Wash Po-U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke Dies

U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke: nydailynews.com

(Story reported by Rajiv Chandrasekaran for the Washington Post)

Longtime U.S. diplomat Richard C. Holbrooke, whose relentless prodding and deft maneuvering yielded the 1995 Dayton peace accords that ended the war in Bosnia - a success he hoped to repeat as President Obama's chief envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan - died Monday in Washington of complications from surgery to repair a torn aorta. He was 69.

A foreign policy adviser to four Democratic presidents, Mr. Holbrooke was a towering, one-of-a-kind presence who helped define American national security strategy over 40 years and three wars by connecting Washington politicians with New York elites and influential figures in capitals worldwide. He seemed to live on airplanes and move with equal confidence through Upper East Side cocktail parties, the halls of the White House and the slums of Pakistan.

Obama praised him as "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."

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a statement that the United States "has lost one of its fiercest champions and most dedicated public servants."

(Click here to read the full story on the Washington Post website. May GOD Rest the soul of Ambassador Holbrooke, not only a dedicated diplomat and humanitarian, but a truly great human being. May GOD Bless Ambassador Holbrooke's family, friends, and associates with HIS Peace and Grace in their time of grief and need.)