Rest in peace Richard Holbrooke.
Posted on 12/13/2010 4:59:54 PM PST by Ravnagora
ABC News has learned that Richard Holbrooke, the US Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, has died.
On Friday, Holbrooke was rushed to the hospital with a torn aorta. He went through more than 20 hours of surgery. Earlier this evening, speaking at the US State Department, President Obama sang Holbrooke's praises and called him "a tough son of a gun."
Holbrooke, 69, was a former ambassador to the United Nations and served as chief negotiator at the Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the war in Bosnia.
The New Yorker's George Packer wrote a nice story about Holbrooke last year, which you can read HERE.
He was extremely capable. I first encountered him when I attended a meeting in 2000 in Tokyo with the Japanese foreign minister (Holbrooke was our UN ambassador at the time). Holbrooke’s mission was to get major countries to contribute more to the UN budget, which was under serious stress. I know, I know, the UN is a dirty word here — but the UN does a lot of good stuff everyday that doesn’t make the news. Anyway, Holbrooke made a very strong presentation on why Japan should do more to contribute, but it wasn’t browbeating or anything like that — his appeal was basically “if you like the many things the UN does right, be aware that all of that is endangered because they’re running out of money.”
As I noted previously, he liked the mission our election team was doing, so we had good relations with him. He didn’t try to micromanage us the way he did other parts of the embassy.
I don’t know how others here will feel about this, but I’m convinced he would have been a great Secretary of State.
No, that was Richard Armitage.
Well stated, and dittoes.
when I read yesterday on FR that obamanation said he was praying for Holbrooke, I knew that it was all over but the crying. muslims pray for evil against unbelievers.
From what I know about him, he was a complicated guy. Some liked him and many disliked him. My understanding was that you didn’t want him as an enemy. Many in the military couldn’t stand him. So I can’t say much except RIP.
Rest in peace Richard Holbrooke.
Not sure we would want him handling the entire world the way he did Yugoslavia.
I am sure there are those in Serbia who are not saddened as there are muslims in that part of the world who revered the man.
The Lord will decide.
Hope he was ready.
He was as far left as they come.
Again—thank you for your input.
Not sure we would want him handling the entire world the way he did Yugoslavia.
John, you can be absolutely sure that you wouldn't.
*****
How does one get a “torn Aorta” anyway? Does it happen when you are stretching it too much? I try to be more careful with mine. We only toss it around when we are on padded carpet, and all tosses are underhanded.
His estate must be pleased.
If my memory serves, this is the same condition that claimed the life of John Ritter.
I liked his Mark Twain show.
Holbrooke on board of directors of the CFR
Also a member of the Trilateral Commision
Regularly attended Bildeburger group.
One less new world order globalist puke as far as I’m concerned.
Condolences to the family left behind.
Well said. I’m in total agreement.
Condolences to the family and friends of Richard Holbrooke.
If you are over 65 and smoked in early life (teen to late 20’s)....get an ultrasound scan of your aorta stat.
That's because his azz is up in the air instead of his head.
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