The world has lost a key diplomat IT is rare that the death of a foreign diplomat so stirs the emotions that statements of remembrance and respect pour in from around the world, but such is the case in the passing of US diplomat, Richard Holbrooke. There was never any doubt that Mr. Holbrooke was dedicated to protecting the interests of his employer, the US government, but he brought such intelligence, insight and fairness to the predicaments he was sent to unravel that his diplomatic strategies went far beyond US national interests. Holbrooke's crowning achievement was his negotiation of the end of the war in Bosnia in 1995, the repercussions of which still affect us today as the Balkans evolve politically without the wholesale killing that took place during the 90's. And Holbrooke's efforts as special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan have resulted in massive aid packages to Pakistan as he delivered a diplomatic message that the US was interested in a long-term relationship with that country, not a “transactional” one that would end with the termination of a US combat role in Afghanistan. In fact, there are those who expressed the opinion that the US presence in Afghanistan would already have come to an end had Holbrooke been given full rein in the diplomatic campaign there. Holbrooke has been a constant on the international news channels since the 90's, and it was difficult to change the channel once he began speaking. He was authoritative, sensitive and tough, well-informed, intelligent and, although a US diplomat, cognizant of all sides of an issue and willing to grapple with the pros and cons of the views of others. As he famously said once, “You make agreements with your enemies, not your friends,” indicating his full awareness of the opposing realities brought to the diplomatic negotiating table. Pakistani president Asif Ali Zaradari said of Holbrooke's passing, “Pakistan has been deprived of a best friend.” It is not just Pakistan. It is the entire peace
