Even a broken clock is correct two times a day. Ever since Honduras deposed President Zelaya in June, the United States has been on the wrong side of the issue, supporting Zelaya and his buddy Hugo Chavez, against the people of Honduras, their democracy and the country's constitution.
The former President's disposal was in line with the Honduras Constitution as the Zelaya was illegally attempting to stay in power despite the constitutional ban on running for another term. There is even a constitutional ban on revising the Presidential term limit. While the military removed him from office, it was ordered by the supreme court and they immediately returned power to the civilian leadership. The new President, Roberto Micheletti is even from the same party as the deposed president.
The Obama administration originally said it would not recognize the election unless Zelaya, was reinstated. Obama changed his naive position after the rival sides signed an agreement backed by the Organization of American States. The agreement calls for the Honduran Congress to vote on whether the ousted Zelaya should be reinstated to complete his term, which ends in January (the congressional vote is scheduled for 12/2)
The Election is next Sunday Nov.29th, former President Zelaya is still holed up in the Brazilian embassy after sneaking back into the country in September, and the United States is indicating that it will support the results of the election.
State Department spokesman Ian Kelly says the U.S. thinks it is important that the people of Honduras have the opportunity to "express their votes in a free and transparent way." The United States says it supports Sunday's presidential election in Honduras as an "essential" part of a solution to that country's ongoing political crisis.Spokesman Kelly noted that the election, in which neither Mr. Micheletti nor Mr. Zelaya is running, is being organized by an electoral tribunal that was selected and installed in a transparent, democratic process before the coup. He said it is important the election be seen as free, fair and transparent, and is monitored by a credible international monitoring process.Success by accident, but finally Obama does the Right thing, says David Freddoso of the Washington Examiner:By hanging Zelaya out to dry -- leaving him powerless and languishing in the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa, possibly facing trial for illegally seeking re-election -- the administration saves face in Honduras and ultimately does the right thing. The Honduran Congress will vote on Dec. 2, after the next president has been elected, whether to reinstate Zelaya as a lame duck, and with the election already decided, they won't be under any pressure to do so and reverse their earlier decision.So all's well that ends well. But even so, as we recently opined, a happy ending is still no excuse for Obama's half-cocked diplomacy, and no number of low bows to Honduras's next president will make up for the damage he has caused there. Again, his legendary inexperience in world matters shows.
