Clinton to meet Zelalya Thursday on Honduras situation

AFP via Google ^ | 9/1/2009 | Unattributed

[normanpubbie]

WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is to meet Thursday with Manuel Zelaya to discuss the deadlock following his ouster as president of Honduras in a June 28 coup, her spokesman said Tuesday.

"On Thursday Secretary Clinton plans to meet with him to discuss the best way forward on the situation in Honduras," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters.

[screaminsunshine]

I hope this is a joke. If not she should be arrested.

[normanpubbie]

What would be the basis for the arrest?

[dalebert]

committed might be better

[screaminsunshine]

Consorting with the Enemy?

[70th Division]

Hey Google. It was not a coup. And why in the hell is Clinton meeting with the ousted guy and not the government?

[autumnraine]

Wow, wonder how Poland feels. Can’t bother to send Clinton to the anniversary of Hitler invading Poland to stand next to EVERY LEADER IN EUROPE INCLUDING PUTIN, but can go have a chitchat with an ousted leader of Honduras.

Yeah, the world is gonna love us!

[Charlespg]

Stupid damm cow

obama and the democrats brown noseing another leftest dictator

[smonk]

I’m just surprised that obama is letting her handle it, rather than appointing a foreign policy czar for central america.

[La Lydia]

Hang on, Honduras. Two more months til your election, and you’re home free.

[InterceptPoint]

Zelaya should not have to settle for a simple Clinton. (Pun intended - please forgive). Even though he is not an actual dictator he still harbors hopes of achieving that status. That, I would think, should be enough to qualify him for the full Obama handshake, hug, bow and heartfelt apology treatment. Obama doesn’t even understand his own protocol. Where is Rahm when we really need him. LOL.

[Shermy]

“I’m just surprised that obama is letting her handle it”

The Israelis and Palestinians in the last week are outwardly pretending to listen to O, so that satisfies his grandiosity. He can hand off Honduras to Hillary.

Thing is, no one is listening to him. He is a foreign policy failure.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Who the hell asked her for the 'best way forward" ?
The Hondurans are following the letter of their constitution. Butt out, fat a** !

[Venturer]

That should tell you that Zalaya hasnt got a prayer. If he had a chance Obama would have sent a Czar.

[G Larry]

Hillary?
Has she still got that SoS gig?

I thought this was Bill’s turf?

[sockmonkey]

Hang on, Honduras. Two more months til your election, and you’re home free.

What you said. My sentiments, exactly.

[Rock N Jones]

How about “dirty tricks” for a start?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204731804574382872711784150.html?mod=rss_opinion_main

[normanpubbie]

Unless and until the U.S. officially recognizes the de facto Honduran government, the government still considers Zelaya President of Honduras. That's why Clinton will meet with him instead of Micheletti this week. After the meeting, she will probably officially declare Zelaya's removal from office a coup d'etat.

Here's my take on Hillary Clinton. I don't agree with her politics and IMHO her political conduct has been disgraceful for a long time. But of all of the cabinet members and czars in the Obama administration, she's the only one with any ability or common sense. Sure, she sometimes lets her political sense overrule her common sense.

Seventy years ago today, Germany invaded Poland, starting WWII. My theory is that Clinton wanted to meet with the European leaders commemorating the anniversary but that Obama put the kibosh on that, mostly because he still considers her a political rival.

[70th Division]

OK now you got me facinated. Didn’t the elected government remove Zelaya according to their constitution?

[normanpubbie]

OK now you got me facinated. Didn’t the elected government remove Zelaya according to their constitution?

IMHO, no. I am at a disadvantage here compared to most FReepers since I actually went looking for the facts to find out which of the competing views was true.

Some facts are not in dispute so let's start there (all dates this year):

1. On March 23, President Zelaya issued an executive order directing a public survey to be held June 28th. The survey question was (translating from the original Spanish):
   "Is is agreed that the 2009 general elections should have a fourth ballot box in which the people decide to call a National Constitutional Assembly?"
   
2. In the period from May 27th through June 25th, the Judicial Branch held hearings and ruled that the proposed survey was unconstitutional. They issued several notices to that effect to the Executive Branch.
3. Sometime before June 25th (date not given), Zelaya discharged Commander of the Armed Forces Romeo Vasquez because he refused to agree to disseminate the survey materials.
4. On June 25th, the Supreme Court restored Vasquez as Commander and directed one of its magistrates, Tomas Jorge Arita, to issue an arrest warrant for Zelaya for "crimes against the form of government, treason, abuse of authority, and usurpation of duties." The arrest warrant was sealed at the request of the Attorney General.
5. On June 26th, Arita issues two arrest warrants, directed to Romeo Velasquez and also to the Lieutenant Colonel in charge of the arrest party.
6. Also on June 26th, the Supreme Court ordered the armed forces not to participate in the survey and also to seize all survey materials (which they did).
7. Also on June 26th, the Supreme Court sent letters to all of the Central American governments explaining why they had taken the actions they took.
8. Sometime between 5:15 and 6:30 A.M. on June 28th, Zelaya's house was surrounded by a contingent of soldiers, who overpowered his bodyguards and seized him. They took him to a Honduran Air Force base when he was put on a plane and flown to Costa Rica, where he was released.
9. Later on June 28th, the National Congress declared the presidency vacant and then installed Roberto Micheletti as President.
10. Sometime between June 30th and July 2nd, the Supreme Court published a Special Communique, signed by every magistrate of the SC, listing the chronology of events with attached supporting documentation.

Several constitutional articles forbid reelection of the President or extending his/her term. Article 4 calls such actions treason. Article 42, paragraph 5, calls for revocation of citizenship for encouraging, promoting, or supporting reelection or term extension. Article 239 provides for the immediate removal from office (for ten years) anyone who proposes or encourages reelection or term extension. Finally, Article 374 prohibits any amendment which changes the presidential term.

Those are the facts. Now let's get to the crux of the issue.

Whether the removal was 'coup or constitutional' depends entirely on whether Zelaya encouraged, promoted, or supported an extension of his term or reelection to the office.

I contend that Zelaya never asked for nor proposed that he be given a term extension or new term. No evidence has surfaced that he did. Surely if such documentation existed the coup supporters would have ponied it up. It doesn't matter whether his critics "knew" what he meant, or "what he was thinking." All crimes involve an action, not a thought.