U.S. diplomat Richard Holbrooke is in critical condition after surgery to repair a torn aorta. He was originally hospitalized in Washington yesterday for what initial reports indicated was a blood clot. The State Department issued the following statement a short time ago:

Ambassador Richard Holbrooke was admitted to George Washington University Hospital yesterday. This morning, doctors completed surgery to repair a tear in his aorta. He is in critical condition and has been joined by his family.

David Kurtz

David Kurtz is Managing Editor and Washington Bureau Chief of Talking Points Memo where he oversees the news operations of TPM and its sister sites.