Gregory at Belgravia Dispatch ("International Politics & Diplomacy") came out of blog-silence to note the passing of Amb. Holbrooke.
Money quote(s):
"I can almost picture the scene where, turning blush red, he would have very much been wanting to make just one last point to Hillary Clinton on the 7th Floor at the State Department, with her instead wisely ordering him into the elevator to get rushed to the hospital. A passionate and tireless advocate, he blocked and tackled to the very end, in service to his country."
A fellow could have a lot worse things than that said about him.
R.I.P.
Showing posts with label Richard C Holbrooke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richard C Holbrooke. Show all posts
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
re: "Guest Post: How to win the GWOT - or whatever it's called today"
Mark Pfeifle and Jonathan Thompson guest-posted at Mountain Runner ("A blog by Matt Armstrong on public diplomacy and strategic communication in the 21st century").
Money quote(s):
"America has the finest military and diplomatic leaders in the world. They know how to win on the battlefield and at the negotiating table. Yet, despite those winning ways, there are times when they become victims of circumstances rather than drivers of events. At such times, some may falter with the media and public, and when that happens, they too often lay blame the results on bad press coverage.
Earlier this decade domestic and international audiences wanted to understand what our military leaders and diplomats were doing in Iraq - what was working, what wasn't, and what the future held. We understood that people wanted a constant and understandable dialog then, and we know they now want the same about Afghanistan and Pakistan.
We need people skilled at understanding the motivational factors of societies and communities - domestically and abroad. We have some, such as Generals David Petraeus and Ray Odierno, and Ambassadors Richard Holbrooke and Adam Ereli, who understand the public's increasing need for information. Many are meeting the mark, yet others are still learning."
&
"We have fallen short of the mark in successfully communicating to a skeptical audience - domestically and internationally. We need experienced and knowledgeable communications heads, with staffs to support them.
Winning the battles and wars of tomorrow is not just about bombs and bullets. Winning requires expertise at communication and outreach. We won't win if we don't get this right. "
Money quote(s):
"America has the finest military and diplomatic leaders in the world. They know how to win on the battlefield and at the negotiating table. Yet, despite those winning ways, there are times when they become victims of circumstances rather than drivers of events. At such times, some may falter with the media and public, and when that happens, they too often lay blame the results on bad press coverage.
Earlier this decade domestic and international audiences wanted to understand what our military leaders and diplomats were doing in Iraq - what was working, what wasn't, and what the future held. We understood that people wanted a constant and understandable dialog then, and we know they now want the same about Afghanistan and Pakistan.
We need people skilled at understanding the motivational factors of societies and communities - domestically and abroad. We have some, such as Generals David Petraeus and Ray Odierno, and Ambassadors Richard Holbrooke and Adam Ereli, who understand the public's increasing need for information. Many are meeting the mark, yet others are still learning."
&
"We have fallen short of the mark in successfully communicating to a skeptical audience - domestically and internationally. We need experienced and knowledgeable communications heads, with staffs to support them.
Winning the battles and wars of tomorrow is not just about bombs and bullets. Winning requires expertise at communication and outreach. We won't win if we don't get this right. "
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
re: "What Would Real--Rather Than Rhetorical--Change in U.S. Foreign Policy Look Like?"
Gregory at The Belgravia Dispatch ("occasionally comments on foreign policy matters at this site") lists "six critical areas for Obama and his foreign policy team’s consideration".
Money quote(s):
"(P)artly because of these very economic challenges—and the consuming efforts that will need to be directed towards alleviating them--one is concerned the scope of change required in the foreign policy realm may not prove quite as dramatic as necessary, perhaps with President Obama not being able to devote as much attention to same as he might otherwise."
"Counter-terrorism is not nation-building. Retention of counter-terror surgical strike capacities and requisite intelligence-gathering capabilities can be maintained via a modest presence in key cities like Kabul, perhaps too temporarily bases like Bagram as we nonetheless move to phase them out, ‘over the horizon’ forces, drone strikes, a heightened ‘train and equip’ effort for the Afghan Army, and the like. U.S. marines should not be dying to try to de-Talibanize, if we might call it that, remote portions of the Pashtun south of Afghanistan."
&
"Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke is an immensely talented negotiator—with few able to cajole, harrumph, corral, threaten, bluster as relentlessly as he."
Money quote(s):
"(P)artly because of these very economic challenges—and the consuming efforts that will need to be directed towards alleviating them--one is concerned the scope of change required in the foreign policy realm may not prove quite as dramatic as necessary, perhaps with President Obama not being able to devote as much attention to same as he might otherwise."
"Counter-terrorism is not nation-building. Retention of counter-terror surgical strike capacities and requisite intelligence-gathering capabilities can be maintained via a modest presence in key cities like Kabul, perhaps too temporarily bases like Bagram as we nonetheless move to phase them out, ‘over the horizon’ forces, drone strikes, a heightened ‘train and equip’ effort for the Afghan Army, and the like. U.S. marines should not be dying to try to de-Talibanize, if we might call it that, remote portions of the Pashtun south of Afghanistan."
&
"Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke is an immensely talented negotiator—with few able to cajole, harrumph, corral, threaten, bluster as relentlessly as he."
Sunday, January 18, 2009
NYT - Clinton Is Moving to Fill Senior Posts at State Dept.
New York Times
Clinton Is Moving to Fill Senior Posts at State Dept.
By MARK LANDLER
Published: January 7, 2009
WASHINGTON — As she awaits Senate confirmation as secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton is filling out the senior echelon of the State Department, and keeping a respected career diplomat in one of the agency’s most influential posts.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The diplomat, William J. Burns, is to stay on as the under secretary for political affairs, according to people informed of the decision. The unusual move has been popular within the diplomatic ranks, where Mr. Burns, a former ambassador to Russia and Jordan, is close to a revered figure."
"While Mr. Obama has not signed off on these positions, according to officials, Mrs. Clinton is likely to name Richard C. Holbrooke, a longtime diplomat who brokered the Dayton accord that brought peace to Bosnia, as a special envoy to Pakistan and India, said people who have been told of the decision."
"Dennis B. Ross, a veteran of Middle East peace negotiations in the Clinton and the first Bush administrations, is set to take over a portfolio focused on Iran, officials said. His job would not be called special envoy, given the lack of diplomatic ties between the United States and Iran."
&
"The retention of Mr. Burns, 52, will give the department an expert on Russia and the Middle East, at a time of new conflicts between Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas and simmering tension with Washington and Moscow. Insiders say he has an encyclopedic knowledge of the department and has skillfully navigated Republican and Democratic administrations.
While the post is typically filled by a career diplomat, it is rare for someone to be held over by a new administration."
Clinton Is Moving to Fill Senior Posts at State Dept.
By MARK LANDLER
Published: January 7, 2009
WASHINGTON — As she awaits Senate confirmation as secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton is filling out the senior echelon of the State Department, and keeping a respected career diplomat in one of the agency’s most influential posts.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The diplomat, William J. Burns, is to stay on as the under secretary for political affairs, according to people informed of the decision. The unusual move has been popular within the diplomatic ranks, where Mr. Burns, a former ambassador to Russia and Jordan, is close to a revered figure."
"While Mr. Obama has not signed off on these positions, according to officials, Mrs. Clinton is likely to name Richard C. Holbrooke, a longtime diplomat who brokered the Dayton accord that brought peace to Bosnia, as a special envoy to Pakistan and India, said people who have been told of the decision."
"Dennis B. Ross, a veteran of Middle East peace negotiations in the Clinton and the first Bush administrations, is set to take over a portfolio focused on Iran, officials said. His job would not be called special envoy, given the lack of diplomatic ties between the United States and Iran."
&
"The retention of Mr. Burns, 52, will give the department an expert on Russia and the Middle East, at a time of new conflicts between Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas and simmering tension with Washington and Moscow. Insiders say he has an encyclopedic knowledge of the department and has skillfully navigated Republican and Democratic administrations.
While the post is typically filled by a career diplomat, it is rare for someone to be held over by a new administration."
Thursday, January 15, 2009
re: "Obama's Second Tier Appointments"
Joe Klein at Swampland comments on sub-cabinet appointments at State.
Money quote(s):
"I wonder about the special envoy set-up. This adds another level of bureaucracy--the last thing State needs!--bypassing regional Assistant Secretaries. There are very good arguments for this targeted problem-solving approach (Holbrooke shouldn't have to worry about Sri Lanka, which would be in his portfolio as Asst. Secretary for South Asia--Af/Pak is going to be a bear all by itself), but never underestimate the ability of bureaucrats to gum up the work with turf battles."
Money quote(s):
"I wonder about the special envoy set-up. This adds another level of bureaucracy--the last thing State needs!--bypassing regional Assistant Secretaries. There are very good arguments for this targeted problem-solving approach (Holbrooke shouldn't have to worry about Sri Lanka, which would be in his portfolio as Asst. Secretary for South Asia--Af/Pak is going to be a bear all by itself), but never underestimate the ability of bureaucrats to gum up the work with turf battles."
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