Explain Obama's Honduras policy?

Question

Here's my understanding.  Honduran President Zelaya proposed having a national referendum on the issue of allowing him to serve more than one term. The military, with approval of both the Honduran supreme court, and congress, removed Zelaya from office, and exiled him to Costa Rica.  The president of the congress was sworn in as interim president.  There will be an election in November to choose a new president.

copied from townhall.com - "Zelaya was legally removed from office in a 15-0 decision by the Honduran Supreme Court for violating Article 239 of the Constitution which states: “No citizen that has already served as head of the Executive Branch can be President or Vice President. Whoever violates this law or proposes its reform…will immediately cease in their functions and will be unable to hold any public office for a period of 10 years.” Significantly, nine of the Supreme Court Justices are members of Zelaya’s party."

The Honduran constitution limits presidents to only one term.  In fact the interim president isn't even allowed to run in the upcoming election, because he has now already been president.

The Obama administration is supporting Zelaya and calling for his reinstatement.  They have cut off foreign aid to Honduras, and are now restricting travel between the US and Honduras.  They have also said they will not recognize the Nov. election.

Can someone make sense of the Obama policy for me? Do I have my facts right?  My only guess is that there was a knee jerk reaction, treating this as an illegal coup, and now Obama doesn't want to admit he was wrong.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

It was deeper than that.  The Honduran constitution calls for a proposed referendum to pass Congress before being submitted to the people.  Zelaya tried to push it through Congress and failed, yet declared that he was going ahead with the referendum anyway.  That was the issue which led to his removal.

He's a Chavez wannabe, and of course that's exactly what Obama wants.

R T · Answer

There's a little more to it than that, I was in Honduras in August and got to talk to some of the locals.

Apparently President Zelaya was attempting to illegally change the Constitution so that he could become a President for life.  The investigation also turned up pre-marked ballots to stuff the ballot box, pre-written articles about how he had won the election (that had yet to take place) and a great deal of money.  This was traced back to Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

This was not a military coup, the military was operating on the orders of the Honduran Supreme Court and it was all legal and proper under the Honduran constitution.

Look at what's going on in Venezuela now and the sympathies of Mr. Obama, then connect the dots.  Hillary is either in agreement or a really good soldier.

J P · Answer

You have the facts exactly right.  In fact, the decision was unanimous among the 15 members of the Honduran Supreme Court.  Zelaya is a Leftist who admires Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro.  I can't see any rational explanation for Obama's reaction.  I'm no conspiracy theorist, but it's hard not to draw some pretty grim conclusions from this action.

Anonymous · Answer

You have your facts right.  Obamas policy is a disgrace.  I do not know how much he paid this Zelaya guy.  It occurs to me presently that Obama works on corruption only; therefore if the honest honduran government wont give him kickbacks, he will support someone who owes him for his own benefit.

Anonymous · Answer

Please! download this file! its explains the situation in Honduras very well! the file is in english! please send it to yours friends! The hondurans wants the world know the truth!! 

PD. Zelaya wants to convert Honduras in a communist country, the hondurans wants Zelaya in Jail!

http://www.box.net/shared/fbg19s9d72

L.T.M. · Answer

The fact that he's been given a pass on this by most of the press in this country should scare the hell out of all thinking Americans.

Where's the independent press? This is a serious problem people. Time to wake up now!

? · Answer

His strategy?

Socialist tries to instate himself (illegally) as dictator and gets (legally) removed from office. 

Obama sees too much of himself in that story...

I hate onions · Answer

So much for a humble foreign policy that isn't as arrogant.  It sounds like Obama is saying, "screw your sovereignty, you either play by our rules or you don't get aid".

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Explain Obama's Honduras policy?

8 Answers