Honduran Headache

IBD Editorials ^ | September 4, 2009 | INVESTORS BUSINESS DAILY Staff

[Kaslin]

Americas: The U.S. hit Honduras with harsh new sanctions last Thursday, slashing $30 million in aid. Nothing new, but the timing's strange, given that the rest of the world is starting to normalize ties with the tiny state.

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The June 28 ouster of Honduran President Mel Zelaya is rapidly shaping up as a never-ending crisis for the Obama administration. The more it tries to punish Honduras for getting rid of its would-be dictator, the more the freedom-loving Hondurans dig in to keep their democracy.

That isn't going to be good for us in the long run. Back in June, Zelaya launched an illegal referendum to extend his rule. As recently as Thursday, he called the referendum "necessary to the legislature and the constitution" in a George Washington University speech.

The Honduran Constitution is quite clear: Any president who expresses such talk gets the boot. Hondurans have stood by it.

But the U.S., along with other nations, misread the Honduran Constitution and called it a coup. They vowed to force Honduras to take back Zelaya. The U.S. pulled visas for Honduran officials and businesses. It expelled Honduran diplomats who didn't support Zelaya.

Now it's pulled $30 million in aid and threatens to extend this crisis to forever by not recognizing Honduras' November elections.

It thinks it's part of a group:"This is a regional and international effort," a senior administration official told IBD Thursday. "We've talked to the Europeans . . . so if anything, we'll be redoubling efforts moving forward on this. And no, we're not isolated at all."

But as Honduras remains firm, the rest of the world, sees this and has started to restore normal ties. If this continues, the U.S. will be left holding the bag as the world's bad cop bully.

[Kaslin]

[FlingWingFlyer]

Freedom-loving people are starting to fight back. The Marxist Bros. like Bammie and Zelaya need to watch each other’s backs. That’s all this is about.

[hoosierham]

Rooting for the Honduran and their Constitution to triumph over another would-be Fidel Castro clone,Zelaya.

First Fidel,then Hugo,now Barack...this trend needs reversing.

[AuntB]

“Freedom-loving people are starting to fight back”

We should send the 100’s of thousands of illegal alien Hondurans in his country back to Honduras to help them.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

I can't imagine a reasonable person who has looked at the facts with an open mind not coming away thinking that Obama is a Marxist.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Good idea. I’m all for it.

[Eagletest]

The U.S. administration should not be seen as fighting against Freedon, Liberty and Rule of Law...Aren’t we the country that wrote the book on these principles? Hillary and BamBam making some mistakes of HISTORICAL proportions...

[Kackikat]

When violating our Constitution, it would seem appropriate for our military to ask them to straighten up, or oust the buzzheads. God Bless the Hondurans.

[Dallas59]

We need to learn something from the Hondurans...

[Kaslin]

One has to be blind not to see that he is a Marxist

[Kaslin]

BTTT

[B.O. Plenty]

We need to learn something from the Hondurans...

...especially Gen Petreaus..

..and he should lead by their example....

[pieceofthepuzzle]

“One has to be blind not to see that he is a Marxist”

Apparently being a democrat causes blindness.

[don-o]

ping

Viva Honduras!

[Principled]

ping

US ends up isolated ... siding with Chavez and castro.

wow

just wow

[Kaslin]

Evidently

[JPG]

In addition to being a flaming Marxist, Zippy is a thin-skinned BULLY. His actions against Honduras are wrong in so many ways and on so many levels, it boggles the mind. We knew who and what he was a long time ago, Shame, shame, shame on you, Obama. FUBO.

[PhiKapMom]

Never thought I would see the day that a US President would stand with a leader that tried to overthrow the Constitution of their Country and side with the Communist Castro and Chavez.

Obama is a disgusting chapter in American history.

[rockrr]

"...but the timing's strange, given that the rest of the world is starting to normalize ties with the tiny state."

That's because the present regime is insane.