Bill Richardson was at it again this week... acting as international diplomat to head successful negotiations when all others are ineffective. Not your usual expectation for a governor from New Mexico, or any state, but run-of-the-mill fare for this gifted and respected 7-term former Congressman who has been nominated in 4 different years for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Here's the story
Richardson met late this week with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to negotiate the release of Paul Salopek, a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter for the Chicago Tribune on assignment in Africa for National Geographic when he was arrested a month ago after crossing into Sudan from Chad. A Northern Darfur (Sudanese) court charged Salopek with criminal espionage.

Per CNN, "Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Friday he met al-Bashir in December 1996 when he worked to gain the release of a pilot and two Red Cross workers held for 38 days by Marxist rebels in Sudan."

During his 23-year career in diplomacy and politics, Richardson has successfully won the release of hostages, soldiers and prisoners in Iraq, Cuba, the Sudan and North Korea. At the UN and beyond, he has gracefully defused and deflected difficulties and crises all over the world.

Richardson, the nation's only Latino governor, chaired the 2004 Democratic Convention.

My latest thought on this uniquely experienced leader?
As I realistically scan the field of Democratic candidates for the 2008 presidential race, Richardson ranks higher and higher on my short-list... especially in light of whispers from "friends of Hillary" that she may NOT run in 2008.

Learn more about him at my Profile of Bill Richardson, New Mexico Governor & 2008 Presidential Possible.

Related Reading
US Journalist Freed From Darfur Prison, AP via Yahoo News, September 9, 2006