US envoy Richard Holbrooke in 'critical condition'

[EX-Gold Falcon]

Richard Holbrooke, the US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been taken critically ill, the US state department says.

Mr Holbrooke, 69, was admitted to hospital on Friday and has undergone surgery to repair a tear in his aorta.

His family have joined him at his hospital bedside in Washington DC.

Mr Holbrooke is best known for brokering the Dayton peace accords in 1995, which ended the Bosnian war.

President Barack Obama named Mr Holbrooke as his special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan in January 2009.

Since then, he has played a key role in defining the strategy for the Obama administration on one of its foreign policy priorities.

Mr Holbrooke was working at the State Department when he was taken ill.

In a brief statement released on Satuday, State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said: "This morning, doctors completed surgery to repair a tear in his aorta. He is in critical condition and has been joined by his family".

The rest of the story (basically a brief bio) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11858576

Better informed members then myself might have a better idea how his absence will affect the US and the Afghan/Pak region. However it did seem relevant enough to post.


T.

[uplink5]

The rest of the story (basically a brief bio) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11858576

Better informed members then myself might have a better idea how his absence will affect the US and the Afghan/Pak region. However it did seem relevant enough to post.


T.

Richard Holbrooke - Afghanistan Czar

Its hard to know what the significance could be since the envoy/Czar's role is still undefined. For instance, I wonder how much of a role he's had regarding things such as the requested 30,000 troops verses the 17,000 authorized. Or the pull-out date nonsense. I suspect it's in the too hard to know catagory right now but I'm also interested to see what others might think....jd

[Jgood]

US diplomat Richard Holbrooke dies at age 69

WASHINGTON – Richard Holbrooke, a brilliant and feisty U.S. diplomat who wrote part of the Pentagon Papers, was the architect of the 1995 Bosnia peace plan and served as President Barack Obama's special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, died Monday, the State Department said. He was 69


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101214/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_obit_holbrooke

[EX-Gold Falcon]

While policy might remain the same, the absence or change of personalities might very well play a greater effect...


T

[Sigaba]

While policy might remain the same, the absence or change of personalities might very well play a greater effect...Add to that the time it will take for Mr. Holbrooke's successor to get up to speed. Even if Holbrooke was a prolific note taker who regularly communicated with his colleagues and subordinates, the transition will require a commodity in short supply--patience.

FWIW, The New York Times's obituary for Mr. Holbrooke is here (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/world/14holbrooke.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries) while The Economist's is here (http://www.economist.com/node/17730350?story_id=17730350). Foreign Affairs has made available articles by and about Mr. Holbrooke here (http://www.foreignaffairs.com/features/collections/in-memoriam-richard-holbrooke).

[MtnGoat]

While watching the evening news I saw that Mr. Richard Holbrooke had died this year. I was like.. S*&T this must have just happen.

I remember while Bosnia was going one and he was named or nicknamed "The Bulldozer". Some loved hime and hated him. But as an U.S. diplomat he did much as a dedicated public servants.