How long will Bill Richardson stay in Cuba?

Former New Mexico Governor and ex-ambassador Bill Richardson has been cooling his heels in Havana since last Wednesday. The whole situation is becoming increasingly bizarre. When he was invited to the island last week by the Cuban government, most people presumed that a deal was about to be brokered and the release of imprisoned U.S. contractor Alan Gross was imminent. Why else would the invitation have been extended? But apparently Richardson was told shortly after arriving that he would not even be permitted to meet Gross, much less fly off with him. The Cuban Foreign Minister had a friendly chat with Richardson on Friday, we're told, and then himself left the country, whereabouts unknown. Before departing the island on his own business the Minister again told Richardson, "No, you may not see Gross."
What international press there is in Havana has been following Richardson everywhere he goes. The former governor continues to say that he's not leaving the island until turnkeys admit him to the jail house. "I promised Judy (Gross' wife) I'd do so," Richardson repeats mantra-like. On Saturday he met with Cuban Cardinal Jaime Ortega, who is definitely well-connected with the regime. Last year Ortega was a key player in the release of dozens of Cuban political prisoners, some of whom were ill (as Gross is said to be) and all of whom had been imprisoned for years (they were shipped off en masse to Madrid). But whether the influential Cardinal has offered to -- or even could -- work his personal charm in the case of Alan Gross is anybody's guess. Gross may simply be too valuable to the Cuban government right now. They may want to play that hand at a later date.
When the Foreign Minister returns -- probably today -- it will be interesting to see if he suggests that Richardson should perhaps "visit some other islands" in the region before returning Stateside. A tourist visa can be canceled at anytime . . . as any ambassador surely knows. Richardson may have overstayed his welcome.
[Photo courtesy of El Nuevo Herald, Miami]