[Facebook entry slightly edited]
Although I was on the "cultural" side of PD [Public Diplomacy] during most of my years at USIA and the State Department (1981-2003; I left the Department to express opposition to the planned war against Iraq [see http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/archives_roll/2003_01-03/brown_resign/brown_resign.html]), I did play the role of "press guy" (in dip-talk, press attaché) for that admirable diplomat (and ex-FSO [Foreign Service Officer]), Richard Holbrooke. What I soon learned is that Holbrooke had little -- if any -- interest in the local media: USA media -- especially CNN -- were what he considered worthy of his short attention span/ immense ambitions (he wanted to be Secretary of State). Also, I quickly discovered that Dick made up "policy" (or, perhaps more accurately, the specifics of policy) as he went along. I felt my main job as a press guy was to make sure that everything Dick said "publicly" was tape-recorded (by yours truly), as his words were an important part of the "record" -- and I'm quite sure that he didn't "clear" his remarks beforehand with the "homeland" State bureaucracy. When I did get questions from the local media re our USA "policy" in the Balkans, it was near-impossible to get a statement on the matter from Foggy Bottom (I've always felt sorry for Desk Officers). So I soon learned that the very "uncultural," non-"mutual understanding" answer to the press -- both local and international -- on our "policy" was "no comment." Holbrooke, full of himself but essentially (morally would be too strong a word) well-intentioned, was in his way a rather remarkable (but quite insupportable) human being. He would say he liked your tie and -- guess what -- ask if he could borrow (i.e.,steal?) it (I am trusting my failing memory on this). I sometimes speculated that his real calling was to be a jazz musician performing in front of thousands of adulators.The joke in Belgrade when I was there: "What's the most dangerous place in the Balkans? Between Dick Holbrooke and a TV camera." My pieces on Holbrooke at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-brown/richard-holbrooke-able-an_b_202764.html? and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-brown/richard-holbrookes-public_b_800133.html
On Holbrooke and jazz, see.
No comments:
Post a Comment