The Hill News

“You’ve got to end this war in Afghanistan.”

There has been a flurry of debate regarding the supposed last words of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. Was it a last-minute policy exhortation? Or merely part of “painful banter” with his doctors as they wheeled him into surgery?

I say: it doesn’t matter.

Regardless of his tone, Ambassador Holbrooke’s focus on the grim task at hand in Afghanistan â€" even as he fought his own battle to stay alive â€" is poignant evidence of his dedication to achieve greater peace and stability throughout the world. What’s more, it serves as a clear call for all of us to take up the torch and bring an end to a nine-year conflict that presents a growing threat to our international and domestic well-being.

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