WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Saturday night called Richard Holbrooke “a towering figure in American foreign policy” and said he is praying for the critically ill diplomat’s recovery.
Holbrooke, 69, the president’s special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, was described as being in stable but critical condition after undergoing more than 20 hours of surgery for a torn aorta, the large artery that takes blood from the heart.
Even if the surgery has stabilized Holbrook’s condition, recovery can be expected to take considerable time.
The veteran diplomat was meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the State Department on Friday when he collapsed and was taken to George Washington University Hospital.
His family, Clinton and other officials have been with Holbrooke at the hospital. Obama said he had spoken to Holbrooke’s wife, Kati, “and told her that Michelle and I are praying for Richard.”
![[prison 19] Caption: This is Cellhouse 1, Pod A, from ground level inside the Sterling Correctional Facility which is located outside of Sterling, Colorado Thursday afternoon. Photographer: LEW SHERMAN Title: FREELANCE Credit: SPECIAL TO THE POST City: Sterling State: CO Country: USA Date: 19990617 ObjectName: prison 19 Keyword: PUBDATE____1999_06_22](/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/20151207__denverpostp1.jpg?w=538 "20151207__denverpost~p1.jpg")
