Editing Dan Coats (section)

===US Ambassador to Germany (2001–2005)===
[[File:Daniel Coats.jpg|thumb|right|Ambassador Daniel Coats]]
From August 15, 2001, to February 28, 2005, Coats was [[George W. Bush]]'s [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Germany|ambassador to Germany]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Speeches by Ambassador Coats |url=http://germany.usembassy.gov/germany/coats_speeches.html |publisher=[[United States Ambassador to Germany|United States Diplomatic Mission to Germany]] |access-date=April 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827195257/http://germany.usembassy.gov/germany/coats_speeches.html |archive-date=August 27, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Biography: Daniel R. Coats |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/6087.htm |publisher=[[United States Department of State]] |access-date=April 24, 2010}}</ref> As ambassador during the lead-up to the [[Iraq War]], he unsuccessfully pressured the Government of Germany led by Chancellor [[Gerhard Schröder]] not to oppose the war, threatening worsened U.S. relations with Germany.<ref name="iraq">{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,212385,00.html |title=Irak-Kriegspläne: US-Botschafter mahnt die Deutschen – SPIEGEL ONLINE – Nachrichten – Politik |publisher=Spiegel.de |date=September 4, 2002 |access-date=July 12, 2010}}</ref> As Ambassador he also played a critical role in establishing robust relations with then opposition leader [[Angela Merkel]], who approved the Iraq war, and in the construction of a new [[United States Embassy in Berlin|United States Embassy]] in the heart of Berlin next to the [[Brandenburg Gate]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://washtimesherald.com/local/x712215748/Coats-Bucshon-to-headline-GOP-dinner |title=Coats, Bucshon to headline GOP dinner » Local News » The Washington Times-Herald |date=May 21, 2010 |publisher=Washtimesherald.com |access-date=July 12, 2010}}</ref>