Brothers in Arms
When I first heard the news of a “coup d’etat” in Honduras I thought, “This isn’t good.” America cannot be a champion of democracy if we only support democracies where we like the outcome. Recall the coup in Venezuela that ousted Hugo Chavez for a couple of days, and we got behind it. But he was elected and to avoid being hypocrites we have to support the process.
Not So Fast
As more news came out about exactly what happened in Honduras, it became clearer that the military was following the democratic process not subverting it. The bad news is that while President Obama kept silent or tepid at best regarding Iran, he came out forcefully on the side of Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez condemning the military’s action in Honduras.
Here is a rundown on what is going on in Honduras as reported in the Wall Street Journal on June 29 and June 30:
- Honduran President Manuel Zalaya is term limited. He wanted to put a referendum on the ballot to change the constitution and lift the limits on his term so that he could be re-elected.
- While Honduran law allows for a re-write of the constitution the power to do that does not lie with the president but with its Congress.
- Zalaya declared the vote on his own and got the ballots to distribute from Hugo Chavez in Venezuela
- The Honduran Supreme Court ruled that the referendum was illegal because such referendums are forbidden by the constitution within six months of an election.
- The military followed the Supreme Court ruling and refused to distribute the ballots which is its usual role
- Zalaya fired the chief of the army and planned to proceed with the referendum against the Supreme Court ruling
- The Supreme Court ordered the general be reinstated, Zalaya refused
- The Honduran Attorney General and the Supreme Court said Mr. Zalaya would be prosecuted if he followed through
- Zalaya decided to proceed. Supporters broke into where the ballots were being held and distributed them against the Supreme Court order
- Zalaya was arrested and is in exile in Costa Rica
- The Honduran Congress met in emergency session and named the President of Congress as the interim president of the country. They further stated that the elections would proceed on schedule in November. The military was no longer in control. The Supreme Court said the military acted on its orders
A Disturbing Pattern
Maybe it’s just me, but I see a disturbing pattern here. In Iran where democracy is being clearly trashed, President Obama was extraordinarily restrained in criticizing the mullahs, while they shot their people in cold blood for exercising free speech and free assembly. In Honduras, the government is carefully following the rule of law and its constitution while its president tries turn it into a dictatorship along the lines of Venezuela, and they are roundly condemned by President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton. President Obama lines up with Ahminedinjad, Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, and against democracy.
Here at home he is orchestrating a massive expansion of government power and intrusion into every last detail of our lives. Our liberty to live our lives as we choose is draining away. I’m concerned. Are you?
I’ll see you at the Tea Party tonight in New York.
