Why Is Richardson Engaging Chavez?

Why do otherwise intelligent let Hugo Chavez play them for fools? First, it was French President Sarkozy. Now it is New Mexico Governor and former Democratic Presidential candidate Bill Richardson. He met with the Venezuelan strongman to see if he could persuade FARC to release three American contractors in Colombia. Richardson said he met with Chavez at the request of the contractors' families. I harbor no discontent towards the families. I am sure if I were in their position I might care not a wit about who could help in winning the release of a loved one. But Richardson should know better. Chavez is bankrolling FARC. He is facilitating terrorism. It would be like Richardson visiting Ahmadinejad to win the release of the two Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah. Or for that matter like Carter visiting Khaled Meshaal to win Gilad Shalit's release.