Charlie Rose

jfox  01/04/2011 02:45 PM Report

I was quite moved by this segment and have been engrossed in reading all I can about Mr. Holbrooke.

THroughout my life I have tried to stand up for what I thought was the most humane thing to do even when it cost me considerably, but at least I know I didn't turn a "blind eye" to injustice or to things that would have hurt another individual.

In the end, I believe that Holbrooke, no matter his tactics, or robust personality worked towards achieving that which few of us have even contemplated. What a diplomat and a tireless humanitarian. People may argue about some of the things that he did and his methodology but at least he tried to make a difference in this apathetic world of ignoring and complaining.

In my estimation his death is a loss for the entire world.

DavLev  12/17/2010 05:22 PM Report

Minding your own business, in this day of globalization, cellular phones and video, satellite guided information, nuclear armed countries with more proliferating or

"enriching for peaceful purposes only". Yeah sure.

We minded our own business prior to WW2, and look what it got US, 400,000 deaths, 2m wounded or more, the complete

destruction of our allies, and 11 m people gassed or otherwise slaughtered for being who they were.

Allowing Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan complete freedom, will only insure another 911, or many more. The suicide bomber in Times Square and elsewhere, is just the tip of this iceberg. Tell Bin Ladin to mind his own business or

Ahmad in Iran. BTW, when Russia completes the missile base in Venezuela, should we mind our own business? I dare say ynet to that one.

But I will note one thing about the instant subject, he got lucky. The fact that he could bully the Serbs had more to do with Russians non-involvement in that part of the world, than his bombastic attitude.

Reminds me of a union official who I knew who said huffed and puffed when confronting managmenet about something labor related. In the end, he was silent, after papers were served informing people of disciplinary actions. I wonder

how our troops felt when Richard wrote the first Pentagon papers? His involvement in AIDs is to be applauded however.

Being effective in any dispute is being accepted by both sides. He was not accepted by the Serbs and was yet to receive acclaim from Afghanistan's leaders. Pakistan receives billions in aid from US, and is minimally involved with the othe rwars. Being nice, was to their advantage.

Serbia was Albrights war...she had it in for the Balkins..

But recall that 600,000 Serbs were murdered, some by SS divisions, which were to be used later in the then Palestine. To state that the massacres of Muslims or Albanians were not linked to that war,..well, are there people who recall slavery as their guide to current events.

I know several.

efeinbe2  12/17/2010 06:42 AM Report

For those of you who apparently don't know, there is nothing contradictory about minding your own business and sometimes intervening in foreign affairs. National interests are spread in many places in a globalized world, so this notion that we should withdraw from the rest of the world is naive and, frankly, the reason that pacifism isn't treated seriously on the world stage. There's a rational middle ground between invading every country to give you a bad look (ie. Bush) and doing nothing.

robdverity  12/16/2010 06:09 PM Report

Hey NoPardon - good to see a cynic as big (bad?) as myself. Most of the limousine riding elite should be subjected to the same treatment experienced by British royalty recently. Apologies can be made to those that are not part of the Wall St. elite that raped the ec. and the world.

NoPardonforMichaelMilken  12/16/2010 01:51 PM Report

In watching this show, I saw at the final round table four men who are completely detached from 99.9 percent of American society. Each is highly accomplished, educated, and quite wealthy. Each is surrounded by a litany of like-minded, equally accomplished, similarly educated, and obviously wealthy associates. Each lives in a world separate and apart from American society; a world laden with private jets, five-star hotels, billionaire clients and associates, and devoid of any real cares in or connection to the masses.

Each could find himself prey to only three things:

1. Poor luck, which a variety of risk-adverse tactics ranging from chauffeurs to personal chefs to security teams can decidedly improve;

2. Terrorist attack; and,

3. Sudden, unexpected, severe illness such as the one that killed their associate Richard Holbrooke.

Henry Kravis's billions will always protect Dick Beattie. Mossad will forever shield Les Gelb. The CIA and/or Xe (formerly known as Blackwater) will care for Frank Wisner. The untold wealth of Maurice "Hank" Greenberg and any of a cadre of Wall Street and hedge fund power brokers will endlessly guard Charlie Rose as Lally Weymouth runs point on the public relations operation.

These men know nothing of America in 2010. They have eagerly nestled themselves inside an ignorance and ambivalence about nearly every other fellow American citizen sans the tidy few that they represent, negotiate on behalf of, spin pre-packaged tales for, and otherwise gladly and jointly serve.

Our nation, if not our very world, lies in danger to these Four Horsemen and their few eager associates. We are, I fear, doomed.

REMant  12/15/2010 11:33 AM Report

I was surprised at the candor of this and had to erase all I'd written. He was the not-so quiet American. Personally, I think we could use still fewer of them. And the Brits could too. I can't imagine talking about the militarization of diplomacy without seeing him as part of the reason. The end of the Cold War must have hit him like many a neocon, spy novelist, or career officer. My own foreign policy is to mind your own business, be a good friend, and lead by example. I can't say I think it was his.