An Unofficial Diplomat
- Share via
The Rev. Jesse Jackson has a history of intervention in international crises:
1979: Jackson travels to Israel, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon to lobby for Mideast peace.
1984: In Syria, he arranges the release of Navy Lt. Robert O. Goodman Jr., whose bomber was shot down by Syrian antiaircraft guns in Lebanon.
1984: In Cuba, he works out arrangements for the release of 46 American and Cuban prisoners.
1990: In Iraq, he meets with Saddam Hussein and secures the release of about a dozen Americans held hostage after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
1993: In Haiti, he acts as unofficial U.S. envoy to inform military leaders that they faced U.S. force unless the country’s democratically elected president was restored.
1994: In Nigeria, he delivers a message from President Clinton that the U.S. is concerned about the nation’s lack of progress toward restoring democracy.
Sources: Associated Press; Facts on File
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.