there are a number of misrepresentations you would have to place mr ambassador who simply used one and i notice that in these writings mr kuperman has done it to as well pretty much the. community has done that this is the issue twenty years ago with mr middle should reach port to. removing the autonomy of. of course and doing it unilaterally this is entirely untrue you know ninety nine point nine percent of what the media and the west and i can demick institution are reported is incorrect what has actually happened is of there has been a constitutional change in the status of kosovo and this required the support of all six republics the yugoslav constitution at the time could not simply be changed by simply one republic it required to look complete consensus all right of all i'm sorry mr i'm going to have to show you here we're going to go to one for english gentlemen we're going to go to a break and work well with this message when we get back after a short break we'll continue our discussion on cost or stay part. of the. it's the secret incursion into the country. it's the invasion

mr. ambassador, what were his qualities that made him so unique? >> well, the word relentless has been used very often. boundless energy. drive. we've heard all those terms. i would add one. focus. dick was able to take this tremendous amount of energy which, as a young man, starteded out in soort of a rambunctious way but it refined itself over the years. as his career progressed i think he learned how to focus this tremendous intelligent and energy on achieving specific purposes and objectives. >> lehrer: was this evident to you in those early days in vietnam? >> absolutely. >> lehrer: like what? what did he do? >> we worked in the embassy together. we were in our mid 20s but dick already had a real proprietary interest in our policy toward vietnam. i recall when he went back to to washington and worked as an aide, dick was right in the middle of things. he leveraged his position as a well positioned staff assistant to optimize, to maximize the influence of that job towards affecting our vietnam policy. >> lehrer: what would you add to that, susa

mr. ambassador, i'm going to send you to inspect the atlantic wall. i want you to see what i'm erecting to repel an allied invasion of the continent. or he would say to oshima, i'm going to tell you how many divisions i have deployed in norway, denmark and belgium. most importantly in france. and then he wuld say to oshima upon these rather critical revelations, and i don't want you to breathe a word of this to anybody. well, oshima did what a good diplomat does. he would report back to tokyo, virtually verbatim, his conversationses with hitler. through that diplomatic code that we're breaking and these messages then are available to the president, to his secretary of war, to the military chiefs. one of the most significant revelations was when hitler tells oshima, i'll tell you where the allies are going to strike. they're going to strike at the pad decale. the narrowest part of the english channel. and he reports this back to tokyo. we intercept it. we now know that hitler expect it is invasion there. why is that significant? because that was our de

ambassador to afghanistan that mr. karzai is "a weak man." according to wikileaks in february, this same minister also warned the ambassador about sending additional u.s. troops to the country. because mr. karzai was "not an adequate strategic partner." today president karzai defended the minister saying that he was sure the ambassador got the information wrong. >> i have seen ministers talking to me about their presidents, but we will not have a wikileak to reveal that. >> the finance minister said today it will not bees by as usual between key afghan ministers and the ambassador. >>> in baghdad a series of bombings killed at least 17 people. six or more of the dead were shi'ite pilgrims visiting from iran. deadliest strikes targeted a marketplace in a shi'ite neighborhood. >>> and district court-stricken israel, police say two people were arrested, suspected of negligently starting a massive wildfire that claimed the lives of 41 people and still burning out of control tonight. firefighters say the fire began after two individuals fail togeth

mr. ambassador, given a shot. >> i think that we need two things. one is to keep a certain flow of money. the other is to be realistic, starting with ourselves, about how fast you can do social and economic change. we have a considerable problem of excessive expectations, and we had a first of all in afghanistan where people believed as the taliban died, that everything was going to be great in the country. we also have that here, doing a lot of discussion on this panel and in the review, is the strategy working. as though we were completely oblivious to the time was the texas from decision to funding to moving money to the field and start in the project -- we think it is realistic for the springfield interchange to take tenures are more and we do not understand why we haven't modernized one of the most primitive countries and the world. we have some bas are lapses and our thinking. -- bizarre lapses in our thinking. you store the recognition of time being needed. and then we need to look hard at what we're doing. we're plowing a lot of money in. i

mr. karzai told ambassador eikenberry. he had three main enemies, the taliban, the u.s.he international community. he said if i had to choose sides today, i'd choose the taliban. back to our president today. >> we will continue to help strengthen pakistani's capacity to root out terrorists. nevertheless, progress does not come fast enough. we will continue to insist to pakistani leaders that terrorist safe havens within their borders must be dealt with. >> two national intelligence estimates leaked by congress filled in what the president left blank on afghanistan. "the new york times" saying, although there have been gains for the united states and nato in the war, the unwillingness of pakistan to shut down terrorist sanctions remains a problem. they plant bombs and fight american troops and return to pakistan to rest and for supplies. let's turn to eugene robinson, author of the new book "disintegration, the splintering of black america." according to your newspaper, president karzai is an increasingly unwilling partner. the president says we're on track to achieve our

mr. ambassador, our thoughts and prayers are with everybody in israel who is affected by this tragedy and the family and loved ones of those in harms way. tonight, its an honor to welcome so many friends and leaders from the jewish community and beyond. and i want to start by recognizing my special envoy for middle east peace, george mitchell, who is here. please give him a round of applause. and all the other outstanding members of the diplomatic corps who are here. one third of the supreme court is here. one of my favorites, justice ginsburg, is hiding out here in the front. she really is here. its hard to see. justice breyer is here. and -- wheres justice breyer? there he is -- right here. and our newest addition and former colleague of mine when we were teaching together, elena kagan is in the house. i want to also acknowledge somebody who i rely on day in, day out, who is not only a great vice president, but is also -- one of my dearest friends; joe biden is in the house. and to all the members of the administration, and members of congress, and all the state and local leaders who ar

mr. ambassador, given a shot. >> i think that we need two things. one is to keep a certain flow of money. the other is to be realistic starting with ourselves about how fast you can do social and economic change. we have a considerable problem of excessive expectations, and we had a first of all in afghanistan where people believed as the taliban died, that everything was going to be great in the country. we also have that here, doing a lot of discussion on this panel and in the review, is the strategy working. as though we were completely oblivious to the time was the texas from decision to funding to moving money to the field and start in the project -- we think it is realistic for the springfield interchange to take tenures are more and we do not understand why we haven't modernized one of the most primitive countries and the world. we have some bas are lapses and our thinking. -- bizarre lapses in our thinking. you store the recognition of time being needed. and then we need to look hard at what we're doing. we're plowing a lot of money in. i do

mr. speaker, i'm pleased to yield two minutes to the gentlelady from california, someone who worked for a very long time on issues with ambassador holbrooke, congresswoman harman. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for two minutes. ms. harman: i'm glad that our colleague, nita lowey, has brought this resolution to the floor. mr. speaker, after learning some encouraging news about richard holbrooke's continue last weekend, hearing that my friend had died felt like a sucker punch. four days later it still does. i suppose in an ironic way richard would smile at the enormous impact he had on friend and foe alike. he was a life force, a force of nature, someone always operating on multiple levels, on high gear and more than three dimensions. i used to chafe when in the middle of a phone call he would put me on hold to talk to someone else. but i bet he did that to everyone. he was a consummate juggler, the master diplomat. he knew precisely what he was going to tell someone and what he was not. though it takes years to settle on how history will view someone, my guess is richard holbrooke will be considered hands d

ambassador. mr. obama talked with afghan president hamid karzai by phone. u.s. and afghan officials said bad weather forced them to cancel plans for a face-to-face session in kabul. after visiting with wounded warriors in the base hospital, it was on to a crowd of waiting servicemen and women. >> the president of the united states, our commander in chief president barack obama. ( cheers ) >> woodruff: more than 3,500 u.s. troops stood cheering in a bagram airplane hangar. >> we said we were going to break the taliban's momentum. that's what you're doing-- you're going on the offense. tired of playing defense. targeting their leaders, pushing them out of their strongholds. we will never let this country serve as a safe haven for terrorists who would attack the united states of america again. that will never happen. ( cheers ) >> woodruff: this visit came a year after the president decided to deploy another 30,000 americans to afghanistan, raising the total to 100,000. >> we could not protect the american people, we could not enjoy the blessings of our liberty wit

mr. obama named robert ford ambassador to syria.l be the first to fill that post in nearly six years. the president named matthew breezea, ambassador. senator barbara boxer opposed him because of his ties to the government. the vacationing president was nearly hit by a golf ball yesterday. mr. obama was playing golf with four friends on a course near honolulu as one of the friends took an approach shot from behind the tree the ball whizzed past the president missing him by about 2 feet. he didn't take it personally and they wrestled the ball to the ground. i made the last part up. a los angeles prosecutors says defense lawyers for michael jackson's doctor will claim the singer killed himself. the prosecutor made that statement following a hearing yesterday in dr. conrad murphy reyes involuntary manslaughter trial. a much higher amount of drug was found in jackson's body. the prosecutor says the defense will claim jackson died after injecting himself with more of the drug. a lot of us celebrate new year's with a different. the websit

mr. speaker, i'm pleased to yield two minutes to the gentlelady from california, someone who worked for a very long time on issues with ambassador holbrooke, congresswoman harman. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for two minutes. ms. harman: i'm glad that our colleague, nita lowey, has brought this resolution to the floor. mr. speaker, aft learning some encouraging news about richard holbrooke's continue last weekend, hearing that my friend had died felt like a sucker punch. four days later it still does. i suppose in an ironic way richard would smile at the enormous impact he had on friend and foe alike. he was a life force, a force of nature, someone always operating on multiple levels, on high gear and more than three dimensions. i used to chafe when in the middle of a phoncall he would put me on hold to talk to someone else. but i bet he did that to everyone. he was a consummate juggler, the master diplomat. he knew precisely what he was going to tell someone and what he was not. though it takes years to settle on how history will view someone, my guess is richard holbrooke will be considered hands down

been remembering here this week a man that was not your nominee, former ambassador richard holbrooke who changed a dangerous world. mrsange maybe showed us how dangerous the world is. make the case for a 26-year-old man who made his living in a computer business. >> the impact of facebook this year is almost incalculable. they passed 500 million users, almost 1 in 10 people on the planet. it's not just that penetration into our lives but it's changing our sense of privacy, our sense of intimacy, how we relate to each other. when i make these choices and you follow them, i think how is it going to look five years from now, not just this year. i think five years from now, julian assange will be a historical footnote. we won't remember that at a time when facebook will continue to affect our lives in a very immediate way. >> he's the second youngest person of the year. the youngest was the first, charles lindbergh. you've named some giants, the hitlers, the fdrs. but to your point, he's in a business when the next thing comes along, you're dead. do you think this could possibly be one of those what we were thinking in t

ambassador to vietnam, mr. michael, and his speech that he gave before the human rights day event at the u.s. embassy at the american center in vietnam, just this month, a couple of weeks ago and i quote, another area where over the past three years i have seen strong improvements in religious freedom, where individuals are now largely free to practice their deeply felt convictions. to practice. the churches and mosques are full. increased religious participation. large scale religious gatherings with more than 100,000 participants, growing numbers of recognized religious organizations, increasing number of churches and pennsylvania goadas and religious groups. there was a meeting with the pope at the vatican. and vietnam and the holy sea agreed to an appointment of a representative for vietnam as the first step towards the establishment of full diplomatic relations. the ambassador first said it. however, some significant problems remain including harassment and excessive use of force against religious groups i

mr. bop. compared to the pentagon how much influence do you think ambassador holbrooke said on the decision and afghanistan? did he work well with president obama on this issue? >> i am going to pass on the answer of that and give you a copy of my book. you'll not have to read it. [laughter] >> a quick question and perhaps a good last question. what about negotiations? a great personage of the afghan population would be in favor, even if it meant returning taliban to government positions. >> two days ago i sat in a living room in kabul and listen to the most well-respected civilian research in afghanistan speak. one very pointedly told me that you have to negotiate with the taliban. they're people that you can negotiate with. and they vary in next researchers said, no, that is not true. i don't think did you can negotiate. but that is the topic on which a lot of reasonable people disagree. there was a letter published a few days ago, prominent academics and experts and afghanistan, telling president obama that he should not negotiate with the insurgency. send that letter to the isi to other lea

mr. president, last night i was at home and received a message on my very good ambassador richard holbrooke hal died. i really felt very, very sad about that. he was such a nice man.he was so, she was the epitome in hisdt dealings with me have been aeryw gentleman. everyone i worked with and knew how hard h he worked and i joinw the many thousands of people who mourn the passing of the master, richard holbrooke, a champion diplomat and a personal friend.e administer ambassador holbrookee dedicated entire life to keepin, america safe or tough, sensible diplomacy. i will miss him, his friendshipn his counsel in our nation willes miss his tireless leadership on foreign policy. o i had the option to work closely with him on a number of occasions during my tenure here is majorityde leader. co he appreciated in many insight conversations and his insights into the central national security issues of thess day.nt the world bears the imprint of ambassador holbrooke's effortsos to bring peace and security to y place with leadership to negotiating the dayton accords to his latest efforts at stabilizin

ambassador, welcome. [applause] >> thank you, mr. holt. there's a great pleasure for me to have this opportunity to talk to you at this conference. i commend the initiative of the observer research foundation and the heritage foundation to organize this series of conferences and particularly this one, which will focus on indian globalization and the transformation of u.s.-india relations. those who have closely followed the remark of a successful visit of president obama to india less than a month ago would already be aware of the enormous ground the relationship is covered in recent years. prime minister manmohan singh and president obama, after their recent summit meeting in new delhi, characterized the u.s.-india strategic premiership as indispensable, not only for their two countries, but for global stability and prosperity in the 21st century. our shared democratic values, the emerging international situation and their wide-ranging opportunities have guided our two countries in shaping this relationship. our core operation is broad-ba

coast ambassador to the united nations, youssoufou bamba, says he fears the possibility of genocide in his country unless the u.n. and others help alassane outtara assume his office as president. mrttara is internationally recognized as having won last month's election, but the incumbent, laurent gbagbo, is refusing to step down. mr. bamba speaking after presenting his credentials at the united nations, held a press conference on how to end the tug -- dangerousing it of war between the faxes -- factions. >> the main concern is the violation of the human rights. as you know there is a massive violation of human rights. 172 people were killed only because they want top demonstrate, they want to speak out, they want to defend the will of the people. we think it's not acceptable. that's one of the messages i try to get across during the conversations i have conducted so far, to tell that we are on the brink of genocide and something should be done. >> meanwhile, the first attempts by the neighbors of ivory coast to attempt to end the power struggle have failed but the leaders of benin and sierra leone have vowed to try again. >> tensions are high. even united nations peacekeepers got

ambassador, welcome. [applause] >> thank you, mr. holt.e this series of conferences and particularly this one, which will focus on indian globalization and the transformation of u.s.-india relations. those who have closely followed the remark of a successful visit of president obama to india less than a month ago would already be aware of the enormous ground the relationship is covered in recent years. prime minister manmohan singh and president obama, after their recent summit meeting in new delhi, characterized the u.s.-india strategic premiership as indispensable, not only for their two countries, but for global stability and prosperity in the 21st century. our shared democratic values, the emerging international situation and their wide-ranging opportunities have guided our two countries in shaping this relationship. our core operation is broad-based and involve people on both sides from all walks of life. it draws strength from the enormous public goodwill and popular support that it enjoys in both countries. and of course, as mr. hol

doug pro forma for governors, presidents, ambassadors and military officers once in you got the title, no matter what happens. remember nixon he resigned. still mrent. >> bill: no, i thought it up myself, i know it is hard to believe. if i asked mrs. palin what kind of tree she would like to be i would have credited mrs. walters. >> bill: careful i do an excellent version of satisfaction, can't get no --. >> bill: i was obviously talking about congress. if the government shuts down the federal workforce is collateral damage. another reason to excoriate congress for being so irresponsible. >> bill: we can't thank you enough for coming to see us in dallas. for those who couldn't see us, there is a dvd, the best $20 gift ever. finally pinheads and patriots tv edition. as you know the lakers have talented dancers who shake it up during the time-out. now there's a new applicant. >> bill: i think i'm sticking with the ladies. we don't have the guy's name. we want to know if you think he's a pinhead or patriot. last night we showed you decorations in round rock, texas. >> bill: and though it was over-the-top,

senior administration official tells cnn that ambassador richard holbrooke has died just days after suffering pain while at the state department for a meeting. mre, you see the pictures of him there, was rushed to a hospital in washington for a puncture in his aorta. he had been hospitalized, but a senior administration telling cnn tonight veteran diplomat richard holbrooke has died. i want to get to jill dougherty for more on this tragic news. i'm sorry, jill is not technically ready for us. a man who knows richard holbrooke very well is david gergen. this is a sad day for the diplomatic community. >> it is sad. we were going to walk in and talk about something else. i'm dispressed. dick holbrooke was -- he was one of the best of his generation. there were just two or three people in his generation that were anywhere near as good. i was there in the clinton administration when he came in, and he literally just sort of picked up aspects of foreign policy. just huge blocks of foreign policy and moved them. he was a force of nature. and had hillary clinton been president, dick holbrooke would have been her secretary of state. she had enormous fai

british ambassador to the country criticized its human rights record this week iran saw the commons as interference and its internal affairs relations between the two countries have to tear rated to mr ron's claim that british intelligence was involved in the assassination of a top iranian nuclear scientist last month but the london based journalist yvonne ridley says when it comes to basic freedoms you case only record is far from perfect. the politicians in iran of quite angry and outraged at this very undiplomatic. blog which is being produced from the british embassy in tehran and you know you wonder what's coming next when you take the high moral ground criticize one country's human rights you should be pretty blameless yourself and unfortunately britain's own human rights record leaves a lot to be desired if you go on to throw stones at someone else's house you should make sure that your own is in order first iran has its many supporters under taz it's many to truck to is. everybody lines up to their particular. record breaking billion dollar military deals and high tech link ups are just some of the result of me trying to vegas visit to india this week the russian president a

mr. speaker, the sudden and unexpected passing of ambassador richard holbrooke has been very, very sad news for americans and it obviously has sent shock waves throughout the international community. dick holbrooke is someone with whom i was privileged to work on a number of issues over the past decade and a half and i will say that he was known for being rough and tumble. he was described by one as the bulldozer diplomat. but i have to say that dick holbrooke was a true polley got. he knew in dealing with diplomatic challenges that it took different talents and different styles regardless of where he was in the world, he was able to apply his unique talents. and i have to say that we worked together on a number of very important issues as we look at the challenge that exist today in afghanistan and pakistan, his passing will be a real loss for that effort, but his passing should lead us to redouble our commitment to pursue the goal that i believe dick holbrooke always pursued and that was for peace, stability, the rule of law, and self-determination around the world. our thoughts and praye

mr. president, for just a moment i also want to note the passing of richard holbrooke, a distinguished ambassador, somebody who played a key role in working on the policy toward iraq and afganistan. richard holbrooke was a giant in american diplomatic history. richard holbrooke was a friend. i actually was with him the sunday before he passed away. and was shocked to learned that he had been stricken. even more shocked to learn that he passed away on monday. richard holbrooke leaves an extraordinary legacy of working for peace and for advancing the interest of this country. richard holbrooke will be missed. mr. president, separately, i have three unanimous consent requests for committees to meet during today's session of the senate. they have the approval of the majority and minority leaders. i ask unanimous consent that these requests be agreed to and these requests be printed in the record. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. conrad: mr. president, i come to the floor to discuss the tax extension package before us. i support this package because it will provide, i believe,

mr. bop. compared to the pentagon how much influence do you think ambassador holbrooke said on the decision and afghanistan? did he work well with president obama on this issue? >> i am going to pass on the answer of that and give you a copy of my book. you'll not have to read it. [laughter] >> a quick question and perhaps a good last question. what about negotiations? a great personage of the afghan population would be in favor, even if it meant returning taliban to government positions. >> two days ago i sat in a living room in kabul and listen to the most well-respected civilian research in afghanistan speak. one very pointedly told me that you have to negotiate with the taliban. they're people that you can negotiate with. and they vary in next researchers said, no, that is not true. i don't think did you can negotiate. but that is the topic on which a lot of reasonable people disagree. there was a letter published a few days ago, prominent academics and experts and afghanistan, telling president obama that he should not negotiate with the insurgency. send that letter to the isi to other lea

mr. leahy: i thank my distinguished colleagues, senators udall for letting me step in for a few minutes. madam president, it is with deep sadness that i speak today in memory of a dear friend, ambassador richard holbrooke, who died on monday at the far too early age of 69. i wonder if we might have order, madam president. the presiding officer: order in the chamber, thank you. mr. leahy: madam president, i met dick years and years ago. actually long before he held his most recent post of special envoy for afganistan and pakistan. we had so many conversations, so many meetings, so many trips over the years as his career progressed, particularly during the war in the former iew yugoslavia. what he did is legendary. nobody else could have done what he did. he was motivated, above all, by compassion and intent on stopping the suffering of innocent people who were being terrorized for no other reason than their ethnicity. he combined the force of his convictions with the force of his personality, and that was an enormous force. along with his boundless energy to do what others have been unable to do. ambassador holbrooke did not accept no for an answer. i remember meeting dick -- we had pl

mr. brzezinski is talking about. what does it mean? particularly since the deadline has been pushed? 2011 is now very, very soft. and we're talking about the end of 2014. >> in response to your question, the ambassadorave a wonderfully diplomatic answer. certain improvement in certain areas. that's pretty minimalist definition. now, the country has turned against this war. there's no precedent in our history for the country turning against a war, and then turning back in support of it. the president's base, which is unhappy about almost everything he's doing, is particularly unhappy about what's going on in afghanistan. now, two years ago, i sat in the secretary of defense's office and asked him, what is our objective in afghanistan? he said, a strong central government. i said, when has it had that? he said with admirable candor, never. and fast-forward two years to the wikileaks. and ambassador eikenberry saying our problem is they're trying to connect the afghan people with a government that is hopelessly corrupt. >> what does that say on the ground, sakena? a government that's seen as corrupt by the united states. but also by its own people. what does that mean in terms of women's and children's

mr. president, last night i was at home and received a message on my blackberry that ambassador richard holbrookehad died. i really felt very, very sad about that. he was such a nice man. he was the epitome, in his dealings with me, of being a gentleman. everyone who worked with him knew how hard he worked, and i join the many thousands of people who mourn the passing of ambassador richard holbrooke, a champion diplomat and a personal friend. ambassador holbrooke dedicated his entire life to the foreign service, to keeping america safe through tough, sensible diplomacy. i will miss him, his friendship, his counsel, and our nation will miss his tireless leadership and steady guidance for foreign policy. i had the opportunity to work with him closely on a number of occasions during my tenure here as majority leader. i appreciated our many conversations and his insights into the central national security issues of the day. the world bears the imprint of ambassador holbrooke's efforts to bring peace and stability to places torn by conflict. in his early days in the foreign service to his leadership a

ambassador holbrooke. >> what was the followup action? >> hamid karzai called and expressed condolences but he had less pressure and policy approach than mr. holbrooke had would work in afghanistan. is there recommendation for that? >> i think it's too early to tell what changes will be made, not so much in the policy, but there will be a change in personal approach than is inevitable. as we said at the start of the briefing. richard holbrookemark have described him as one of a kind figure. i think that's a fair description. his experience is unique in terms of interactions ranging from vietnam to the balkans to congo to eastity mor and he brought that -- to east timor and he brought that perspective to the challenge of afghanistan-pakistan. whoever succeeds him will bring a fresh set of eyes and unique ex-peernings but certainly no one can question richard holbrooke's determination and drive and it had a measurable effect on the people that he interacted with. and the outreach by president karzai both over the weekend as he was in the hospital, the foreign minister and others, is greatly appreciated. >> george mitchell met today with pre

mr. president, before moving to the unanimous consent, i would want to add that a particular word of thanks for the dayton accords held in dayton, ohio, which ambassador holbrooke played such a key role in bringing forward for our country. i ask unanimous consent the concurrent resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, that any statements relating to the concurrent resolution appear at the appropriate place in the "congressional record" as if read. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. brown: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of h. res. 704, submitted earlier today. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: senate resolution 7 704, to authorize the printing of a revised edition of the senate election law guidebook. the presiding officer: is there an objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection. mr. brown brown: i ask unanimous consent, mr. president, that the resolution be read three times and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table with no intervening action or debate, and any stateme