i think holbrooke was also, richard holbrooke was very much moved by his early experience in vietnam,e which the u.s. committed enormous resources to but never had a vietnamese partner that was capable of winning the loyalty of the population and as a result we lost 50,000 lives in a failing effort. and so i think in looking at afghanistan that perhaps he would not have, if he was the sole decision maker have made the decision to commit these additional troops because i think he was mindful that there's really something wrong with committing troops -- >> all right. i'm going to jump in here. >> peter has done enormous great work for the united nations and had very strong views about afghanistan but i think especially today when we're trying to remember a man who did so much for american foreign policy we'll let him speak and his family speak to what he really believed. in my close friendship with richard including family dinners together and a lot of time spent together, very recently, i think he had very complex views on afghanistan and i don't think it would be fair to say he oppose

richard holbrooke was 69.herty, cnn washington. >> just a bit earlier today, as richard holbrooke was still fighting for his life, the president of the united states attended a holiday reception for the diplomatic corps and paid tribute to the man this evening america has lost. with. >> i know everyone here joins me when i say america is more secure and the world is a safer place because of the work of ambassador richard holbrooke. michelle and i, to the entire family, just know we are thinking and praying for you and for richard every single day. and she a tough son of a gun, so we are confident, as hard as this is, that he is going to be putting up a tremendous fight. >> he was confident, many would say sometimes cocky, self-assured, never afraid of making his opinion known in a meeting. we're going to take a quick break. when we come back, we'll reflect on his life and career. [ s. greenlee ] i would love to have been a musician but i knew that i was going to need a day job. we actually have a lot of scient

richard holbrooke was more than a diplomat. he served on the boards of the asia society, the council on foreign relations and refugees international. he was the author of an acclaimed memoir of his work in bosnia. so many words and anecdotes describe him. he was larger than life in body and mind. he was brilliant and patient, fierce and tenacious. former secretary of state henry kissinger once said that if richard asked you to do something you should just say yes because if you say no, you'll eventually get to yes but the journey will be very painful. general david petraeus observed it is every commander's dream to have a diplomatic partner nicknamed the bulldozer. but for all of the swagger there was always his moral core, his outrage at injustice, his belief in the humanitarian mission. dick holbrooke was on this program nearly 50 times. he was my guest host when i was in the hospital for heart surgery. he twice offered to get me medevaced out of europe when i fell seriously ill. and he was scheduled to be on this program on

richard holbrooke, the u.s. diplomat and special representative to afghanistan and pakistan has died in washington. he was 65. president obama's said the u.s. lost a true giant in american foreign policy and made ththat e the country safer and more respected. they are almost certain man who set off -- almost set off bombs in afghanistan was a swedish national. he planned to targeted a railway station. the bomb he was wearing that needed to sin. >> the face of the swedish bomb plot. a man who had spent close to a decade living in britain. today, questions about what lay behind his attack. on saturday, a car registered to him exploded in stockholm. moments later, he was found dead following a second explosion. a suicide bomber but one who had failed to kill anyone else. police raided his house last night. his family was still living there. neighbors said they had not seen him for nearly a month. >> i was very shocked when i came home. they were very scared. they could not go to sleep. >> when he tried to spread ex

week with the death of richard holbrooke. he died monday evening after undergoing 212 hours of surgery for a torn aorta. he was 69 years old. for almost 50 years, richard holbrooke was on the front line of national security and policy. he was currently serving as president obama's special representative for afghanistan and pakistan. his career began in vietnam where he was a field officer for u.s. aid and served in the american embassy in saigon. in 1968 he attended the paris peace talks as a junior member of the u.s. delegation. in the carter administration he became the youngest assistant secretary of state in u.s. history at age 35, overseeing east asia and pacific affairs. in 1993, president bill clinton named him ambassador to germany. in 1994, he turned to the crisis in the balkans as assistant secretary of state for european affairs. for most of us, his name is synonymous with the 1995 dayton accords, the peace deal that ended the conflict in bosnia. that agreement was the result of what holbrooke did best: countless p

the energy and passion of richard holbrook. >> ifill: we have more on the life and times of richard holbrooke coming up, plus drug czar gil kerlikowske; evaluating teachers in toledo; and lessons from a civil rights legend. but first, with the other news of the day, here's hari sreenivasan in our newsroom. >> sreenivasan: a judge in britain today granted bail to wikileaks founder julian assange, but prosecutors are challenging that decision on behalf of sweden. assange has spent the past week in jail after surrendering in a swedish sex crimes investigation, although he denies the charges. we have a report from paul davies of independent television news. >> reporter: the photographers were waiting outside court for a glimpse of the man who is embarrassed the most powerful governments in the world. in the back of his prison van, julian assange seemed to be giving them a signal, that he wouldn't be silent or locked away for long. once again it seemed the eyes of the world were watching as the legal team representing the wikileaks founder arrived along with a string of celebrity supporters like t

today richard holbrooke has died.ginning was thought to be at the very beginning, something routine. late saturday into early sunday it became clear if he did win in fight, it would be the odds. >> that's right. when he was with the secretary of state he became flushed in his face. started having difficulties, was taken to the hospital where they discovered how serious his problems were. as you said, 21 hours of surgery. shep, it is amazing that someone who had gone through that, would then just hours ago, be meeting with his staff, at this critical juncture in the consideration of what happens next in afghanistan. it is a testament to his strength, a man who spent his entire adult life in public service. he was a diplomatic force to be reckoned with. he will be missed by this administration. >> shepard: indeed. jim angle, live in washington.

holbrooke as one of giants of american foreign policy. he was best none for helping to broker the dayton peace agreement which ended the bosnian conflict. his most recent role was as obama's special representative in pakistan and afghanistan. we look back at his life. >> peace negotiator and veteran troubleshooter richard holbrooke served as envoy to more than one u.s. president. he was point man on probably america's most troublesome overseas problem, averages and -- pakistan and afghanistan. he was famous for blunt speaking behind the scenes despite the hand shakes and courtesy in public. >> with president karzai, i carried a personal message from president obama. >> his active interest in asia spanned his career as a diplomat. he made frequent visits during his tenure as u.s. ambassador of the united nations, like here to china. he started his career as a vietnamese specialist on the delegation at the paris peace talks that ended the vietnam war. but it was his role in ending europe's war in bosnia with its siege of sarajevo that first

holbrooke died last night at 69. and if a diplomat can dive with his boots on, holbrooke did it. as martha raddatz reports, his final recowords, a plea for pea. >> reporter: where he brokered a peace accord, to perhaps the most difficult job of all, as special envoy for afghanistan and pakistan. >> i thank you for your confidence in offering me this daunting assignment. >> reporter: holbrooke was a towering presence, with an e go to match. his nickname was "the bu bulldozer." coming from a brashness that sometimes led to testy confrontations with afghanistan's president hamid karzai. >> i don't have any problem with my relations with him. he represents his country, i represent mine. >> reporter: but whatever friction his style may have caused, you need only listen to the heartfelt remembrances of holbrooke to know how enormous the loss. >> richard was a trusted friend, a valued mentor, and indispensable colleague to so many of several generations of american diplomats. >> reporter: hamid karzai today said holbrooke served greatly the people of the united states. joint chiefs chai

he was one of holbrooke's assistants at one point. but i think it is fair to say that holbrooke was unique in his sense of drama and his willingness to act it out in public. i mean, there really isn't anybody around who's a lot like that. >> in terms of his impact on policy, did he leave a legacy anywhere in particular? >> he leaves a legacy in two places. he built a quite formidable group of experts that are still working on this. pulled a lot of the civilian side together. he did put pakistan front and center. he coined the term "agpak." gwen: we send our condolences to his wife and family. thank you, everyone. the conversation has to end here, but it continues online on our "washington week" webcast extra. this week's "national journal" question, will the tax bill make the president stronger or weaker? check out the answers at pbs.org. keep up with daily developments on the pbs news hour and we'll see you around the table next week on washington week. good night. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >>

but richard holbrooke was never big on polite.landed on a more appropriate description, genocide. a word he used as a private citizen at a time when the u.s. government and the u.n. were unwilling to go that far. when you said genocide, you also must have known that that did carry moral and legal obligations under international law. >> yes, of course. everyone understood that. you can't call it genocide and then do nothing about it. >> but for years that's exactly what the international community did, nothing. and now the people here truly believe the world has abandoned them. as the atrocities multiplied, holbrooke sat seething on the sidelines. he was out of government at the time, an investment banker on wall street, but never a man to sit still, he soon traveled to bosnia on his own to see for himself. years later we went back. what was it that you saw here? >> people were lined up, and there were soldiers were weapons everywhere, and i thought, christiane, i thought i'm seeing a color remake of the black and white scenes we'v

that's what you are about, ambassador holbrooke. i'm glad to be able to call you acquaintance, friend and american hero with such a strong legacy. i know that this is a very sad time for so many. i rise on the floor this evening to be able again to offer my deepest sympathy for what i would also say is that we have so much to be thankful for, so much to study and read, so much to emulate, so much to be able to go on, so much to use, continuing effort for peace. we have got a road map left to us by ambassador richard holbrooke. and remember an earlier comment that if he asked you to do something, don't waste your time saying no, because more than likely, with a little pain you will be there saying yes. so why don't we keep his legacy ongoing, realize that he's asked us to continue to make peace. and as long as we fight against it, it's going to be painful. but if we can gather our thoughts together and we can continue to work together, to work with this administration, the president, the secretary of state and the congress and really

when holbrooke was dealing with the balkans, u.s.o stay out of it. that this was europe's affair, that we weren't going to do anything about it. holbrooke systematically went about changing u.s. policy. a lot of what you're doing is internal. you're trying to change government policy. that again gets to that issue of did he -- was he too hard-edged. if you're trying to turn around an ocean liner like the united states, sometimes you have to use a certain amount of force. sometimes you have to be undiplomatic. but i think that what holbrooke really represents is a kind of tradition of american diplomacy that unfortunately is sometimes lost. there are a lot of people running american foreign policy these days who are very well versed in washington. they understand washington. they've lived there. they're policy wonks and played the blame game. holbrooke was one of those people that didn't know washington so well as he knew the world. he started in vietnam, spent years in vietnam. went to morocco as peace cord director there. that is a

ambassador richard holbrooke has died. ambassador holbrook was one of the most accomplished diplomats in the modern history of our country. he was most famous for having brokered an end to the bosnian war. he most recently has served as the president's key diplomat for afghanistan and pakistan. president obama expressed his hopes for richard holbrooke's recovery today just before noon. >> richard holbrooke has been serving this nation with distinction for nearly 50 years, from a young foreign service officer in vietnam to the architect of the accords that ended the slaughter in the balkans, to advancing our regional efforts as our special representative to afghanistan and pakistan. and countless chrrisis and hotspots in between. he's simply one of the giants of american foreign policy. and as anyone who's ever worked with him knows or had the clear disadvantage of negotiating across the table from him richard is relentless. he never stops. he never quits, because he's always believed that if we stay focused, if we act on o

richard holbrooke wrote that review. it turned out to be the final assignment in his long career, here's chip reid. >> reporter: there was one crucial person missing today when the president met with his national security team-- richard holbrooke who died last night at the age of 69, marking the end of a legendary four-decade career as a u.s. diplomat. >> he is simply one of the giants of american foreign policy. >> reporter: as the president's special envoy to afghanistan and pakistan, holbrooke traveled to the region constantly, often working around the clock, a schedule so hectic a cardiologist warned him to slow down but he did not. friday, during a meeting that included secretary of state hillary clinton, holbrooke collapsed after stuffing a tear in his aorta, a major vessel that pumps blood from the heart, a condition that can cause major internal bleeding. but even as holbrooke was being rushed into surgery, he couldn't stop thinking about the war. >> the medical team said "you've got to relax." and richard said "

holbrooke was 69 years old. monday afternoon, the president paid homage to holbrooke. >> he is simply one of the giants of american foreign policy. america is more secure and the world is a safer place because of the work of ambassador richard holbrooke. >> david martin has more. >> reporter: richard holbrooke was a legendary multitasker famous for both his effectiveness as a diplomat, and his ambition to become secretary of state. when president obama picked hillary clinton as his secretary of state, holbrooke signed on for arguably the second-hardest job in the department, special representative for pakistan and afghanistan. >> it's going to be a long, difficult struggle. and we require honesty and candor with the international public, the american public, and ourselves to proceed. >> reporter: he was a key player in afghan war policy. although he was said to have rocky relations with the leaders of both afghanistan and pakistan. rumors routinely circulated that he was about to quit or be fired. which may have

holbrooke's contribution would be to that report? guest: i think richard was loyal, but i think behind closed doors, looking 25 are 30 years and classified documents getting them to wikileaks before richard shared in this afghanistan the view, i think he would be saying, on one hand, we are making anecdotal progress but not system at progress in certain areas, getting girls to go to school, helping people feel like they are greater stakeholders and getting greater converging of -- poppy growing into other crops that are lucrative for folks. when it came as -- came to the broad area of getting to the tipping point, i think richard would be highly skeptical of the over-militarization of our response. that the training of forces and continued lack of confidence and trust in the way the u.s. was approaching is challenged and the clunking this and very large military footprint we have is undermining our ability to achieve success. that is what i guess he would have said. and when the president announces what he is going to announce, i per

holbrooke's death -- pakistan. holbrooke's death comes days before the white house is expected to release its latest review of the afghanistan war. >> you mentioned he was ambassador to the u.n. under the clinton administration, holbrooke obviously very close with the clintons. any word from secretary clinton or the former president tonight? >> reporter: no word from them tonight yet, but earlier today secretary clinton spoke out and applauded holbrooke's service saying that he had given nearly 50 years of his life serving the u.s. government. remember, it was rumored holbrooke would have been picked as secretary of state if hillary clinton would have become president. >> certainly a diplomatic legend. matt ackland in the satellite center tonight. >>> the head of the rnc wants another term in the top job. former maryland lieutenant governor michael steele made the announcement in a conference call with rnc members late this evening. fox news has learned steele deliberately kept his plans quiet to see if someone els

foreign policy inherit from richard holbrooke will it inherits a tradition of quite cynical opportunism and deception i would say. with that which is in the lab right up there is a little bit for us what kind of deception are we talking about well various kinds of deception but i was thinking particularly of all of the surrounding the balkans because that's the subject that i know the best and which is revealed somewhat in his book which i have come to in my in my old the fact is that he has presented the dayton accords of one nine hundred ninety five like a great. accomplishment of american peacemaking whereas in fact the reality is that the united states helped start the boston war in one thousand nine hundred two by encouraging is a big of it's the bus and muslim leader to pull out of an agreement that was made between the three ethnic parties that would have prevented the war so the war was encouraged and the muslims were encouraged to keep making the war and then in order to finally stop it holbrooke had to turn to slobodan milosevic who desperately wanted to make peace in order to

with chris hill a friend of ambassador holbrooke and former u.s. >> thanks, andrea. >>> we will do our trivia and the question is which is the only state that still bars its governors from running for re-election? >> believe it or not it is the state of virginia, which has more governors -- living governors per capita than we think -- i made up that statistic, i think i'm probably backed up. >> now we know why, if that is the case, they are term limited. >>> up next, former white house chief of staff rahm emanuel in the hot seat in chicago this is a good one. can he really claim to be a resident of chicago when he spent the last two years at a very well known address in washington? >> interesting to hear these arguments. first, let's do the white house soup of the day. it is loaded. loaded potato at the mess. >> good, filling soup. that is a meal in a soup. >>> it >> bacon. >> bacon. >> chives. [ male announcer ] this is charlie whose morning flight to london starts with arthritis pain... and a choice. take tylenol now, and maybe up to 8 in a day.

richard holbrooke, the president's representative to the region has died. the aaccomplished diplomat, known as a brilliant negotiator, passed away last night. >> he is one of the giants in foreign policy. >> the president praised him last night and called him a tough son of a gun. christiane amanpour explains what this means for the war strategy. >> reporter: holbrooke's death comes just days before the obama administration rolls outs its review of the war in afghanistan. a war in a holbrooke was working to turn around. in part, through a so-called civilian surge. using not just american troops. but american expertise to rebuild the country. >> we're not abandoning afghanistan. nor are we going to have an open-ended troop commitment because no war can go on indefinitely. and afghanistan cannot bear the pain and costs. >> reporter: he was forever shaped by his first experience as a diplomat. in vietnam, more than 45 years ago. he went on to become the youngest-ever assistant secretary of state. and was twice appointed ambassador to germany and the united nat

holbrooke. according to several administration officials president obama is expected to restate his pledge to begin drawing down u.s. combat troops in july. the process now scheduled to be completed by the end of 2014. yesterday mr. gibbs acknowledged the president is confident that the u.s. is moving forward. >>> as you've heard the president say on his most recent trip to afghanistan i think we are -- we are seeing -- we are seeing some progress. we still have and i think you know many of them. we have many challenges in both security and governance. i think the president feels confident that we are on track on where we should be and that we can certainly meet our commitments to begin a conditions base drawdown of our forces in july. >> robert gates and secretary of state hillary clinton also scheduled to brief reporters thursday after the president's statement. >>> the australian associated press is reporting that wikileaks founder julian assange has made his first public statement since bein

a war that holbrooke was actively working to turn around. in part, through a so-called civilian surge. using not just american troops. but american expertise to rebuild the country. >> we're not abandoning afghanistan. nor are we going to have an open-ended troop commitment because no war can go on indefinitely. and afghanistan cannot bear the pain and costs. >> reporter: he was forever shaped by his first experience as a diplomat, in vietnam, more than 45 years ago. he went on to become the youngest-ever assistant secretary of state. and was twice appointed ambassador to germany and the united nations. he also had a successful second career on wall street. [ applause ] but his professional love was always public service. and he was grateful for the opportunity to serve his country, once again, as special envoy. >> i thank you for your confidee confidence in offering me this daunting assignment. and all i can do is pledge my best to undertake it. >> reporter: he suffered from heart trouble. and he died after surgery to repair his aorta, with

richard holbrooke to be but i don't have any who should thank you very much indeed . now the next space. is now ready for blastoff from wednesday it will take a crew of three russian and american talian to the international space station. one of the reports are true to its own science in kazakhstan. here by going all the final preparations are being made ahead of the launch of the soyuz t.m.a. twenty rocket which will carry the meat to an. end katherine coleman up to the international space station now later on today the rocket will be blessed by a priest of the russian orthodox church and tradition here a bike you know that's always carried out and plenty of other traditions here as well before the astronauts and cosmonauts of being to visit because not museum bike you know if you dish and it's always carried out they go and have a look at what those who go before them brought back from space based signed a board as well inside them is the right message they make their own history all of this. now there's been plenty of astronauts and cosmonauts and it's a lend suppo

richard holbrooke, the u.s.end surgery for a torn ao a aorta. ending the war in bosnia to his efforts to end the war in afghanistan. he was 69 years old. >>> the last week of fall is off to a brutal start in the midwest where waist deep snow has stranded drivers and closed schools. in washington state a driver had to be be rescued from a pond swollen by heavy rain and the combination of broken water mains and freezing terms leave a family wait forgive their home to outlaw out. >>> a suit claims that sexual assault in the military is nearly twice as common as in civilian life, but that much of it is not reported or prostituted. the democrats health care overhaul suffered it's first major set back on monday. a federal judge ruled it is unconstitutional for the government to require americans to carry health insurance, however the judge refused to block the law from going into effect while it is being appealed in the u.s. supreme court. >>> the compromise bill extending tax cuts and long-term unemployment benefits