• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • 1
    CommentGo Back
Download
 
 
“JOB INTERVIEW”RICHARDSON FOR PRESIDENTSUPPORTING DOCUMENTSATTACHMENT 1:
Richardson touts uniquequalifications
NEDRA PICKLERAssociated PressFebruary 3, 2007
KHARTOUM, Sudan -
It's been said that Bill Richardson would negotiate with the devil.And by some definitions, he has - several times.New Mexico's Democratic governor has bartered with some of the most notorious rulersof modern times: Iraq's Saddam Hussein, Yugoslavia's Slobodan Milosevic, Cuba'sFidel Castro, Kenya's Daniel Arap Moi, Zaire's Mobutu Sese Seko, Nigeria's SaniAbacha and most recently, Sudan's Omar al-Bashir. Richardson has compared himselfto Red Adair, renowned for his ability to put out erupting oil well fires.He has done this work on his own ambition as an influential U.S. citizen, but usuallywithout an official imprimatur from the government. Now he is trying to use his freelancediplomacy, combined with his state executive experience, to show he has uniquequalifications in his run for the presidency.Richardson has more international experience than just about anyone else in the 2008field. The 59-year-old was ambassador to the United Nations in the Clintonadministration, served on the intelligence committee during his 14 years in the Houseand has done international work from his perch as a small-state governor.
 
Richardson's most recent trip came last month at the request of the Save DarfurCoalition, which sent him to Sudan to try to help bring an end to the four-year-old war.The governor was persistent, straightforward, friendly and above all relentless in hisdetermination to emerge promoting progress."I have good news," Richardson told al-Bashir after four days of back-to-back meetingswith all sides in the conflict, including two rare hourlong sessions with the elusivepresident. "We are going to leave today."Al-Bashir, who has ruled during the ethnic persecution in Darfur that has killed morethan 200,000 people, laughed."With all that, we expect you to be the president of the United States!" he said inEnglish, after speaking Arabic for the earlier discussions.The exchange was classic Richardson. The gregarious governor tries to put the peoplehe meets at ease with jokes, gestures and occasionally overeager touching."I'm not one for tight bows or formal handshakes when a bear hug or a gentle fist on theshoulder is an available option," Richardson wrote in his autobiography, "BetweenWorlds."His approach worked once with Saddam, after a bad start.Richardson had gone to Baghdad in 1995 at the request of the Iraqis to negotiate withSaddam for the release of two U.S. oil mechanics who had wandered over the borderwith Kuwait. Richardson has an impressive track record in convincing dictators that theyshould free U.S. prisoners from countries as isolated as North Korea, Cuba and Sudan.The meeting with Saddam started out tensely. Richardson unknowingly committed theslight of crossing his legs and leaving the bottom of his shoe facing the Iraqi leader.Saddam stormed out of the room. An interpreter explained to a surprised Richardsonthat he must apologize for the insult.After Saddam agreed to return, Richardson decided not to apologize but to continuemaking his case with respect and his feet firmly planted on the floor. Saddam authorizedthe mechanics' release after an hour of discussion.Richardson said he instinctively reached out in a gesture of thanks and put his hand onSaddam's arm. The curtains around the room suddenly parted and out came armedsoldiers who had been hiding in case Richardson harmed their leader, the governorremembered recently with amusement.Richardson can be prickly and demanding of his staff. But he also likes to lighten themood by having fun with people's names and their backgrounds.
 
He first introduced himself to longtime international adviser Calvin Humphrey, a blackface in a sea of white congressional aides, by asking him in mock seriousness, "Are youa soul brother?"Richardson bonded with Castro over their shared love of baseball and with Iraq's then-Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz over their shared Catholic faith and penchant forcigars. As U.N. ambassador, Richardson took his colleagues from around the world to agame between the New York Yankees and Mets.Richardson emerged from his diplomatic meetings with clear impressions. He haswritten: _Castro had horrible dandruff, but was humorous, personable and extremely well-informed about U.S. politics and geopolitical issues. _Mobutu was dignified and regal despite overseeing vast corruption. His successor,Laurent Kabila was street-smart and had no scruples. _Saddam had a twitch on the right side of his face and made Richardson sweat bystaring him down.Richardson's first visit to Sudan was in 1996, when he went to free three Red Crossworkers held by Marxist rebels.Richardson learned the rebel leader had recently lost a daughter and a son was on hisdeath bed in the rebels' disease-ridden camp. The rebel leader wanted $10 million.Richardson appealed to him by saying he could get him medicine, rice, vehicles andother aid so other children did not have to die.Some criticized Richardson's effort because he violated a cardinal rule of hostagenegotiators: never bargain for their release."If you give them money, that is negotiating with a terrorist," Richardson said in a recentAssociated Press interview. "But a couple of Jeeps, a health study, medicine, that'swhat made it happen. It was a human connection with that rebel."I don't mind saying I try to psychologically go into their heads and see what's on theirmind and what's important to them at the time," he said. "I do study my subject prettyintensely."Richardson's freelance diplomacy has gotten mixed reaction from the White House overthe years. President Clinton gave his private blessing to the Iraq trip, whispered toRichardson as the two were watching the premiere of the Spanish-language movie "MiFamilia."
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
03 / 24 / 2011<span class="translation_missing">en_US, this_document_made_it_onto_the</span>Rising List!
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...