Richardson infuriated Cubans in Alan Gross "rescue" bid

We're getting a whole different perspective on Bill Richardson's crash-and-burn "rescue mission" to Havana which ended in abject failure yesterday (September 14). Cuba's foreign ministry said today that Richardson came to the island at his own request -- not because he was invited by the government -- and that the subject of Alan Gross "was never on the table." The Ministry said that since arrangements for a possible visit between the ex-New Mexico governor and Alan Gross had neither been discussed nor anticipated, the request was denied.

"The Cuban government, although certainly not required to grant access to a prisoner by a private citizen seeking such, has nonetheless done so in cases where the request was confidential, discrete and respectful," said the ministry in an official statement. This was an obvious reference to former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, who visited the island and met with Gross in March. Carter enjoys a long personal friendship with Fidel Castro and has always dealt with the Cuban leadership deftly. During that trip Carter asked that Gross be freed, and urged the U.S. to release the Miami Five (see my previous posts on the Five).

The Cubans were also angered that Richardson told reporters covering his trip that Alan Gross is a "hostage" rather than a prisoner, and that he would "not leave Havana until Gross was made available to him." "It should be remembered that Cuba is a sovereign nation, and won't tolerate blackmail, pressure or power-plays," said the foreign ministry.

In other words, Bill Richardson - an experienced diplomat and international trouble shooter - simply pissed 'em off down in Havana. We'll never know whether a more tactful approach might have worked, but the ex-governor sure violated the cardinal rule of negotiation: don't make the other guy mad.