Hondurans Pull Off a ‘Coup’ Against Chavez
The United States should restore cooperation with the Honduran military in drug interdiction — obviously useful to the United States, since that’s where the drugs are going. The United States should restore the economic assistance freely dispensed until shortly after June 28. It should also show a bit of concern about what’s going on in Venezuela, where Hugo Chávez continues to make a pig’s breakfast of everything and finds it so much fun that he wants to export his ways. Since tiny and impoverished Honduras had the requisite courage to resist, maybe other countries will do so as well. That would help — not hurt — the United States.
As Chávez said soon after the June 28 “coup,” “this is a coup against Venezuela! … It must not be permitted.” He added that he would do whatever it takes to teach the coup leaders a lesson. Chávez was not far wrong when he claimed that what happened in Honduras was a “coup” against Venezuela, and he certainly did everything he could to make it go away. It didn’t.
What will happen to Zelaya? I don’t know. His massive ego has been bruised (he may have to buy a smaller hat). His followers who had been camped in the Brazilian Embassy are leaving, and unless President-elect Lobo takes pity on him following his inauguration on January 27, he will either remain indefinitely as the decreasingly welcome and increasingly uncomfortable guest in a suite at the Brazilian Embassy, obtain asylum in some friendly country such as Venezuela or Nicaragua, or face trial in Honduras for numerous crimes.
Asylum in some other country would, in my view, be the best of those three options, preferably in some country sufficiently distant from Honduras that he can’t continue to be a nuisance. Lobo may want to try to reconcile Honduras, perhaps by granting a presidential pardon. I don’t know whether that would be within his power under the Honduran constitution, which gives him “the power to grant pardons and commute sentences according to law.”
An attorney in Honduras will have to answer that question should it arise. Were Lobo to grant a pardon, it might well be viewed as a slap in the face to the Hondurans who elected him. Thus far, he has shown no sense of urgency in dealing with the matter. By rejecting the demands of Zelaya and his “resistance” colleagues that the Hondurans boycott the elections, the voters sent a clear message that they want Zelaya nowhere close to the centers of power.
What will the “international community” do? With the support, albeit lukewarm, of the United States, and the recognition of her democratic elections by Panamá, Colombia, Costa Rica, Japan, and Germany and others likely to follow, what the OAS and its current guiding light, el Presidente Chávez, may try to do probably makes little difference. However, Brazil, a greater economic power in the region than Venezuela, may reconsider its options and decide that Chávez has served his purpose as Brazil’s useful idiot.
On Wednesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim both reiterated that the government’s position is to deny the legitimacy of the Honduran electoral process and not recognize the elected president, Porfirio “Pepe” Lobo.
However, they both immediately stated that they need time to evaluate the facts in Honduras and reposition their stance.
Local observers said the Brazilian foreign ministry’s strategy is to wait for changes in Honduras’ domestic politics to make its decision.
They added that the Brazilian diplomats are waiting for further cues from the Organization of American States (OAS) and other countries in the region.
The Brazilian officials also said the government may reconsider its decision if the Honduran authorities show respect for democratic principles, which they called a process of “democratic baptism.”
They said the Brazilian representatives won’t make a hurried decision because the Brazilian government is likely to announce a possible change of position after analyzing the changing domestic situation and political developments in Honduras.
If Brazil is waiting for a change in the OAS position, it may (or may not) mean that there is at least a possibility of such change, and in any event that Brazil is slowly coming to recognize that Venezuela needs Brazil more than Brazil needs Venezuela.
Honduras came out as the clear winner and Chávez et al lost — badly. If, as I think and hope may turn out to be the case, this serves as a catalyst for the diminution of Chávez’s standing in Central America, and it develops that what happened in Honduras on and after June 28 was indeed a successful “coup” against Chávez, so much the better.
The Usurper is worried about setting a precedent.
After all, if the elections are looking real bad for the Donks about October of ’10, then the only way to save the socialist agenda and all the legislation signed by the Usurper would be for Obama to declare a national emergency and suspend the Constitution. Sort of what Hitler and Chavez did.
I doubt that it will happen, but it’s not impossible. Congress would go along with him to save their jobs. We would then have a Constitutional crisis and a civil war.
As soon as the new government is seated it will be time to withdraw their embassy staff and shut any remaining missions in Brazil, Venezuela and Ecuador while strengthening relations with Colombia. This will send a clear message for democracy.
Meanwhile, requiring the target countries to close their delegations in Honduras will remove most of the seditious outsiders intent on overthrowing the democratic process. Only Nicaragua will then remain…but as a neighbour must be tolerated, but controlled.
Look for The One (and Hillary) to “double down” their bet on Zelaya. Simply put, they do not believe that they are capable of error. Plus, to reverse their position now (as stupid and hypocritical as it is) would “alienate” the leader The One regards as his one true ally and ideological “soulmate” in the region- Hugo Chavez’.
I look for Zelaya to go to Venezuela- and immediately begin raising an “army of liberation” to shoot his way back into power in Honduras. Said army will consist mainly of Venezuelan soldiers who will nevertheless be described by the MSM as “loyal Hondurans battling the corrupt regime’”. (Of course it’s “corrupt”- it’s not socialist.)
And when Zelaya wins, Honduras will become just another province of the “new” Venezuela- under Chavez’ “benign” autocracy.
Needless to say, there will be champagne in the Oval Office that night. And at the State Department, as well.
clear ether
eon
Thank you for the update.
It sounds like a victory for Freedom in a moment in which Freedom is in great danger in the whole American continent.
I really doubt that the totalitarians will concede defeat but we need to take one day at a time, one battle at a time.
IF one couples Obama’s stone silence surrounding the Iranian freedom seekers, with his administration’s ‘disappointment’over the ouster of Zelaya, one cannot help but sense a pattern-a VERY ominous one.
Obama and his henchmen revile freedom AND support third world dictators/strongmen. Their anti-freedom agenda is on display for all to see, as it not only threatens the US, but may eventually topple the democratic west IF Obama and his gang are not ousted.
Perhaps US authorities have alot to learn from their Honduran counterparts……
Rule on law, yes! Zelaya, no!
Obama’s world apology tour and patent disregard for democracy means only one thing; he is setting himself up with welcome mats around the world when it is discovered he is not a citizen of the great U.S. of A. He will need to keep hopping around to all the countries where welcome once he goes ‘on the run’ from our courts.
Lugo in Paraguay needs to be ousted now!
This ex-Catholic Bishop and a marxist who has fathered so many kids while serving as a priest in the Catholic church in Paraguay and in Ecuador , is shameful human being and much more a shameful President. I don’t belong to the Catholic church anymore because they support these crazy Marxists! Paraguayans are so sorry theyvoted for him. Moreover, they are fed up with kidnapping, insecurity and corruption. Fidel Zavala Serrati was abducted and kidnaped from his ranch by the EPP, a communist guerilla and violent group that is trained by the FARC with money from Hugo Chavez! The same group of people that kidnapped and killed Cecilia Cubas Gusinsky in previous year. Everytime that a Venezuelan airplane lands is Paraguay, it brings briefcases full of money. (That’s what the brother in law of Menen used to do in Argentina when they will bring money from Syria back in the 90′s).
The situation in Paraguay is closed to the one in Hunduras. Lugo needs to resign and let the Paraguayans be ruled by people who will provide jobs and security and a prosperous future.
Honduras is the beginning of the “domino effect” in Latin
America and Chavez nor Lula will stop that!
In the meantime, senators in America are discussing the importance of Viagra vs. Abortion? One has to do with the anatomy of a human being and the other with a HUMAN BEING?
No wonder, we have an Obama in power.
Honduras is the beginning of the “domino effect” in Latin
America and Chavez nor Lula will stop that!
I very much hope so.
Dan Miller, yes ! I truly believe that the conservative party minus their corrupt officials will be elected today. Obama and all the lefties in the world have awaken the sleepy and giant conservative movement. Honduras has a GDP that makes ATT laugh and the poverty is rampand, however, people want to live in peace!
The left in Cuba, Venezuela, Paraguay,Bolivia, Ecuador and Brasil have unleashed a bunch of thugs to promote insecurity, to make all the population feel that you are with us or against us.That type of government does not last! The USSR is an example of what tyranical rule can do to people and they will never go back to that…spying on your neighbors, belonging to the nomenklature, the scarcity of products…it is easier for a country to became Capitalist and Free like in Honduras than to make them Communist and tyranical like in Cuba!
Thank you Hondurans for persevering under so much preassure! and kudos to you Mr. Miller for caring.
please focus on the puppet master, not the puppet. castro pulls the strings, not chavez.
As long as Chavez has allies, all options have to remain on the table to deal with these dragons’ teeth.
Dan, I still like the idea of a continental preparatory regime for those parts of South America (I include Central America) where the current governments fight the Sakharov Doctrine, as well as Asia & Africa.
The most recent communication of this, in books, is in “The Case for Democracy” by Natan Sharansky. Sharansky echoes what FDR had in mind for Vietnam in “The Lost Crusade: America in Vietnam” by Chester L. Cooper.
Mr. Miller, your article must had some effect on the Lebeal media because today Michael Warren, AP writer, wrote an article titled “Bishop-turned-president tested in Paraguay”
The article point out who Lugo really is and explain the dingy Lugo supporters, guerrilla like in Cuba!
Lugo and Zelaya have no place in Latin American politics, class warfare is passe and the young genration wants to be succesful and work to make profit!
The people of Honduras have spoken and very soon the Paraguayan people are going to speak too. The left is a no solution party. Marxism is a black hole that leads us to nowhere!
President and Meddler in Chief Arias of Costa Rica has issued new demands for international recognition of Honduras. They are discussed here and here. They are silly, counterproductive and in many respects inconsistent with the Honduran Accord signed in October; were they to be implemented, in some respects also contrary to the Honduran Constitution, it seems quite unlikely that the countries which have thus far declined to recognize the elections or the Lobo government scheduled to take office on January 27 would do so.
Well…one could wait for the CIA to launch a propaganda campaign and fund a rebel army to go oust the legal president like they did in Guatemala in 1954.
Another great post from la Gringa in Honduras.
According to this article, the following countries now recognize Honduras:
Panama
South Korea
Costa Rica
Colombia
China
Japan
Peru
Israel
The United States
Mexico
El que sepa leer que lea y que escuche lo que El ESPIRITU le está diciendo a las IGLESIAS…
Recientemente oí las palabras de un irrespetuoso gobernante, que con seguridad está perturbado en su mente por los VAPORES del PODER, esos que se fugan con violencia fanática del orgullo ignorante y pretencioso, de un ego desequilibrado en defensa de artimañas frenéticas; que está sentado con paranoia en las Alturas del Poder pretendiendo amedrentar con odio; a los emisarios de nuestra FE que DIOS ha ESCOGIDO en representación de su IGLESIA.
Lo escuche decir, “El PAPA no es ningún embajador de Cristo, Cristo no necesita ningún embajador en la tierra, porque Cristo está en el pueblo”.
Y pregunte al ESPIRITU, ¿Señor, que quiere decir este gobernante que menciona TU NOMBRE a TUS HIJOS, y usa TUS ENSEÑANZAS con frecuencia SIN SABIDURIA? Espere, y oí SUS PALABRAS decir, “IvorManuel, PARA que ENTIEDAN LES DIRE lo que DIJE a SAN PEDRO y LOS APOSTOLES, AQUELLOS que con su SANGRE EDIFICARON sobre la PIEDRA de la FE MI IGLESIA. YO te RENUEVO que LAS PUERTAS del INFIERNO ATACARAN y DIFAMARAN contra ella en la TIERRA, PERO no PREVALECERAN”. Entonces dije, “Alabado sea Mi Señor y Mi DIOS y alabe Su NUEVO NOMBRE, ¡ALELUYA! ¡AMEN! ¡ALEUZENEV!”.
¡Nuevo Pueblo de DIOS!
Por medio de SU Respuesta entiendo, que EL PAPA y sus Obispos en la Tierra, bajo la Obediencia y Guía de del ESPIRITU DE CRISTO, siguen Edificado la Dinastía del Príncipe de la Paz que esta Reinante en nuestra IGLESIA, y así será por los siglos de los siglos ¡AMEN!.. Hasta que la conciencia de la Humanidad sea una con el ESPIRITU DEL PADRE, EL HIJO y EL ESPIRITU SANTO. Misericordia, Amor, Salud y Paz, La Justicia de DIOS y Su Voluntad en el Cielo que se va haciendo en la TIERRA ¡AMEN!..
Por medio de SU PALABRA ETERNA que está ESCRITA en el VIEJO y NUEVO TESTAMENTO; podemos ser iluminados y no dejarnos engañar con palabras de un Gobernante que siembran ODIO contra nuestros propios hermanos, recordemos que en CRISTO hay solo AMOR y que todos somos hermanos VENEZOLANOS y en la gran mayoría Hermanos en CRITO.
Dios nos ha dejado a un SUCESOR, EL PAPA y sus Ministros. “El que descendió es el mismo que ascendió más arriba de los Cielos, para poder colmar todas las cosas. Y EL nos dio algunos Apóstoles (Cardenales, Obispos, Sacerdotes), y algunos Profetas, y algunos Evangelistas, y algunos Pastores y Maestros; para la Perfección de los Santos, para el Trabajo de los Ministros, para la Edificación del Cuerpo de Cristo Hasta que todos converjamos en la Unidad de LA FE, y del Conocimiento del HIJO de DIOS en un Hombre Perfecto, dentro de la medida y la estatura de lo que satura a CRISTO”. Efesios 4:9-12.
LA PALABRA de DIOS nos DICE: “YO le daré Autoridad a un Pastor (CRISTO en El PAPA) para Pastorear Mis Rebaños, MY Siervo David, (Mí Amado). EL Alimentará Mis Rebaños y Será su PASTOR. YO El SEÑOR Seré SU DIOS; Mi Siervo DAVID (AMADO) será PRINCIPE entre ELLOS. YO EL SEÑOR He DICHO ASI. Ezequiel capítulo 34:23.
“Mantengan Guardia sobre ustedes (Obispos y Sacerdotes) y sobre todo El REBAÑO del Cual EL ESPIRITU SANTO (EN EL PAPA), los ha nombrado JERARCAS para atender La IGLESIA de DIOS, que El ADQUIRIO con SU PROPIA SANGRE. Yo sé que después de Mi partida, Lobos Salvajes (Inconformes con la JERARQUIA de la IGLESIA) habitaran entre ustedes, y ellos no salvaran El REBAÑO”. Hechos 20:28,29.
Te vi por televisión…
Con tu Boinita Roja
Te pareces un Gallito
O más bien un Guacamayo
Confundido con tus Contiendas
Cacareando o Cotorreando…
Ya has perdido muchas Plumas
Se te observa la Gordura
Y el poder en Desmesura…
Nuestro Honrado Libertador
Nos redimió de aquella España
Ese Imperio Sucumbió
Porque mal usó la Fuerza
Ese poder ya Murió
Y tú infamas Carne y Huesos…
Nuestro CRISTO AMADO VIVE
Y a SU VICARIO Humillaste
Con la lengua Maldiciente
Y tú Confusión y Envidia…
Como dice LA PALABRA…
Eso no viene del Cielo
La Igualdad es Repartida
Por los que siembran la PAZ…
El ciego no puede Guiar
Ha causado Divisiones
Al Nuevo Pueblo de DIOS
Con todas sus Intenciones…
Creando así Malevolencia
El Pueblo ya está Asustado
De la Arrogante Insolencia
Charlatanería y Violencia…
Gallito escucha La Voz…
En Venezuela hay Caimán
Recuerda el 11 de Abril
Mira que tú andas Cojeando
Con una Visión Errada
Inspirada por Aquel…
Y Gallo no come Caimán
Pero Caimán come Plumas…
Anda el Camino de DIOS
Pa´ que lo Siga la Gente
Si no puedes Escuchar
El Caimán te va echa´ Diente.
Profeta de Aleuzenev…
You could not be more correct..