A certain clarity that we didn't get from "Rosebud"

"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...

"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.' "     (From Mr. Holbrooke's  Washington Post Obit.)

Richard Holbrooke, RIP

Comments

[pablo]

Instead of asking his doctor while taking his last breath he should have used his, er, influence in Washington.
No tears:

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/12/15/richard_holbrooke_dies_at_69_remembering

[reg]

I have no idea regarding the circumstances or intent of this man's "last words" as published in news accounts, but I wouldn't take them as a personal plea to his doctor. Reports are that Holbrooke was very concerned that the strategy in place (which I have supported, as full disclosure) was succeeding.

[pablo]

Perhaps the physician can do what the Obama administration won't.

[opit]

Reg
Succeeding. If that is so, perhaps you'll point me to your support. I still haven't found a frank admission of what the objectives are...except perhaps from the PNAC.

Karzai "very serious" on ending air raids: official http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE54A12420090511
And not only are the multiplied 3 times lately Predator strikes unpopular, mercenaries aren't in good odour either

Karzai Said What?
http://motherjones.com/politics/2009/11/karzai-contractor-ban-obama-afghanistan

Shall I start digging into things like Depleted Uranium munitions to show that there is only one likely result of the current program - a complete wasteland ?

[reg]

Did you even read what I wrote ? Seems not.

[Tambopaxi]

Holbrooke was a quite character, no doubt about it - and he could be quite effective, as witness the Dayton Accords.

On AfPak, I have the impression from "Obama's Wars" that with so many other strong personalities involved (Biden, Clinton, Petraeus, etc.) he was a guy rather in search of a mission; he hadn't found how to fit in so as to make a real impression on policy. TNR's Peter Bergen has his own take on Woodward's book, but if you're into the AfPak issue, it's an interesting read...