When he left the presidential campaign trail, Gov. Bill Richardson said he'd be doing some international missions.

He wasn't kidding.

Richardson is back from a trip to Colombia, where he hopes to rescue three U.S. citizens who've been held hostage since 2003 by member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, aka the FARC.

The families of the hostages are anxious to see what Richardson's foray will bring. I talked to one family a few weeks ago. 

The gov probably wouldn't have made the trip if he didn't think he could get something done. But the situation in South America with Colombia and Venezuela is precarious and changing by the minute to say the least. 

Meanwhile, President Bush is asking Congress to act quickly on a trade deal with Colombia . . . 

No word on Richardson's next trip. He's also said he'll hit the road -- presumably on the domestic side -- for Sen. Barack Obama.