Salopek Comes Home (Freed by N. Mex. Dem. Gov. Bill Richardson)

[Judi Lynn]

September 11, 2006 Previous Post

Salopek Comes Home

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was successful in his diplomatic efforts to win the release of journalist Paul Salopek, who had been held in Sudan on charges of espionage. Salopek returned to his home in New Mexico yesterday and his paper, the Chicago Tribune, spoke with him about the ordeal:

In the darkest moments of his monthlong detention in Sudan, Chicago Tribune correspondent Paul Salopek said, it was difficult to shake the feeling that he was going to face years in a dank jail cell.

After arriving in his home state of New Mexico on Sunday, Salopek said that for nearly two weeks after his Aug. 6 arrest, Sudanese forces held him in three jails, passing around him and his Chadian driver and interpreter like "a hot potato."

On the 13th day, his government jailers told him at the end of a marathon interrogation that they had found notebooks of interviews with refugees in Chad and maps of Sudan among his belongings.
(snip/...)

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2006/09/11/publiceye/entry1993741.shtml

[Lurking Dem]

1. I can only imagine the relief.

I am so glad that United States' governors have so much power and influence with foreign governments that the Feds don't have to bother themselves with such mundane tasks. :sarcasm:

[gratuitous]

2. Now, if you're looking for political leadership and heroism

Take the focus off of Chimpy sitting on his overprivileged ass in a Florida grade school and give it up for Bill Richardson.

Major media? Anyone? Hello?

[Lurking Dem]

3. kicking

Where are all the Richardson fans? He deserves some hoopla!

[Celeborn Skywalker]

4. I like him.

Sure, he's made mistakes but I've for the most part, liked what he's done as governor. He's raised teacher pay, gotten rid of the food tax, and helped bring in more businesses to New Mexico. Overall, he' done a fairly good job, imo.