"Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American Century" by George Packer

 


Here is a chapter-wise summary of the book "Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American Century" by George Packer:

Chapter 1: The Education of a Diplomat

Richard Holbrooke was born in New York City in 1941. His father was a diplomat, and Holbrooke followed in his footsteps, joining the Foreign Service in 1962. He served in Vietnam, where he was awarded a Bronze Star for his service. After Vietnam, Holbrooke worked in the State Department, where he helped to negotiate the Dayton Accords, which ended the Bosnian War.

Chapter 2: The Man Who Would Be Secretary of State

Holbrooke was a rising star in the Democratic Party, and he was considered a potential candidate for Secretary of State in the Clinton administration. However, he was passed over for the job, and he instead served as Ambassador to the United Nations.

Chapter 3: The Balkans

Holbrooke returned to the Balkans in the early 1990s, where he helped to negotiate the Dayton Accords, which ended the Bosnian War. The Dayton Accords were a major diplomatic achievement, and Holbrooke was hailed as a hero.

Chapter 4: The Troubled Peace

The Dayton Accords brought an end to the Bosnian War, but they did not bring peace to the Balkans. Holbrooke continued to work in the region, trying to resolve the conflicts in Kosovo and Macedonia.

Chapter 5: The War on Terror

After the September 11 attacks, Holbrooke was appointed Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. He worked to build a coalition of countries to fight the Taliban and al-Qaeda, and he helped to negotiate the Bonn Agreement, which established a new government in Afghanistan.

Chapter 6: The End of an Era

Holbrooke died in 2010, at the age of 69. He was a brilliant diplomat who helped to shape American foreign policy for over four decades. His death was a major loss for the United States.

Chapter 7: The Legacy of Richard Holbrooke

Richard Holbrooke was a complex and controversial figure. He was a brilliant diplomat who achieved great things, but he was also a self-promoter who could be ruthless in his pursuit of power. His legacy is still being debated, but there is no doubt that he was one of the most important figures in American foreign policy in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

I hope this summary is helpful. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

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