Date: 2010-12-15
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker. I am saddened by the occasion on which I come to the floor of the House. but it is a privilege to be able to speak about a great American. for we do not capture the life and the legacy of great Americans. We find ourselves forgetting. Some would say. if we dont remember the past. we are doomed to repeat some of those hills and valleys in the future. Tonight. I want to remember Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. whom this Nation lost on Monday evening. It is important that his story be told for I would like to know him and for this Nation to know him as Americas peacemaker. but many will say that peacemaker had a tough edge. Before I start. I want to mention his family and express my sympathy to them for their lossto his wife. his two sons. and his stepchildrenall who loved him so very. very much. What I would say to you is that this was an action man. He was someone who threw himself into the world of diplomacy. Frankly. there was no challenge of peace too difficult for Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. One newspaper. USA Today. calls him as he is known in the headlineBulldozer. Giant of Diplomacy Holbrooke Dies. Among his credits. the 1995 Bosnian pact. but Richard was also known around the world for being unending and unceasing in his commitment to solving a problem. and he would ask you to work with him to solve that problem. Henry Kissinger said. If Richard calls you and asks you for something. just say. "Yes." If you say. "No." you will eventually get to saying "yes." but the journey will be very painful. Ambassador Holbrooke was not prepared to give up. He learned to become extremely informed about whatever country he was in. He would push for an exit strategy and look for ways to get those who lived in a country to take responsibility for their own security. He didnt mind getting engaged and involved with those who lived in faraway places. whether it was Vietnam or whether it was Bosniathe resulting agreement. the Dayton peace treaty. The Washington Post headline credited him with deft maneuvering that resulted in that peace treaty. He brokered the accord in Bosnia. He was seeking peace in Afghanistan. and he refused to give up. So. tonight. it is important that we remember this man. this gentlemanthis giant of a man. large in size and with the capacity to do much. America was saddened by his loss. In particular. I note that Ambassador Holbrooke always accepted the call to duty. whether it was as the U.N. ambassador or whether it was as the special envoy which President Obama called him to be. In the time of sadness. many came to present and to give their thoughts. Let me share with you some of those words. 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. The progress that we have made in Afghanistan and Pakistan is due in no small measure to Richards relentless focus on Americas national interests and pursuit of peace and security. He understood in his life. his work. and his interests that they encompass the values that we hold so dear. and as usual. amidst this extraordinary duty. he also mentored young people who will serve our country for decades to come. One of his friends and admirers once said that if youre not on the team and youre in the 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. President Barack Obama. I remind you. like so many Presidents before me. Im grateful that he was on my team. The President understood the kind of strength that Ambassador Holbrooke had. This sounds just like him: If youre not on the team and youre in his way. God help you. But remember. he was doing it for the good of this Nation and for the good of the world. Another comment on his great life: 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. He was central to our efforts to limit ethnic cleansing in Kosova and paved the way for its independence. and he found a way to break the stalemate in the talks in Cyprus. Little known to many people. I was proud to nominate him as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations where he helped equip the U.N. to meet the challenges of our 21stcentury world. Former President Bill Clinton. Let me just reiterate these words. He helped restore hope for countless people around the world. I remember engaging with Ambassador Holbrooke in the early stages of my congressional career. and I remember him as the United Nations ambassador: resilient. joyful. persistent. determined. ready to tackle the world for peace. He wasnt bored with his job. He was never bored. He was always ready to do what was right. Another comment on his life: Richard Holbrooke was a largerthanlife 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 have had in a generation. Vice President JOE BIDEN. Other words pouring out for him and toward him: 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. 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. relied on his leadership. This is a sad day for me. for the State Department and. yes. for the United States of America. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Some would say that States and defense. power and diplomacy. sometimes did not match or mix. but Richard Holbrooke knew how to walk that line. Ambassador Holbrooke was one of the most formidable and consequential public servants of his generation. bringing his uncommon passion. energy. tenacity. and intellect to bear on the most difficult national security interests of our time. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. He never lost time fighting for ideals he believed in. He never lost touch with the problems faced by millions of people he never knew. And he never lost hope that those same people could live in peace. security. and safety. Indeed. he shared their vivid aspirations. The Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mike Mullen. You can see that he interacted with these leaders of our present government and past government quite frequently. He was a frequent visitor to the White House. Those who worked in this area and those who did not knew Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. and he drew the admiration and respect and sometimes the intimidation of those who watched him work and wondered what he would say next. Well. I can tell you as someone who has likewise watched his work. he would be talking about peace. Further words about him: His drive was immense. His desire to do good in the world was fierce. and he pursued all that he set out to do with a resolution and tenacity that was second to none. His legacy will be his work. his inspiration to so many around the world. Thats what we should note about Ambassador Holbrooke: how many miles he accumulated in his travels around the world. how many times in his lifetime around the world he went. More than we probably could calculate because. when this Nation called him. when there was a conflict. a difficult situation. where people were at odds. where others were suffering. he wanted to intervene and to bring peace. He wanted to see the best of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He wanted those people to thrive and to grow. He wanted the children to have an opportunity for education and to mature into citizens of their nation. He wanted the people of Afghanistan to have freedom and a good government and good governance. He wanted there to be the opportunity for girls to go to school and women to be respected and held in dignity and to have the same access to opportunities that we cherish here in the United States of America. He cared about our soldiers on the front line. and he knew that they were putting themselves on the line so that he could work his magic and bring resolution. You know what I would say to my colleagues. I know that the heads of state of both Pakistan and Afghanistan have experienced the similar loss and pain of a giant like Ambassador Holbrooke in losing his life. I know that because both Presidents. Presidents Zardari and Karzai. called the family to express their concern. Presidents called far away from their homes. as one could imagine. because they respected a man who would get in the mix and fight both. if he had to. to draw them together and to iron out or to box out these particular issues that were keeping us from being united around the question of peace. Further comments about this great man. They noted that Ambassador Holbrookes service spanned decades and continents confronting profoundly difficult issues and global affairs. The members of the council expressed admiration for his contributions as the United States permanent representative to the United Nations. as well as for his energetic and unrelenting commitment to promoting peace and strengthening international cooperation of the United Nations. I will tell you that his work at the United Nations allowed him to touch governments around the world. and I venture to say that any hotspot that would occur today. this giant of a man would be able to go and begin to develop a solution. Remember what I said. any country that he would go to. he would begin to know more than anyone else about that country and probably more than those who lived there. Thats what made him effective. Thats what made him have the ability to talk to heads of state and prime ministers and foreign ministers and those who were engaged in the daytoday diplomacy of that particular country. It was his understanding of their culture. his understanding of their language. his understanding of how they thought. but most of all. his understanding of his own thoughts. and he knew he wanted peace. and he would do what was necessary. There were so many that considered him friend. but there were really so many more that respected him for being the bulldozer. giant for peace. I call him Americas peacemaker. Further comments that I pay tribute to his diplomatic skills. strategic vision. and legendary determination as the architect of the 1995 Dayton Agreement. Ambassador Holbrooke played a key role in ending the war in Bosnia. the most terrible tragedy on European soil since World War II. At the end of this long and distinguished career. he traveled tirelessly to Afghanistan and Pakistan in pursuit of peace and stability in the region. and he would not stop. My words. He knew that history is unpredictable. that we sometimes have to defend our security by facing conflict in distant places and that the transatlantic alliance remains indispensable. Secretary General of NATO. And so Ambassador Holbrooke knew how to put it together. how to work with the various entities that represented the front lines of defense for this Nation and for Europe and other countries. He knew how to walk the walk and talk the talk. I remember. as a new Member of Congress. coming in during the hostile and the horrible conflict of Bosnia. the ethnic cleansing that occurred in Kosova. and to realize that one man was the pinnacle. the pivotal point of working on the Dayton peace treaty. I tell you how important that was. As a new Member of Congress. I was able to go on the first delegation into Bosnia. then to meet with heads of states of Bosnia and former Yugoslavia and Croatia. We went to Sarajevo. and we landed where there was no actual peace in place at that time. They were looking to finalize the Dayton peace treaty. We were going in to determine whether or not this peace treaty was going to be welcomed by the people. As we went into this town that was known for its beautiful Alps and skiing opportunities. I was literally shocked. It drew me back to pictures I saw in history books of World War II when Europe looked as if it was completely bombed out and desolate. Whole buildings had their tops knocked off. In libraries. doors were opened and books strewn on the ground. People walking aimlessly through the streets. And as we walked to what was left of a public building to meet the various leaders. there were women who came up to me in the street and asked had I seen their son. In this horrible war. they had lost their son. Is their son alive? in their language. speaking to me. I know the price of that horrible war by way of seeing those people in pain. Ambassador Holbrooke understood it and worked without ceasing to secure a peace that is lasting today. No peace is a hundred percent. There are always some trials and tribulations. but he laid the framework that is in place today. He left it to us to be vigilant. to give oversight. if you will. and to ensure that people who have been in conflict. who desire to have peace can live in peace. Further comments about Ambassador Holbrooke: We will always remember his efforts of promoting peace and stability in our region with a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude. Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani. He will always be remembered for his preeminent role in ending the vicious war in Bosnia. where his force of personality and his negotiating skills combined to drive through the Dayton peace treaty agreement and put a halt to the fighting. British Prime Minister David Cameron. As you can see. from all walks of life. they poured out their comments of respect for. again. Americas peacemaker. He could always be counted on for his imagination. dedication. and forcefulness. Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright. Many understood his work. many who were in the business. More comments: Richard Holbrookes legacy goes well beyond the critical role he played in bringing a decade of fragile peace in the Balkans. welcoming a reunified Germany in an expanding NATO. He also leaves a vast multigenerational intercontinental network of friends. I say that again: He also leaves a vast multigenerational intercontinental network of friends. Thank you. Ambassador Holbrooke. It means that you have touched people around the world through generations. and that means that some are left with your spirit. your inspiration. and your training. These words came from the president of the Brookings Institution. Strobe Talbott. one who knows this system well. And then of course you had the fun stories about him. and one could not speak about him without saying how many different things he was. As it was said in The Washington Post: a writer. a diplomat. an editor. a banker. publisher. impresario of numerous organizations. He was a deeply serious man. engaged always in a serious business of saving lives in Vietnam. in Afghanistan. in Bosnia. and I will say at the United Nations. Yes. Ambassador Holbrooke. you were engaged in saving lives. And to the end of your life. it was your pursuit to save lives. As I indicated. to save the lives of our soldiers in Afghanistan. to save the lives of women and children and families. to save the lives who simply want to go from marketplace to home. the farmers who want to take their goods from Kandahar to Kabul or want to do something else other than poppy crop. he was trying to save their lives in Afghanistan. As I visited and as I reflect on my visits to Afghanistan and seeing what a unique terrain. how difficult. how challenging it is. I just want to say to my colleagues. Ambassador Holbrooke could have sat in an armchair. could have done armchair diplomacy. In the world of technology. he could have made attempts to communicate in ways other than the kind of "roll up your sleeves. get on an airplane. and go into the harshest places" to bring about peace. But he understood that peace was about a peopletopeople relationship. It was something that was special. and he had the special touch. Further words from a friend: Dick Holbrooke was a friend of mine. Just 2 days before he fell ill. I saw him and his devoted wife at a dinner where he proposed a toast with generosity. affection. selfdeprecation. and the sort of comic timing that made you think he had missed his true profession. I liked him enormously. But for all that he did over nearly 50 years of service to his Nation and. indeed. to all human kind. I admired him much. much more. As you begin to reflect on Ambassador Holbrookes life. you have to admire him much. much more. and that was from the international editor of Time magazine. Michael Elliott. I am sure that we could count so many emails and Twitter and blogging that is going on right now. first because of the shock of losing this giant of a man. this man that exuded desires for peace. but yet he leaves a life of instruction. that if we are to really develop the kind of world that brings peace to all in the backdrop of Afghanistan and Pakistan and the backdrop of the issues in the Mideast and the backdrop of North and South Korea. it has to be the kind of handtohand diplomacy. insistent diplomacy. persistent. determined diplomacy. and outofthebox diplomacy. One of the champions of a unique new concept for Pakistani Americans and helping Pakistan. and I was delighted to be able to engage with him on this and the Secretary of State to go to the first inaugural meeting in New York. and that is to develop a PakistanAmerican development board that would generate resources and investment by Pakistani Americans and others in Pakistan. That is a love for the people. He knew that he could start there because he knew that in his interactions. he was not willing to label the entire Pakistan with the frontier area and the unfortunate circumstances that cause Pakistan to be able to be in the way. if you will. of receiving terrorists running from Afghanistan. He knew the circumstances. He knew the harshness of it. But he also knew that there were people every day in Karachi and Lahor. Islamabad. and other places. in Peshawar that wanted to go to school. to open business. to be able to have a democratic government. a judicial system that worked. And so he put the burden on the Government of Pakistan to say to them. I will work with you if you will work with me. He believed that there could be a solution. so he was excited about this Pakistan development board. similar to the IrishAmerican board. and he was the heart and soul behind it. And we had a great celebration in New York. and it exists. and its one of his legacies. And so I will say to Ambassador Holbrooke. to his spirit and to his legacy. Youve left something behind that can help to create peace. that can network across the ocean between the goodwill of the people of America and Pakistani Americans and those in Pakistan who really want to focus in on building a great nation. Maybe in the spirit of their founding father. Dr. Jinnah. who believed in a democratic process. living harmoniously with Bangladesh and India. Pakistan and Afghanistan and that region. And so I want us to support the concept of his legacy. Just let me read some headlines that are reflective of his history. Strong American voice in diplomacy in crisis. I can affirm that. Vietnam. Afghanistan. and Pakistan. all resulted out of crisis. but he was a man of diplomacy. Statesman who defined a generation. Clearly. 50 years of service. there was no doubt that Ambassador Holbrookes life will be considered an era. a timeframe of American diplomacy. and an approach of get involved and getting to know the people who you had to engage with. As we listened to reflections about Ambassador Holbrooke. it was noted that he would go to the sites of the chief or the elder statesman or elder warrior or the village or the mountain to be able to draw from that very person who could be part of making peace. You know. as I reflect on this. I would say to you. thats the kind of diplomacy we need. Were going to have to unshackle ourselves. Its interesting. as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Ambassador Holbrooke. in his astuteness. appeared before us a number of times and was always so erudite and brilliant and carefully thinking and analyzing as he responded to questions. But one thing that comes out of his life. and one thing I gleaned as Ive had the privilege of representing the people of Houston in the 18th Congressional District. and seeing how the world works on their behalf and trying to be part of the solution and not the problem. people believe America can solve their problems. I know many Americans push back on that and actually say that we cant nationbuild and we cant solve everyones problems. And in the literal sense. they may be right. But if theres a perception that America has the answer. that our democratic values are so strong that we can reach in times of peace. or with peaceful tactics help guide them toward peace. theres nothing wrong with that. I believe Ambassador Richard Holbrooke truly believed that. that our values were so strong that we could. by sheer determination. commitment. and dedication. help those people who could not help themselves. Time Magazine has Richard Holbrooke. an archetype of American diplomacy. And let me just share these few words. But there have been many career diplomats whose lives overlay the most important historical moments of the last half century. And they name a few. These are friends and rivals of Holbrookes. who also played key roles and influenced events in ways were still only beginning to learn. What made Holbrooke most memorableand of course the article names a number of individualsand what lies behind the outpouring of mourning and reminiscence that is sweeping Washington in the wake of his death Monday evening was his personification of what many at home and abroad imagine U.S. diplomacy to be. And I imagine what theyre saying is that it was the hands on. get in your face. but come with a smile and tell you we can do this together. Thats Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. Now. he didnt pull any punches. I remember sitting in a meeting with him with Pakistani Americans. and he answered hard questions and sometimes gave hard answers. But he left the room with friends. and they truly believed he was looking for peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Holbrooke. this article goes on to say. was not just a prominent American diplomat who engaged in some of the most consequential international events of this time. In the same way that Shakespeares characters still seem to live with us today as the archetype for human nobility. vanity. and ambition. so Holbrooke seemed to be the very human version of American diplomacy itself: piledriver powerful yet subtly persuasive. brash. volcanic and occasionally offensive but tactically brilliant and capable of the finest strategic judgment. coldeyed and sometimes heartlessly realistic but possessing high principles and real deep compassion. Friends. I just read that from Time. But as you have heard my tribute. its interesting how these words come from all of us. And as I indicated to you. if Ambassador Holbrookes legacy is anything. it is. in fact. to leave us with that kind of roadmap. Thats the kind of exciting diplomacy we must be engaged in. The world is not the same. Its not quiet. Its not two heads of state sitting down quietly and having tea and coming to the room and signing the treaty. It is somebody thats hard moving. It is somebody that can be heartless but realistic. high principles. deep compassion. get in the way. Thank you. Ambassador Holbrooke. for leaving with us a roadmap and leaving us with your legacy and challenges. Because I dont know if the Ambassador. as he was working so diligently. where he felt we were going in Afghanistan. but I believe we must make a commitment in light of his spirit and the sacrifice for his family. friends. as he dedicated almost 100 percent of his time. unending. to finding a resolution and bringing people together. I would simply say that to President Karzai. for the spirit in which you express your sympathy. I know that Ambassador Holbrooke would be so grateful for movement toward resolving this conflict. toward the ceasing of those who would move from Afghanistan to take refuge and cover in Pakistan. He would welcome the rising up of both governments to go against those acts of terror that were killing their people. He would welcome the resolve of those heads of state to continue fighting for peace and welcome the growth. development. and opportunity for the Pakistani people and the people of Afghanistan. He would welcome that. And I would simply say. we owe this giant of a man that kind of tribute. Words obviously are nice and nice to be heard. But I would hope that we would be most effective in carrying forth his legacy by actually putting to the test how we can resolve the conflict in Afghanistan without a protracted extension. but also to put the burden. the extra burden of bringing peace. on the Government of Afghanistan and its people working with us. with that aggressive spirit. cando spirit that we can solve this and. yes. working with the people of Pakistan. Let me just relay a story in pictures and show you why this. again. handson diplomat was everywhere. meeting now with the President of Pakistan and developing a relationship. a relationship that was tough but good and sincere. And I pay tribute to the Pakistani Government for the kind words that they have said. And I think the meaningful words. particularly the Ambassador to the United States. who has expressed. from Pakistan. his deepest sympathy. Here with President Karzai. Often they were together and had frank and tothepoint conversation. You cant engage in handtohand diplomacy without being in place where those leaders are. making them feel comfortable that youre working on their behalf. This is his early stages with President Clinton. who appointed him to the United Nations. You can see that he moved around. and he was eager to be known as a person who. if he got the call. would come. Let me share some of these live pictures with him that have him and clearly speak to the action that Ambassador Holbrooke was. This looks to me as the Pakistani flood when he was going into the camps. the most horrific flood over the last couple months that covered some twothirds of Pakistan. People were moved from their landdisastrous. devastating conditions. Ambassador Holbrooke did not miss an opportunity to go and to check. in this instance. on children and to see what they were doing. Here. you will find him not sitting in a traditional chair but sitting with the people. And I speculate that this is a meeting in Afghanistan. but here is a man and his child. And Ambassador Holbrooke is not standing. He is not sitting in a chair as we know it. but he is with the people and he is engaging. This is the style. the diplomatic style of Ambassador Holbrooke. Again. this is not in the comfort of the State Department or any office building. but here he is with the military personnel on one of our battlefields. and my speculation is that again this is in Afghanistan. Greeting again the people. letting them know that he cares. And. again. Ambassador Holbrooke on the move. meeting some of our allies. some of the coalition forces or the forces that work along with the Afghan forces. Here he is again in the field shaking hands and indicating his interests. Here. with women. as he greets them. Another out in the field. hands on. ready to serve. Meeting with our military personnel. And. again. always interacting. and our Ambassador to Afghanistan constantly being engaged. Involving himself again with the people and in the camps. Here. meeting with others who are in camp and being displaced. always working. always hands on. We can learn a lot from Ambassador Holbrooke. and we can learn a lot from his never say never attitude and his willingness. if you will. to ensure that the solution is his top priority. Let me just remind you again of how early Ambassador Holbrooke started his career. He had a tremendous career with the United States State Department. and he had actually begun with a response to President Kennedys call to service for government work in the early 1960s. He always had it in him. Ambassador Holbrooke was undoubtedly a public servant ever since he graduated from Brown University in 1962. when he joined the Foreign Service and was sent to Vietnam. A tough assignment. At the young age of 24. Richard Holbrooke. an expert on Vietnam issues. was appointed to a team of Vietnam experts. the Phoenix Program. under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Ambassador Holbrooke has always been a champion of peace and democracy. and this began at a young age with a profound dedication to the United States international diplomacy efforts. Since beginning his career in foreign policy at such a young age. he obviously was at the forefront. at the 1968 peace talks. director of the Peace Corps in Morocco. or as the editor of the Foreign Policy Magazine. Let me make that clear. He served as the director of the Peace Corps in that area in 1968. Ambassador Holbrooke was always and has always been an archetype of the United States diplomacy. and his resume only serves to demonstrate how he has been consequential to diplomacy in some of our generations most tumultuous events. So. my friends. I thought it was important. shocked. dismayed. and saddened by the loss of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. that we not fail to acknowledge his legacy in the hours after his passing. for there are still people dying in Afghanistan. civilians. there are still our soldiers on the front lines. there are still terrorists. Taliban. hiding in the mountains of Pakistan. allegations that Osama bin Laden is there as well. So we know that the world that Ambassador Holbrooke was so engaged in goes on. but we cannot allow it to go on without a pause for a moment to be able to say thank you to this giant of a man. bulldozer for peace. Americas peacemaker. but a credit to the world. and. as I said in my earlier remarks. someone who loved this country and loved the ability to draw disaster and to draw nonbelievers out into the open and to make it right. to help the people in a disaster. and to draw those nonbelievers into the circle of diplomacy to get them working on peace. That is what you were about. Ambassador Holbrooke. I am glad to have been able to call you acquaintance. yes. friend. but most of all an American hero. Such a strong legacy. I know that this is a very sad time for so many. and so I rise on the floor this evening to be able again to offer my deepest sympathy. But 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 in the continuing effort for peace. We have got a roadmap left to us by Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. And remember an earlier comment that. if he asked you to do something. dont waste your time saying no. because more than likely. with a little pain. you will be there saying yes. So why dont we just keep his legacy ongoing. realize that he has asked us to continue to make peace. And as long as we fight against it. it is going to be painful. but if we can gather our thoughts together. if we can continue to work together. to work with this administration. the President. the Secretary of State. and the Congress. and really realize that the important end game is peace in Afghanistan and an independent peaceful Pakistan and a peaceful region. but with the idea that people of those countries must take on that burden and really desire peacemaybe that is the message that they have gotten in this terrible tragedy. to desire peace and to fight for itif that is the case. then this handson. lively. and wellversed diplomats legacy will be embedded in the next days. hours. minutes. next couple of months when we might see a glimmer of sunshine reflecting the handson evidence of a man that never tired of seeking people to find peace. I hope that. as we mourn the loss of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. the tribute that we give to him that will be ongoing will be an unceasing quest for peace. and I hope that we will find it in his name. On behalf of the fallen men and women who have given their lives for peace in the United States military. on behalf of the people of the United States of America. we are indeed grateful for the service of Ambassador Holbrooke. and we tell his family thank you for sharing him with the American people. I submit for inclusion in the RECORD additional materials. With that. I humbly I yield back my time in the name of peace and respect for Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. On Monday. I was extremely saddened to hear about the death of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. He was a great leader and a dedicated representative of peace and democracy throughout the world. I extend my deepest condolences to Ambassador Holbrookes family. his wife Kati Marton. his brother. Andrew. and his children. David. Anthony. Christopher and Elizabeth. Ambassador Holbrooke has had a tremendous career with the United States State Department. which began with a response to President Kennedys call to service for government work in the early 1960s. Ambassador Holbrooke was undoubtedly a public servant ever since his graduation from Brown University in 1962. when he joined the Foreign Service and was sent to Vietnam. At the young age of 24. Richard Holbrooke. an expert on Vietnam issues. was appointed to a team of Vietnam experts. the Phoenix Program. under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Ambassador Holbrooke has always been a champion of peace and democracy. and this began at a young age with a profound dedication to the United States international diplomacy efforts. Since beginning his career in foreign policy at such an young age. Ambassador Holbrooke was always at the forefront of international political issues. whether it was as a public servant at the 1968 Paris Peace Talks. Director of the Peace Corps in Morocco. or as the editor of Foreign Policy magazine. Ambassador Holbrooke will always be an archetype of United States diplomacy. and his resume only serves to demonstrate how he has been consequential to diplomacy in some of our generations most tumultuous events. Ambassador Holbrooke never relented in his efforts to expand his efforts to pursue U.S. interests of diplomacy and democracy internationally. In 1977. under President Carter. Richard Holbrooke was Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. As the youngest person to have been appointed to that position. Ambassador Holbrooke oversaw the normalization of relations with China in 1978. and the warming of the Cold War during his tenure. His diplomatic achievements do not culminate with the establishment of diplomatic relations with Chinainstead they continued. and arguably exceeded anyones expectations. When President Clinton took office in 1993. Mr. Holbrooke returned to work for the United States Government with the State Department. His first appointment was as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany. where he participated in the founding of the American Academy in Berlin as a cultural exchange center. In 1994. he returned to Washington after being appointed by President Clinton to be the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs. where he was the lead negotiator in the Balkan Wars. He was strategic in establishing a lasting peace at the Dayton talks that undoubtedly saved thousands of lives. The 1995 Dayton peace accords ended the war in Bosniabut it required an agreement by the three warring factions. the Serbs. the Croats. and the Bosnian Muslims. Holbrookes role in this is lasting. he ended the threeyear war. and helped develop the framework for a dividing Bosnia into two entities. one of the Bosnian Serbs and another of the Croatians and Muslims. Ambassador Holbrooke is a hero of U.S. diplomacy. and undoubtedly had a tremendous importance in facilitating peace. in whatever form. in Bosnia. After playing a key role in the Dayton Peace Talks. President Bill Clinton named Mr. Holbrooke the next representative of the United States to the United Nations. Ambassador Holbrooke demonstrated his drive to securing international peace. and his dedication to diplomatic efforts. His work never ceased. and it continued with President Obama. Under the Obama administration. Ambassador Holbrooke was appointed Special Envoy to Pakistan and to Afghanistana region that contains the United States greatest national security concerns. Just as his responsibility unfolded in the Balkans. his responsibility in Pakistan and Afghanistan posed a major challenge that would not have an easy solution. As we all know. the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan are multidimensional and are problems that could not be solved overnight. Ambassador Holbrooke knew this. yet he commendably took on the role. and worked courageously and diplomatically in a densely complicated region. Ambassador Holbrooke was the intermediary between Afghanistan. Pakistan and the United States. Ambassador Holbrooke was fighting. diplomatically. to stabilize the often unpredictable and always fluctuating region. The fight continues to be multifaceted. and Ambassador Holbrooke dealt with fragile economies. containing corruption within governments and elections. destabilizing the Taliban resurgency. a rampant narcotics trade. the presence of Al Qaeda. and maintaining peace and security. all while promoting United States diplomatic efforts. Representing the United States. Ambassador Holbrooke worked to promote economic development in Pakistan through the KerryLugarBerman Bill. and worked with the Afghani Government and administration to reduce U.S. combat troops and to forge a lasting peace in the region. He is an example to us all. his life was foreign policy. his dedication was to the United States. and his motivation was diplomacy. Ambassador Holbrooke will always be regarded as a true American diplomat. one who strived for international peace throughout his entire career. of nearly fifty years. as a public servant. [From the USA Today. Dec. 14. 2010]