some liberal democratic intellectuals in the 1960s and 1970s who became disenchanted with the leftward movement of their party in domestic and foreign policy became "neoconservatives" ("neocons"). a number held major appointments during the five presidential terms under reagan and the bushes. they played a central role in promoting and planning the 2003 invasion of iraq. vice president dick cheney and secretary of defense donald rumsfeld, while not identifying themselves as neoconservatives, listened closely to neoconservative advisers regarding foreign policy, especially the defense of israel, the promotion of democracy in the middle east and the buildup of american military forces to achieve these goals. many early neoconservative thinkers were zionists and wrote often for "commentary", published by the american jewish committee. the influence of the neocons on the white house faded during the obama years, but it remains a staple in republican party arsenal.