Longtime U.S. diplomat Richard C. Holbrooke, whose relentless prodding and deft maneuvering yielded the 1995 Dayton peace accords that ended the war in Bosnia – a success he hoped to repeat as President Obama’s chief envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan – died Monday in Washington of complications from surgery to repair a torn aorta. He was 69.
A foreign policy adviser to four Democratic presidents, Mr. Holbrooke was a towering, one-of-a-kind presence who helped define American national security strategy over 40 years and three wars by connecting Washington politicians with New York elites and influential figures in capitals worldwide. He seemed to live on airplanes and move with equal confidence through Upper East Side cocktail parties, the halls of the White House and the slums of Pakistan.
What’s that? He didn’t just cash out in the private sector, never to return to serving the public?
May he rest in peace. And may all of the people who were killed by America in those wars rest in peace. We don’t want these zombies rehashing old wars. We have current humans to do that sort of thing.
As Mr. Holbrooke was sedated for surgery, family members said, his final words were to his Pakistani surgeon: “You’ve got to stop this war in Afghanistan.”
[WP]
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He did an awesome Mark Twain too.
Yes, but his best work was on Barney Miller
Didn't he kill off Adrienne Barbeau in Creepshow?
That's how you handle a screeching harpy! Watch it , First Dude, before it's too late!
“You’ve got to stop this war in Afghanistan.”
Who let that dirty hippie into the government? May he rest in peace.
To which the Pakistani surgeon replied: "Goddamn, you Richard Holbrooke, that's too much fucking responsibility to put on one man's shoulders!" And later that evening he went home and poured himself a glass of scotch and wept for some time, before taking up a pad and pencil, making some "back of the envelope" calculations and then doodling the schematics for a flying, power-assisted, laser targetting, missile firing, armored, exoskeleton.
There's a screenplay in your future!
Well played sir – I didn't think anything funny could come out of that piece.
You forgot to attach at the end "to crush his nation's Indian nemesis."
Once more, I realize, each day is a blessing. Cliche, but true.
No matter how thin the waffle, there are two sides. I was never quite as impressed with him as he was.
Very sad; he really was a good man.
Stop the war in Afghanistan by having India nuke Pakistan. Mission Accomplished.
Would be simpler having the Queen & current PM Cameron admit the British's mistake & negotiate a re-unification of Pakistan, India, & Bangladesh.
Paklindesh? Not feeling it…
I'm partial to Industan, myself.
You just named Dr. Dre's next album — now that Detox has proven deez nutz not made 4 deez timez.
His diplomatic achievements speak for themselves, but, above all, Holbrook will be remembered for his classic one-man show, "Mark Twain Tonight".
I have to admit, when Holbrooke died, I had to think about how political icons on the left keep dying (Kennedy, Byrd, Murtha – sort of). It almost makes me think someone up there doesn't like us very much. But then I thought about how Dick Cheney and guys like Rush Limbaugh are still alive, and how my mom insists that the only reason her mother-in-law is still alive is because "she's too evil to die," and I think – whoever doesn't like us sure isn't "up there."
Cheney's going to go, soon enough.
Cheney's going to have his head kept alive in a jar, like in the sci-fi movies.
Why do the nastiest people insist on having their heads preserved in some way after death? For example, Ted Williams (laffs ensued when the minimum wage workers at Cryo-Mart had some fun with his frozen noggin).
not soon enough.
/fixed
Thank you.
Yesterday is not soon enough.
Worst. Bond movie. Ever.
Oh yeah, I saw Goldmember…..Sucked! Literally!
Unfortunately, it won't be dangling from the hangman's noose.
I shudder to think of the week-long maudlin TV eulogy of this "controversial great American patriot." Vilify him now before it's too late.
Somehow creepy Lieberman's Joementum keeps him going long after his expiration date, but Richrd Holbrooke croaks? Doesn't seem right.
The Dayton Peace Accords remain the best thing ever to happen in Dayton.
Apart from being born and braised in Dayton, I also lost my virginity there, which was pretty cool. Didn't bring peace to the former Yugoslavia, but it brought my hormone-addled self some peace.
Speaking as a fellow Daytonian (and one who was, as it happened, deflowered there as well, although I was never braised, roasted or pan-seared), I considered the merits of air travel, Guided By Voices, Lexis/Nexis, the poetry of Paul Lawrence Dunbar and the comedy stylings of Jonathan Winters before I reached my decision. My guess is that all of us would have lost our virginity somewhere but only by threatening to keep those genocidal war criminals in Dayton for eternity did Holbrooke manage to broker the peace.
Man, I haven't lived there since '87, but I've always marveled at how often I run across Daytonians no matter where I am, including the Wonkette now. We are a diasporic people.
And for good reason, apparently.
Now all you need is a holy book, 2000 years of animus against your people and we will give you Dayton back.
Don't forget Greg Dulli.
He used to ball with the brothers on the blacktop, then go to their houses to smoke chiba & bang their sisters.
That's hardcore.
"Piece" in your time, or in the nick of time.
Rogers drums were made in Dayton in the 60s. Best American-made drums evah! Then CBS bought Rogers and killed it. The end.
My drum teacher played old Rogers drums! Ah, Hauer music, it brings me back it does…
thanks for the service and sad day.
As Mr. Holbrooke was sedated for surgery, family members said, his final words were to his Pakistani surgeon: “You’ve got to stop this war in Afghanistan.”
I'm pretty sure that John Bolton will be on FOX News today interpreting Holbrooke's last wish as a call to nuke Iran.
Holbrook's body will be interred at Arlington with full honors. His ego, however will be deposited at the only site large enough to accommodate it, the Grand Canyon.
Well, now Obama will have to end the war. Last wish of a dying man and all that. It's like a one-sided binding inter-dimensional pinky swear.
Now, we have to find a way to comrpomise that wish of a dying man. Maybe, Obama will negotiate with Satan, directly, this time around.
The man spent 20 hours on the operating table. No insurance company would have paid for Joe. Q. Sixpack to get that level of health care. And I'm sure a credit collection agency hasn't showed up at his widow's house to collect on the unpaid hospital bills.
He was a special envoy. They don't call 'em "special" for nothing.
I was on the table for eight hours.
Do you like your new genitals?
As was explained elsewhere on the tubes: the Dr. was Pakistani and Holbrooke would know that the Dr. would be debriefed by Pakistani ISI, ergo Holbrooke's last words were actually directed at the Government of Pakistan.
Also: never Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line.
Now that I think about it, Afghanistan effectively is the Sicily of Central Asia, isn't it?
Where's the Death Certificate?
Wow! We've been in Afghanistan for over 10 years and Holbrooke still hadn't managed to broker a peace deal before he died? Some great diplomat. What was he waiting for?
umm only Democratic President undertand his skills and employed him
Carter, Clinton,, Obama but not Bush
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