US | Afghanistan war Holbrooke's Last Words: End Afghanistan War Veteran diplomat made plea for peace on his way to surgery By Rob Quinn Posted Dec 14, 2010 2:40 AM CST Updated Dec 14, 2010 6:42 AM CST Copied Richard Holbrooke, 69, was the architect of the 1995 Bosnia peace plan. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq, File) Richard Holbrooke's dying wish was for an end to the war in Afghanistan, family members say. As he was heading into surgery in a Washington hospital, the late American special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan told his Pakistani surgeon, "You've got to stop this war in Afghanistan," relatives tell the Washington Post. The 69-year-old diplomat died of complications from a 21-hour operation to repair a torn aorta. Click for more on Holbrooke. Read These Next JD Vance's war skepticism is becoming an issue. 'Miracle fruit' is helping chemo patients taste again. Something else being smuggled in from Mexico: cacti. These movies should've won best picture at the Oscars (per WaPo). Report an error