response Corps is a program of the United States Department of State, Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization...
and the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization
Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization
The Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations is a United States Department of State Office that coordinates United States' governmental reconstruction and stabilization efforts in developing countries before, during, and after armed conflict....
supported over 20 U.S. Embassies. His responsibilities included planning and coordinating to prevent conflict and deliver sustainable stabilization solutions to countries in danger of, emerging from or in conflict.
Ambassador Herbst was particularly successful in building interagency support and using the concept of smart power
Smart power
Smart power is a term in international relations defined by Joseph Nye as "the ability to combine hard and soft power into a winning strategy." According to Chester A. Crocker, Fen Osler Hampson, and Pamela R...
through policy committees and coordination teams that include persons from the United States Agency for International Development
United States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
and the departments of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
, Commerce
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
, Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
and Treasury.
US and Australia Memorandum of Understanding
In October 2009 Australian Prime Minister Kevin RuddKevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
announced the creation of the Australian Civilian Corps (ACC) at the East Asia Summit
East Asia Summit
The East Asia Summit is a forum held annually by leaders of, initially, 16 countries in the East Asian region. Membership will expand to 18 countries including the United States and Russia at the Sixth EAS in 2011. EAS meetings are held after annual ASEAN leaders’ meetings...
in Thailand. In order to collaborate and build capacity of S/CRS
Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization
The Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations is a United States Department of State Office that coordinates United States' governmental reconstruction and stabilization efforts in developing countries before, during, and after armed conflict....
and the ACC, Ambassador Herbst coordinated the signing of a memorandum. The memorandum detailed how the two organizations would exchange lessons learned and performance measurement methodologies in order to arrive at conflict prevention and reconstruction and stabilization goals. The memorandum focuses on building sustainable peace through enhancing interoperability among civilian reconstruction and stabilization organizations and strengthening civilian capabilities across the globe. The memorandum is slated for review in 2013.
Interagency Management System
In order to coordinate more fully with interagency participants Ambassador Herbst developed the Interagency Management System. In testimony on Irregular WarfareIrregular warfare
Irregular warfare is warfare in which one or more combatants are irregular military rather than regular forces. Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare, and so is asymmetric warfare....
and Stability Operations
Stability and support operations
Stability and support operations is a US military term for operations involve military forces providing safety and support to friendly noncombatants while suppressing threatening forces....
: Approaches to Interagency Integration given before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee
United States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
House Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee in the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:...
meeting jointly with Terrorism and Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee of the Committee on Armed Services, Ambassador Herbst discussed how the system has been created in response to ongoing struggles to synchronize and act in tandem with a strategic plan. Identified in National Presidential Security Directive 44 as both complex and challenging, coordinating the interagency became a hurdle that Ambassador Herbst and S/CRS
Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization
The Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations is a United States Department of State Office that coordinates United States' governmental reconstruction and stabilization efforts in developing countries before, during, and after armed conflict....
had to maintain composure and patience but succeeded with in numerous countries.
Ambassador Herbst related the Interagency Management System to the Goldwater-Nichols Act
Goldwater-Nichols Act
The Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 , , made the most sweeping changes to the United States Department of Defense since the department was established in the National Security Act of 1947 by reworking the command structure of the United States military...
, saying “I think that the Interagency Management System under National Security Presidential Directive 44 is roughly analogous to Goldwater-Nichols
Goldwater-Nichols Act
The Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 , , made the most sweeping changes to the United States Department of Defense since the department was established in the National Security Act of 1947 by reworking the command structure of the United States military...
. This National Security Presidential Directive and our agreement as we implement it have established interagency coordination which did not exist in the past.” In the short term Ambassador Herbst saw the Interagency Management System as a way to immediately meet challenges faced in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
by coordinating with the military in a way that engaged civilians and the interagency. He articulated the results of future engagements in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and foresaw a way to avoid duplicate efforts and reach unity of effort between command structures.
Afghanistan
In AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Ambassador Herbst led the Civilian Response Corps
Civilian Response Corps
The Civilian Response Corps is a program of the United States Department of State, Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization...
into the civilian surge, providing whole-of-government expertise and building Afghan capacity at provincial and command levels. His team improved cooperation between military and civilian counterparts starting with a civilian-military group in Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, managed the plans integrating American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
efforts in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and authored the civilian-military operational framework for the twelve U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-led Provincial Reconstruction Team
Provincial reconstruction team
A Provincial Reconstruction Team is a unit introduced by the United States government, consisting of military officers, diplomats, and reconstruction subject matter experts, working to support reconstruction efforts in unstable states. PRTs were first established in Afghanistan in late 2001 or...
s.
U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan
Ambassador Herbst was nominated by President Clinton in February to be the U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan. The Senate confirmed his nomination on September 8. Ambassador Herbst arrived in TashkentTashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...
on October 28, 2000 and presented his credentials to Uzbek President Islam Karimov on November 1, 2000. Ambassador Herbst, serving as U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan during the early stages of Operation Enduring Freedom, helped arrange base access in the buildup stages.
In the aftermath of 9/11, Uzbekistan became an area of heightened importance to the US, owing to its border with Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and a strategic ally in the War on Terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
. One important feature of this during his tenure was the leasing of the Karshi-Khanabad
Karshi-Khanabad
Karshi-Khanabad is an air base in southeastern Uzbekistan, just east of Karshi. It is home to the 60th Separate Mixed Aviation Brigade of the Uzbek Air Force. A section of the base serves as a commercial airport, supporting a limited number of passenger flights.From 1954 to 1981, the 735th Fighter...
airbase to support missions against al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
. His British counterpart from 2002 was Craig Murray
Craig Murray
Craig John Murray is a British political activist, former ambassador to Uzbekistan and former Rector of the University of Dundee....
, who writes about their encounters in his 2006 memoir Murder in Samarkand - A British Ambassador's Controversial Defiance of Tyranny in the War on Terror.
Ambassador Herbst represented U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
assistance to the Government of Uzbekistan
Politics of Uzbekistan
The politics of Uzbekistan take place in a framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Uzbekistan is both head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament,...
and facilitated a number of changes in the country, including granting the International Committee of the Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. States parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect the victims of international and...
access to the prisons in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
. Ambassador Herbst facilitated the creation of a non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
focused on human rights in the country. Ambassador Herbst was involved in justice reform and during his tenure the judicial process was applied to two security personnel who abused their authority while working at a prison in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
.
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine
During the period that became known as the Orange RevolutionOrange Revolution
The Orange Revolution was a series of protests and political events that took place in Ukraine from late November 2004 to January 2005, in the immediate aftermath of the run-off vote of the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election which was claimed to be marred by massive corruption, voter...
in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, Ambassador Herbst was involved in the events which led up to and defined Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko is a former President of Ukraine. He took office on January 23, 2005, following a period of popular unrest known as the Orange Revolution...
’s presidency. Ambassador Herbst was described by the Daily Times as “an erudite, charming and linguistically gifted diplomat” whose accomplishments “conveyed 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....
policy that Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
should not join the Common Economic Space with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
and Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
because ‘it is not in [its] interests to have this integration complicated’.”
In 2005 Ambassador Herbst, serving as U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine
United States Ambassador to Ukraine
The history of Ambassadors of the United States to Ukraine began in 1992.Until 1991 the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic had been a constituent SSR of the Soviet Union. Upon the breakup of the USSR, the parliament of Ukraine declared the nation’s independence on August 24, 1991...
, called the reputation of Mykola Bilokin, Minister of the Internal Affairs of Ukraine from 2003 to 2005, “unacceptable.” Later in the month Ambassador Herbst worked with newly appointed Minister of the Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Yuri Lutsenko, to reform the ministry. The new ministry was restructured to meet the changing political and socio-economic environment in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. During the meeting Ambassador Herbst offered the support of American law enforcement officers and noted that the US is willing to provide aid to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Following the Orange Revolution
Orange Revolution
The Orange Revolution was a series of protests and political events that took place in Ukraine from late November 2004 to January 2005, in the immediate aftermath of the run-off vote of the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election which was claimed to be marred by massive corruption, voter...
, Ambassador Herbst facilitated funding of objective sources of news in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. His efforts led to the United States Agency of International Development funding $2.4 million to be spent towards the development of mass media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
in the country. Ambassador Herbst implemented his strategy by focusing on readying trainers and educators in the communications discipline, including Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
’s Center for Ukrainian Reform Education and Kyiv non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
Telekritika. Ambassador Herbst oversaw tertiary funding including the Open Media Fund, sponsored by the International Renaissance Foundation and worked with his associates at the U.S. Embassy, including press attaché Brent Byers, to allocate $750,000 in 2005. Ambassador Herbst oversaw funding in support of independent media in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. Ambassador Herbst coordinated with the European Commission to Ukraine and effectively secured an additional 3.5 million Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s between 2003 and 2005.
G-8 Global Partnership Against the Proliferation of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction
On April 23–24, 2002, Ambassador Herbst attended an international conference in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to gain international support of the Global Partnership Against the Proliferation of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. During the conference Ambassador Herbst delivered Ukrainian Foreign Minister
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is the Ukrainian government ministry which oversees the foreign relations of Ukraine.-Historical overlook:...
Kostyantyn Gryshchenko a letter from Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton
John R. Bolton
John Robert Bolton is an American lawyer and diplomat who has served in several Republican presidential administrations. He served as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations from August 2005 until December 2006 on a recess appointment...
. The letter encouraged Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
to support the Global Partnership. The letter also discussed nonproliferation topics introduced at the 2002 G-8 Summit
28th G8 summit
The 28th G8 Summit took place in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada on June 26 and June 27, 2002.-Overview:The Group of Seven was an unofficial forum which brought together the heads of the richest industrialized countries: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada...
, a summit which led to the conference in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
discussing the Global Partnership.