Fresh from his latest successful hostage negotiation, Bill Richardson said he isn't looking for any more people to free. He just wants to go home and take a break.
The congressman from New Mexico credits many people, including his staff and President Clinton, for his success in a remarkable string of captive releases.Last month, Richardson negotiated the release of an American jailed on spy charges in North Korea. Previously he had won freedom for two pilots captured by the North Koreans and for prisoners in Iraq, Cuba and Bangladesh.
One success led to another, he said: "People seek you out."
Richardson said Monday night that his latest mission - the case of American pilot John Early and two other Red Cross employees held captive by rebels in southern Sudan - had all the elements needed for his involvement.
"I make it a principle that I don't get involved unless I'm asked by the family and the respective governments," said Richardson, a Democrat. "Otherwise, it's not going to work."
Early's wife, Sherry, of Albuquerque, N.M., fulfilled the first condition. She asked Richardson to free her husband, Australian nurse Maree Worthington and Kenyan pilot Mohsin Raza, who were captured Nov. 1 while on a humanitarian mission.
Richardson said the other conditions were met with the support of the Australian, Kenyan, Sudanese and U.S. governments and the employer of the three hostages, the Geneva-based Red Cross.
Richardson said he tries to relate to the other side in negotiations.
"You have to listen, to show respect. You have to understand the other side's position. You've got to be firm. You've got to relate to them personally, and in the end you have to have a little luck and timing."
Sitting under a tree negotiating with armed rebels in the bush was "a little bit disconcerting," he said. "This was one of my toughest."
He said the psychological profile put together by the Red Cross was very important in dealing with rebel leader Kerbino Kuwnyin, "a very charismatic yet unpredictable entity."
"We ended up shaking hands . . . with a common bond that maybe we had achieved something."