Comments on: Obama Administration Forces Honduran Capitulation to Chaves Wanna-Be

By: Aziz Poonawalla

Aziz Poonawalla — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:40:33 +0000

I am actually quite pleased. The history of Honduras – teh original, literal banana republic – is one in which a tiny, tiny elite have held all the power. Zelaya came to power with their consent only, then began a more populist governance which angered them. The pretext of the referendum he proposed, which was non-binding and would not have even applied to his own administration, was what they needed to dismiss him and install a lackey of their own choosing.

Chavez is a socialist but Zelaya was no Chavez. Zelaya isnt perfect either, but he was the rightflly elected leader of the nation and the way in which he was deposed was a gross violation of process.

I’ve been following this issue in some detail and its really disturbing to me how quickly others who I normally would expect to be defenders of constututional law and due process have been so quick to leap to conclusions about Zelaya based solely on his association with Chavez. The two arent remotely in the same league. And ultimately, it was the people who chose Zelaya, even if he was a true blue socialist.

blaming Obama for any of this in my view is nonsense.

By: jaymaster

jaymaster — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:50:12 +0000

I still attribute this administration’s response and handling of the situation to ignorance and incompetence.

But day by day, their actions force me to consider that it might be better explained by an intentional bias in favor of socialist policies.

Either way, it pisses me off to no end.

By: Dishman

Dishman — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:44:39 +0000

It also set the stage for Ortega in Nicaragua to pull pretty much the same stunt, knowing the US would support him if anyone opposed it.

Lovely.

By: John Eddy

John Eddy — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:02:55 +0000

What’s so troubling here is that any reading of the Honduran Constitution, broad, restrictive or otherwise indicates Zelaya was properly removed from office- only Zelaya, the predicable “President For Life” club and our own inept/clueless administration refers to those events as a coup. And with Chaves, Castro and now Ortgea pulling hard there is no guarantee the called-for elections will either be held or be fair.

Thank-you, President Obama and Secretary Clinton for the Cluster-F*ck foreign policy you have created.

By: Hank Barnes

Hank Barnes — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:41:25 +0000

Price, I hope you’re right, so I’m gonna reserve judgment a bit, and wait to the elections.

What we have learned is that Fidel/Chavez/Orgtega/Zelaya have a new tool to game the system and accrue power — hold referenda on life tenure, fight/claw/game the elections to win — look to weak US administration to acquiesce in the results.

I want to give Obama and the Dems every benefit of the doubt on many issues, but this handling of Honduras is very, very sketchy. But, hopefully, the elections next month will serve as a restoration.

–HB

By: Fausta’s Blog » Blog Archive » Honduran government caves into US pressure, agrees to Zelaya’s restitution

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:16:30 +0000

[...] Chicago comes to Honduras Honduran Government Succumbs to the Obama Administration’s Pressure, Fellow Marxist Manuel Zelaya Will Be Returned to Power….. Micheletti Caves in Honduras Telling It as It Is — New York Times Style Honduras Folds Part 2 Meanwhile, back in Honduras Zelaya’s back! Under U.S. Pressure, Bankrupt Honduras Agrees to Return Authoritarian Ex-President to Power Obama Administration Forces Honduran Capitulation to Chaves Wanna-Be [...]

By: Dave Price

Dave Price — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:00:26 +0000

Fortunately, it appears to be a nonissue, since elections will be held in a month anyway.

So, everyone gets to save face, and in a month Zelaya’s gone.