Sudan president agrees to release Tribune journalist Salopek

[quaoar]

Kudos to Gov. Richardson. But you have to ask why the governor of New Mexico had to do a job that the State Department should have done.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-060909salopek-story,0,385207.story?coll=chi-newsbreaking-hed

Imprisoned Chicago Tribune foreign correspondent Paul Salopek is expected to be freed Saturday and return to the United States from Sudan with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Richardson's office announced this afternoon.

The governor said the journalist and his two Chadian colleagues would be released on humanitarian grounds.

"I am pleased to report that our negotiations were successful, and Paul Salopek will return home to New Mexico with me," Richardson said today in Khartoum, Sudan, following a meeting with Sundanese President Omar al-Bashir.

"The successful end to this unfortunate episode is a victory for journalism and a free press. Most important, these three men will return home safely to be with their families, friends and colleagues who were relentless in their appeals to have them freed," Richardson said.

[pinto]

1. Kudos, Gov. Richardson et al.

[snowbear]

2. Governor Richardson absolutely ROCKS!!!

I still remember when my little girl had to do a report on any state besides the one we're in, and she had to talk about who the governor of that state was, etc...

She chose New Mexico and I helped her type an e-mail to Governor Richardson's office asking him about his state. (she's a 2nd grader ;) ) ..

First, I received a response from one of the governor's staff members .. but they said that since she was e-mailing him from Alaska, they were going to have the Governor himself send her an e-mail when he returned from a meeting he was at that she could include in her report.

Welp.. he kept his promise! When he responded (with his AWESOME e-mail to her) we printed it out and attached it to her big poster on New Mexico.

Needless to say, she got an A+ - - WTG Governor... (in EVERYTHING that you do!)

[quaoar]

3. That's pretty neat.