mr. holbrooke? >> in july. at long island.-- it was during the time that there were a lot of difficulties in pakistan. he was back in the united states and he was very anxious to get back into the region and get engaged. >> this is david gergen. i'm just curious about what he really felt about the afghan war. did he think it was winnable or did he think we really needed to adjust our sights there? >> well, i think that that's going to come out over time. but i will tell you this. that he put his heart and soul into it. and i don't think, you know, when richard holbrooke started to do something, he put everything else aside and worked on it. and this was something he passionately worked on and believed in trying to help us all. >> can you tell us his honest opinions about pakistan? >> i can't tell you that. >> you can but you'd have to kill me? >> i can't tell you this but i am going to tell you what you haven't given him credit for and that is that he had a tremendous vision of what europe was all about. it was richard holbroo

mr. 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

mr. holbrooke are remarkable man who had done lots of work for a more peaceful world. >> what sort of legacy will he leave amongst the political community in washington? >> i think we heard the statement by mrs. clinton in particular. the legacy of his historic role that he played. she describe id the peace accors that ended the war in bosnia. he managed to bring warring leaders to the table. more recently, there was his role as president obama's envoy in afghanistan and pakistan. many will be asking the question who is to succeed him in the time when the u.s. is pushing to stabilize the situation in afghanistan and perhaps a transfer of more afghan troops forces involved in the fighting. >> i spoke earlier to the pakistani ambassador to the united states to was a close friend of richard holbrooke and met with him a few days ago. >> we had breakfast on thursday. the day before he was admitted to hospital. we were very close. we spoke frequently. i will remember him as a great diplomat who was able to show, while being loyal to the u.s., he was there friend and wanted to do good by them and h

mr. holbrooke a true giant of american farm policy and former president clinton said richard holbrooke save lives, restored peace and secure hope for people run the world. he was 69. . joining us on the phone is american strategies program director at new america foundation joining us to talk about the death of mr. richard holbrooke who died last night after surgery. i just wanted to begin with a quote in "the washington post" on his death. the very last paragraph says -- as mr. holbrooke was sedated for surgeries, family members said to his pakistani surgeon -- you've got to stop this war in afghanistan. >> for some time i knew he was skeptical about keep parts of the afghanistan enterprise -- i know he was loyal to the administration and organize a capable of well functioning interdepartmental team dealing with afghanistan. but just about a month ago something called the foreign relations volumes of the united states, for folks who did not know them, the official composites of u.s. foreign policy history written about 25 or 30 years after, when classified information could be incoorated a

mr. holbrooke was 69 years old. >>> wintry weather is taking aim at the nation's east coast this morning after blasting heavy snow and high winds across the midwest. in northern indiana, more than 100 vehicles were stuck on highways for hours yesterday as a slow-moving storm blocked snowplow drivers' efforts to free them. at least 15 deaths have been linked to the storm which dumped nearly two feet of snow in parts of minnesota and wisconsin before moving into michigan and i understand understand. last night, the biting temperatures stretched further east with snow in parts of ohio, pennsylvania, and new york. >>> and now here's a look at some other stories making news early today in america. a missouri man returning after a weekend away found his home as frozen as an ice sickle. apparently a water main break shot water into the air and everything around it. add a blast of frigid air and the property literally became enclosed in ice. he says there's no damage on the inside. in fact, the heat works just fine, thankfully. >>> a washington state woman is lucky to be alive after her suv plun

mr. holbrooke, you see the pictures of him there, was rushed to a hospital in washington for a puncture in. 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 faith in him as does her husband. i think president obama called him a towering figure. that's exactly what

mr. holbrooke, who is 69, is best known for at brokering the peace accords that ended the war in bosnia.tial results from elections and impose a vote suggests -- in kosovo suggest a winner. there were concerns over fraud in two districts. the site of the world's worst nuclear accident, chernobyl -- and ukrainian spokeswoman says specialist are working out state groups through the area so more can be learned about the explosion that crippled the area in 1986. in the past few weeks, but japan and south korea conducted large- scale joint military exercises with the united states. china calls this up in " an attempt -- "an attempt of american contain a." our aging correspondent joined in american air -- our asian correspondent joined an american aircraft carrier, the uss george washington. >> is in china's backyard. and menacing force, reaching up the coast of japan. the u.s. has been fleeing war games with japan for 50 years, but never on this scale. for decades, the americans will be seized of east asia. but a confident china is starting to flex its muscles. the disputed japanese islands w

mr. holbrooke had this experience in the clinton administration of combining might with diplomacy and we see that president obama is ramping up the troop presence in afghanistan. of course, the big question is, when can we withdraw or withdraw those troops and mr. holbrooke was going to be a very important voice and player in determining that. >> there's one thing to know about milltrary strides and the other thing is the diplomatic strides and really finding a way towards a stable government in afghanistan. he was somebody, emily, who wasn't afraid to talk tough to harmid karzai. what are you hearing in washington about this huge loss for american foreign policy? >> his death is being met with great sadness here on capitol hill. particularly there was a very touching tribute that john kerry put out just this morning. had kerry won in '04, it was thought that holbrooke probably would have been a secretary of state and he put out a very moving tribute calling holbrooke a warrior for peace and that's how he was viewed on capitol hill. what i think was notable about his relationship on capi

mr. 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

mr. 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

mr. 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

mr. holbrooke using unparliamentary language. so i think it is important to at least have that history. i just want to say one other thing. we do not discuss the executive sessions, liberations of the committee, but i feel obliged to note since i think a misimpression could be had that in fact mr. rangel did sign a settlement effort, and the committee was unable to reach a settlement agreement with mr. rangel earlier this year. now, it may be that the committee and the house could do a different sanction. mr. scott identified several members and former members and staffers who are either still serving sentences in prison or still in court, being tried or an ongoing proceeding for misconduct. i think it is precisely because of that failure to put members of this body and the american public first demand a higher standard that the committee on a 9-1 vote recommended this sanction. we need a higher standard. mr. rangel himselfs a acknowledged that we need a higher standard. process is about protecting the integrity of the house as much as it is about sanctioning an individual who has viola

mr. holbrooke, before he went to emergency surgery said you have to end in war in afghanistan. you've spent time in afghanistan. you're back. we're waiting on this review. is this latest strategy working? six soldiers now losing their lives at the out post at the the beginning of this week. >> first of all, it's a huge loss to this country and to the world. he dedicated his life to diplomacy and giving us a more peaceful world. he was amazing at his job. it is a great loss. certainly we offer our thoughts and prayers to his family. as far as afghanistan is concerned, he's right. it is enormously expensive in afghanistan. we have 100,000 troops. it goes beyond the military. we have an enormous commitment on the civilian side as well. i think we are making progress. i saw some of that progress. but the key is the transition. it's to turn these responsibilities over to the afghans. i think we have to do that sooner rather than later. >> so many agree with you. we'll see where this review takes you. congressman smith, it's a great pleasure to have you on always. thank you. >> absol

mr. holbrooke, your country is not prepared to move here?times things like, would you be crazy enough to bomb us over our security police? i said, yeah, we're just that crazy. >> you spent hours and hours with malosovitch. what drives him? >> power. >> understanding war power, understanding diplomatic power. power of force. richard holbrooke's last posting was as this president's special forces for afghanistan and pakistan. it will be presented to the country by the president in two days on thursday. we'll have more of that on tomorrow's show. stay tuned. pathetic. you call this a holiday party? we need to help. these people are under-indulgers, not enjoying the holidays! together we can end under-indulgence. and if you over do it, pepto-bismol's got you covered. ♪ we get double miles on every purchase. so we earned a holiday trip to the big apple twice as fast! dinner! [ garth ] we get double miles every time we use our card. and since double miles add up fast, we can bring the whole gang! it's hard to beat double miles! i want a maze, a sw

mr. holbrooke was meant to have been there, as well, and he has been the very public face of this war effort, testifying before congress, talking to journalists when it was possible to really try to get the message of the administration out. so he is a vital part of this effort to turn that war around. >> and, you know, this is a man who's got a long history of diplomacy. he was credited with helping to end the war in bosnia in 1995 yet he has said that this assignment is the hardest one he's ever had. >> yes, it is incredibly hard as you can imagine perhaps not least because it's america's longest war. i first met him during his shuttle diplomacy in the balkan wars when sarejevo and bosnia were embroiled in a vicious ethic war, and he was deployed by president clinton and was really credited with getting all sides together and finally hammering out the dayton peace accords that ended that vicious civil war there. >> christiane amanpour who has covered richard holbrooke for many years now, we appreciate your perspective this morning, and we want to remind our viewers to watch christiane late

mr. holbrooke, your country is not prepared to move here?s like, would you be crazy enough to bomb us over our security politiciace? i said, yeah, we're just that crazy. >> you spent hours and hours with malosovitch. what drives him? >> power. >> understanding war power, understandi ining diplomatic po. pow e of force. richard holbrooke's last posting was as his president's special forces for afghanistan and pakistan. it will be presented to the country by the president in two days on thursday. we'll have more of that on tomorrow's show. stay tuned. we've saved people a lot of money on car insurance. feels nice going into the holidays. ohhhh.... will you marry me? oooh, helzberg diamonds. yeah, well he must have saved some money with geico. reminds me of the gecko mating call. really? how does that go? shoo be doo be doo. geico. 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance. slow you down. introducing bayer am. its dual-action formula delivers extra strength pain relief, plus it fights fatigue. so get up and get going with new bayer

mr. holbrooke was 69 years old. >>> the senate could give its final approval today to that tax cut deal hammeredans. the $858 billion measure sailed through the senate and a test vote monday with overwhelming support. even though its passage by senators is all but assured it's clear not everyone is on board. >> passing this bill so that the biggest tax hike in the here of the country won't happen is one thing that will bring some certainty. >> extending tax cuts for the wealthy is one of the least effective ways to create jobs. >> the bill's future, though, is far from certain in the house where a vote has not even been scheduled yet. if it's not passed by january 1st those bush-era tax rates and some unemployment benefits will expire. >>> the battle over alaska's u.s. senate race has now moved to the state's highest court. republican joe miller filed an appeal to the alaska supreme court after being turned down by a lower court. he is challenging how the state conducted the election and how it counted write-in ballots for his rival, senator lisa murkowski. arguments will be heard friday. >>> in

mr. holbrooke, and i think we will be out of afghanistan by september of next year. host: patrick, democrat, good morning to you. caller: good morning. congressman, i'm sure you were alive during the 1950's and 1960's. america sustained its longest period of economic growth. during that period, the tax rate was 91%. that was the highest marginal tax rate in america. guest: it was changed. caller: of course it was. he was a billionaire. this is my point, congressman. poor people are out of work right now because there's no money available to them. rich people do not have to work because they've already set up the methods that will continue to have them the rich. if we put a strain on our society -- string on our society, we may be able to get our society moving. i do not know how the cutting taxes will work. it has not worked and it is not going to work in the future. guest: let me respond to that. the bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003, the democrats role was to make sure that the middle class was involved across the board. we even increase the earnings of tax credits fo

mr. holbrooke died yesterday. he was 69 years old. in a few moments, a forum on u.s. strategy in afghanistan. in more than an hour, a briefing on drug use among teenagers. after that, a forum on the effects of the website wikileaks on public policy and journalism. a couple of live events to tell you about tomorrow on cspan-3. the house judiciary committee holds a hearing on foreclosures that will focus on the documentation practices by mortgage servicers. that is at 10:00 a.m. eastern. at 1:00 p.m. eastern, the open source intelligence roundtable closed the discussion of the relationship between technology and traditional media. panelists will talk about the future of so-called open source intelligence in national security decisions. >> this sunday on c-span, and her first televised interview, the newest supreme court justice elena kagan on the confirmation process, or adjustment to the court, and her relationship with john roberts. sunday at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on c-span. just-in-time for the holiday season, "the supreme court" is being offered at a special price

mr. holbrooke using unparliamentary language. so i think it is important to at least have that history. i just want to say one other thing. we do not discuss the executive sessions, liberations of the committee, but i feel obliged to note since i think a misimpression could be had that in fact mr. rangel did sign a settlement effort, and the committee was unable to reach a settlement agreement with mr. rangel earlier this year. now, it may be that the committee and the house could do a different sanction. mr. scott identified several members and former members and staffers who are either still serving sentences in prison or still in court, being tried or an ongoing proceeding for misconduct. i think it is precisely because of that failure to put members of this body and the american public first demand a higher standard that the committee on a 9-1 vote recommended this sanction. we need a higher standard. mr. rangel himselfs a acknowledged that we need a higher standard. process is about protecting the integrity of the house as much as it is about sanctioning an individual who has viola

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 down as the

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 as the bes

mr. holbrooke using unparliamentary language. so i think it is important to at least have that history. i just want to say one other thing. we do not discuss the executive sessions, liberations of the committee, but i feel obliged to note since i think a misimpression could be had that in fact mr. rangel did sign a settlement effort, and the committee was unable to reach a settlement agreement with mr. rangel earlier this year. now, it may be that the committee and the house could do a different sanction. mr. scott identified several members and former members and staffers who are either still serving sentences in prison or still in court, being tried or an ongoing proceeding for misconduct. i think it is precisely because of that failure to put members of this body and the american public first demand a higher standard that the committee on a 9-1 vote recommended this sanction. we need a higher standard. mr. rangel himselfs a acknowledged that we need a higher standard. process is about protecting the integrity of the house as much as it is about sanctioning an individual who has viola

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

obama's envoy to afghanistan and pakistan, and under president clinton holbrooke negotiated the bosnian peace plan. this morning mrives, secured peace, and restored hope for countless people around the world. richard holbrooke was 69 years old. >>> it's about four past the hour. let's go back outside to dave price for another check of the weather. dave? >> whit, you just -- you just take your time reading that news. it's just perfectly comfortable out here. oh, buddy, wait till you get out here at 8:30. it is chilly! now the good news have a lot of very smart people. this woman's wearing a hat. and this woman's wearing a hat. this one's wearing a hat, hat, hat, parka. where did you get this. where are you from? >> texas. >> you don't need these in texas. did you steal this from somebody? >> no, i brought it. >> look at this. ooh that's nice. that's really nice. i'll tell you what, take this mike, we'll tried, lrpt? no, come on, come on. >> no. >> please, i'm begging you. >> it's way too cold out here. >> hold on, i'm going to give you a souvenir from new york city. here we go. here, take that. >> oh, no! >> it say

obama's envoy to afghanistan and pakistan, and under president clinton holbrooke negotiated the bosnian peace plan. this morning mrives, secured peace, and restored hope for countless people around the world. richard holbrooke was 69 years old. >>> it's about four past the hour. let's go back outside to d d >>> good morning. let's take a look at the forecast. 31. more likely lap wind chill, the upper teens to low 20s. we have a single digit wind chill of 8 degrees. for the record it's about 20. 16 degrees tonight. the wind goes to a breeze, patchy clouds, single digit wind chills tomorrow morning. tomorrow breezy, clouds and sun. the 32 will be more >>> this weather report sponsored by kay jewelers. every kiss begins with kay. >> thanks, john. that's a quick look at your weather picture, betty back inside to you. >> all right. thank you, dave. up next the latest facts on good cholesterol, and a possible breakthrough in the fight against alzheimer's disease. this is "the early show" on cbs. - you went to kay. she'll love it. [chuckles] trust me. i know. ho-ho-ho-ho-ho. - introducing charmed memories from kay, the n

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, a significant boost to the economy next year. it is necessary because the alternative would be a significant tax increase on millions of middle-class families in just a matter of weeks. mr. president, i recognize that this package will increase the deficit over the next two years, but we need to distinguish between what is the right economic policy short term and longer term. short term i don't think there is any question that this economy remains weak, unemployment stubbornly high, and that means w

holbrooke is an unstable, but critical condition. he fell ill on friday during a routine meeting with mrs. clinton.is best known for the peace accords that ended the war in bosnia. an initial results from the parliamentary elections in kosovo suggest that the prime minister's party has won the big money coalition partners to govern. opposition parties have demanded a rerun. french police have ended a hostage siege at a nursery school after a youth armed with two swords or least four children and their teacher. earlier, the 17-year-old had taken 22 children hostage. most were released as the police moved the site of the world's worst nuclear accident, chernobyl, has built its first official chores for next year. they are working out safe routes through the areas so they can learn more about the explosion from 1986. in the past few weeks, but japan and south korea have conducted large-scale joint military exercises but the u.s. china calls this an attempt at american containment in an area that beijing sees as its responsibility. a correspondent giant the american aircraft carrier uss as george washi

state will have soon a result comes as mr berlusconi faces planting support i made claims of sexual indecency and failed policies. in american diplomat richard holbrooke has died at the age of sixty nine after undergoing emergency heart surgery he's best known as the chief architect of the dayton peace agreement which ended the bosnian war more recently became barack obama's special envoy to afghanistan and pakistan credits include being nominated for the nobel peace prize seven times praised by president obama as a giant of american foreign policy is often unrelenting style ending the nickname the bleeders or. iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad has dismissed the country's foreign minister manouchehr mottaki from his post the news came unexpectedly while the minister was on a state visit to senegal on a spot speculation of a power struggle the country's top nuclear official last sunday he has been real money interim replacement the move comes as ron struggles on the heavy sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear enrichment activities. joining the world trade organization would help boost europe's economy as a whole and especially that of its neighbor

comes as mr berlusconi faces promising support claims of sexual indecency in full well this is a. veteran american diplomat richard holbrooke has died at the age of sixty nine undergoing emergency heart surgery he's best known as the chief architect of the dayton peace agreement which ended the bosnian well recently he became barack obama's special envoy to afghanistan and pakistan the credits include being nominated for the ruble peace prize seven times praised by president obama as a giant of american foreign policy is often unrelenting stuff and in the nickname the bulldozer. raining president mahmoud ahmadinejad has dismissed the country's foreign minister. from his post news came and it was mentally while there was on a state visit to senegal and a spot speculation of a power struggle country's top official. says interim replacement the move comes as iran struggles on the heavy sanctions aimed at curbing its richmond's activities. russia joining the world trade organization would help boost to europe's economies a hope and especially that of its neighbors that's the view of the president of finland an area other than t

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

become quite vicious nonetheless richard holbrooke knew that he had several things that were really important. he knew his subject, he had a strong relationship with mrs. clinton. he had built a powerful set of ties to the afghans, to the pakistanis, to some 30 other nations. >> rose: and the indians. >> and the indians. and perhaps most of all he knew that his own achievements in life, his reputation, protected him from the kind of silly sniping that goes on in the battle of ideas in washington. he was secure. there was no serious rival. >> rose: but it was ruff. >> it was ruff. >> rose: that's what i'm asking you. you can't be immune to that. >> no, he was not immune to it. but he had a toughness about him that got him through it as he'd gotten through other periods in life. >> can i just add something to that because dick is making an important point. dick thought it was his toughness and he was tough. but he was also a fragile guy and these things bothered him enormously. they would bother anyone and even someone as tough as dick holbrooke. >> rose: you saw his vulnerability on that? >> oh, sure, he didn't hide it from us. >> he was troubled by it

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, a significant boost to the economy next year. it is necessary because the alternative would be a significant tax increase on millions of middle-class families in just a matter of weeks. mr. president, i recognize that this package will increase the deficit over the next two years, but we need to distinguish between what is the right economic policy short term and longer term. short term i don't think there is any question that this economy remains weak, unemployment stubbornly high, and that means w