Holbrooke Reax

Obama: "Michelle and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Richard Holbrooke, a true giant of American foreign policy who has made America stronger, safer, and more respected."

Biden: "Holbrooke was a larger than life figure, who through his brilliance, determination and sheer force of will helped bend the curve of history in the direction of progress."

Bill Clinton: "Our nation is safer, and our world stronger, because of the work he did."

Statement of Madeleine K. Albright, former Secretary of State:

With the death of Richard Holbrooke we have all lost a tremendous and devoted advocate for peace, diplomacy and human rights. I had the honor and privilege of working with Richard through many international crises over several decades, most particularly the wars in Bosnia and Kosovo. He could always be counted on for his imagination, dedication and forcefulness. He was a tireless defender of democracy and freedom, and continued working on these issues in Afghanistan and Pakistan until his final days. Above all, he loved our country. His death is a blow to American diplomacy and the goals to which he dedicated his life. All of his friends will miss his energy and determination. I am deeply saddened, and my thoughts and prayers are with his wife Kati and his entire family.

Mitch McConnell on Ambassador Richard Holbrooke

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday regarding the passing of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke:

“Yesterday America lost one of the most talented and dedicated diplomats it has ever produced. Richard Holbrooke began his diplomatic service several decades ago as a young foreign service officer in Vietnam. The storied career that followed spanned the globe and will remain an integral part of the diplomatic history of our nation. Richard will always be remembered for pursuing the hardest missions, whether negotiating the Dayton Accords which helped to end the war in Bosnia, or his immensely difficult final assignment as Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ambassador Holbrooke doggedly pursued what in his view best enhanced the diplomacy and national security objectives of our nation. We honor his legacy of service to America’s foreign policy and interests by continuing his efforts to help Afghanistan deny the Taliban a return to power, and to disrupt, defeat and dismantle Al Qaeda.”

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

December 13, 2010

Statement from the President on Richard Holbrooke

Michelle and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Richard Holbrooke, a true giant of American foreign policy who has made America stronger, safer, and more respected. He was a truly unique figure who will be remembered for his tireless diplomacy, love of country, and pursuit of peace.

For nearly 50 years, Richard served the country he loved with honor and distinction. He worked as a young foreign service officer during the Vietnam War and then supported the Paris peace talks which ended that war. As a young Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, he helped normalize relations with China. As U.S. Ambassador to Germany, he helped Europe emerge from a long Cold War and encouraged NATO to welcome new members.

As Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs, he was the tireless chief architect of the Dayton Accords that ended the war in Bosnia 15 years ago this week, saving countless lives. As Ambassador to the United Nations, Richard helped break a political impasse and strengthen our nation’s relationship with the UN and elevated the cause of AIDS and Africa on the international agenda. And throughout his life, as a child of refugees, he devoted himself to the plight of people displaced around the world.

When I became President, I was grateful that Richard agreed to serve as Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The progress that we have made in Afghanistan and Pakistan is due in no small measure to Richard’s relentless focus on America’s national interest, and pursuit of peace and security. He understood, in his life and his work, that our interests encompassed the values that we hold so dear. And as usual, amidst his extraordinary duties, he also mentored young people who will serve our country for decades to come. One of his friends and admirers once said that, “If you’re not on the team and you’re in his way, God help you.” Like so many Presidents before me, I am grateful that Richard Holbrooke was on my team, as are the American people.

Earlier this evening at the State Department, I met with Richard’s wife Kati and their family, David, Anthony, Lizzie, Christopher and Sarah, and I spoke to Kati after Richard’s passing. I expressed to them the gratitude of the American people for his lifetime of service. They are in our thoughts and prayers tonight. Tonight, there are millions of people around the world whose lives have been saved and enriched by his work. As I said earlier this evening, the United States is safer and the world is more secure because of the half century of patriotic service of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

December 13, 2010

STATEMENT FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT ON RICHARD HOLBROOKE

Today, I lost a great friend and America lost one of its greatest warriors for peace. Richard Holbrooke was a larger than life figure, who through his brilliance, determination and sheer force of will helped bend the curve of history in the direction of progress. He touched so many lives and helped save countless more. He was a tireless negotiator, a relentless advocate for American interests, and the most talented diplomat we’ve had in a generation. Jill and I will miss him tremendously and we extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Kati and the entire Holbrooke family during their time of grief.

Statement by President Bill Clinton on the Passing of Richard Holbrooke

December 13, 2010

"In a lifetime of passionate, brilliant service on the front lines of war and peace, freedom and oppression, Richard Holbrooke saved lives, secured peace, and restored hope for countless people around the world. Tomorrow marks the 15-year anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Accords - the agreement Dick negotiated which stopped the killings in Bosnia and paved a path to peace in the Balkans that endures today. He was central to our efforts to limit ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and pave the way for its independence, and he found a way to break the stalemate in talks in Cyprus. I was proud to nominate him as the United States' ambassador to the United Nations, where he helped equip the UN to meet the challenges of our 21st Century world. For the last two years, he worked hard to counter terrorism and to build a secure, democratic future for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Our nation is safer, and our world stronger, because of the work he did. I will miss my friend very much. My thoughts and prayers are with Kati, his sons, and legions of friends during this difficult time."

Hillary Clinton on Richard Holbrooke:
Tonight America has lost one of its fiercest champions and most dedicated public servants. Richard Holbrooke served the country he loved for nearly half a century, representing the United States in far-flung war-zones and high-level peace talks, always with distinctive brilliance and unmatched determination. He was one of a kind -- a true statesman -- and that makes his passing all the more painful.

From his early days in Vietnam to his historic role bringing peace to the Balkans to his last mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard helped shape our history, manage our perilous present, and secure our future. He was the consummate diplomat, able to stare down dictators and stand up for America's interests and values even under the most difficult circumstances. He served at every level of the Foreign Service and beyond, helping mentor generations of talented officers and future ambassadors. Few people have ever left a larger mark on the State Department or our country. From Southeast Asia to post-Cold War Europe and around the globe, people have a better chance of a peaceful future because of Richard's lifetime of service.

I had the privilege to know Richard for many years and to call him a friend, colleague and confidante. As Secretary of State, I have counted on his advice and relied on his leadership. This is a sad day for me, for the State Department and for the United States of America.

True to form, Richard was a fighter to the end. His doctors marveled at his strength and his willpower, but to his friends, that was just Richard being Richard. I am grateful for the tireless efforts of all the medical staff, and to everyone who sat by his side or wished him well in these final days.

Tonight my thoughts and prayers are with Richard's beloved wife Kati, his sons David and Anthony, his step-children Elizabeth and Chris Jennings, his daughter-in-law Sarah, and all of his countless friends and colleagues.

Lieberman Mourns Ambassador Richard Holbrooke

WASHINGTON, DC -- Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) issued the following statement about the passing today of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke:

“Richard Holbrooke was a colossus of American diplomacy. From Vietnam to the Balkans and now Afghanistan and Pakistan, the history of our nation's foreign policy over the last forty years is inseparable from Richard's own remarkable and courageous life -- which was spent, both inside and outside government, in the distinguished service of the country he loved and in pursuit of the most noble ideals for which it stands.

“Richard Holbrooke has left the world far too soon, but he leaves it a far better place through his achievements. My thoughts and prayers are with Richard's wife Kati, who so brightened his life, and their family. Hadassah and I join them in mourning the loss of an extraordinary person.”

Kerry on the Passing of Richard Holbrooke

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, tonight released the following statement on the passing of U.S. diplomat and special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke:

"This awful news is almost incomprehensible, not least of all because I cannot imagine Richard Holbrooke in anything but a state of perpetual motion. He was always working. He was always a man on a mission, the toughest mission, and that mission was waging peace through tough as nails, never quit diplomacy - and Richard's life's work saved tens of thousands of lives.

"We loved his energy, we loved his resolve - that's who Richard was, and he died giving everything he had to one last difficult mission for the country he loved. It is almost a bittersweet bookend that a career of public diplomacy that began trying to save a war gone wrong, now ends with a valiant effort to keep another war from going wrong.

"Teresa and I both extend our heartfelt sympathy to Richard's family, especially his extraordinary wife Kati and Richard's two sons, David and Anthony.

"Our public careers were intertwined in so many ways, from Vietnam to my presidential campaign to the conflict in Afghanistan, and every step of the way he provided wise advice and intelligent guidance to presidents and statespeople alike. It is difficult to put into words how very much we will all miss our friend, and how much the nation will miss his judgment and character.

"Richard was an outsized personality who never tired of tackling the toughest challenges. But he met his match in Kati Marton. They were soul mates, a perfect pair of intellectuals whose curiosity and passion kept them involved in public service. We are all thinking of her this evening.

"Wherever chaos and violence threatened American interests and human lives for nearly a half century, wherever there was a need for courage and insight, Richard Holbrooke showed up for duty. He spent his formative years as a young foreign service officer in Vietnam, where he worked in the Mekong Delta and then on the staffs of two American ambassadors, Maxwell Taylor and Henry Cabot Lodge. Given the storied expanse of his career, people sometimes forget that Richard wrote a volume of the Pentagon Papers, the seminal work that helped turn the course of the Vietnam War. As with all of us who served in Vietnam, Richard's experience there informed his every judgment, and instilled in him a lifelong commitment to work to ensure that peace and diplomacy prevailed over war.

"Richard never shied from the tough assignments, and he undertook his last one with the same determination that enabled him to - through sheer will - broker the peace agreement among the warring factions in Bosnia that resulted in the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. He will always be remembered as a warrior for peace."

STATEMENT BY SENATOR JOHN McCAIN ON THE PASSING OF RICHARD HOLBROOKE

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today made the following statement regarding the passing of Richard Holbrooke:

"I am deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Richard Holbrooke. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, and I wish them solace in their time of mourning. America has lost one of our most able diplomats."

Hoyer Statement on the Passing of Veteran Diplomat Richard Holbrooke

WASHINGTON, DC - Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) issued the following statement today following the passing of Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan:

"I am deeply saddened by the death of Richard Holbrooke. He was a giant in the field of diplomacy, and his work will have a lasting impact across the world. From brokering the Dayton Peace Accords that ended the war in Bosnia, to serving as the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, his knowledge and experience was immense and his insight into global affairs was indispensable. My thoughts and prayers are with his family."

Statement of Samuel R. Berger, former National Security Advisor
I am deeply saddened by the death of Richard Holbrooke— a remarkable public servant and a dedicated force for good. Richard was an unrelenting advocate for peace, a superb diplomat and a dear friend. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Gen. Petraeus: ""Richard Holbrooke was a true titan in the diplomatic arena and a central figure in the effort in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Indeed, it was with considerable pride that we called him our 'diplomatic wingman.'"

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari: "Pakistan has a lost a friend. The best tribute to him is to reiterate our resolve to root out extremism and usher in peace."