What’s up in Honduras?
If you didn’t catch the news this weekend, there was a debate regarding the legal status of a President in a foreign country. No, I’m not addressing the Iranian Presidential Elections but rather the arrest and expulsion of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya. The action has caused an international uproar, but I think the attention in the issue might be misplaced.
Imagine, if you will, that President George W. Bush thought he was channeling President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and that he could not leave the helm of the nation while two wars were underway. Noting that FDR was elected to four terms prior to the passage of the 22nd Amendment with no serious harm to the balance of power on the Federal level, he decides to unilaterally initiate a national referendum to revoke the 22nd Amendment. This alteration would allow him to run for a third term, most likely against Senator Barack Obama.
The Supreme Court informs Bush that his action would be unconstitutional, but he decides to go ahead with the referendum anyway. Fearing that Bush is seeking a power grab, the Congress orders Admiral Mike Mullen (the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) to detain the President for violating Federal law. Before Admiral Mullen could take action, President Bush fires him. Attorney General Michael Mukasey informs the President that his actions are illegal and that he would be arrested if he prosecute him if he carries through with his plan. Bush calls Mukasey’s bluff, and as a result is arrested with Congress elevating Dick Cheney to the office of the President. What do you think the domestic an international reaction would be? Bush would be condemned for his actions and Congress would be praised for enforcing the rule of law in the United States.
The above chain of events is what occurred between President Zelaya and the Honduran government last week, resulting in his arrest on Sunday. Acting to preserve the democracy, the Supreme Court ordered the military to arrest Zelaya, with the Congress supporting the Courts action. So why is it that the ousted Honduran President is the one receiving support and the actions of the government being described as a coup?
The UN has already accepted a resolution demanding the restoration of power to Zelaya, and the Obama administration has called the Honduran government’s action against Zelaya illegal. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has described the events as “fast-moving,” but I wonder if the international knee-jerk is moving even faster. If the Supreme Court, Attorney General, and Congress of Honduras warned the President that his actions were unconstitutional and he would be punished if he sought to break the law, why is the world taking Zelaya’s side? Could it be that the international body has acted before taking a moment to review the facts of the case?
Related articles:
The Age – “Honduran military ousts president ahead of vote”
The Wall Street Journal – “Honduras Defends Its Democracy”
Taiwan News – “Foreign ministry spokesman admits to gaffe on Honduras situtation”
Brisbane Times – “Ousted leader ‘had drug links’: Honduras”
Reuters – “Ousted Zelaya to be arrested if returns to Honduras”
Breitbart – “UN General Assembly condemns coup in Honduras”
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5 comments
The BoBo on 1 July, 2009 at 3:13 am
Socialists just supporting one another in my opinion. Obama has not stood on the side of freedom and democracy since he took the oath.
Robert L. on 1 July, 2009 at 10:06 pm
As The BoBo says: perhaps Obama and international bodies are just reviewing different facts than you are, namely that Zelaya is a left winger associated with Chavez. There is always a double standard in the American main stream media and the American left for left wing dictators: witness things like Sean Penn's love of Chavez and Michael Moore's affection for Castro when both would be apoplectic, and moving to France, if Bush had tried anything even remotely similar to their predations over their people and their press.
I think the interesting question is what the reaction, especially from Obama, would be if a right wing president had defied the supreme court and congress and been booted by a left wing coup. Then I think you would see them hailing the great victory for democracy in Honduras.
Harrison on 2 July, 2009 at 5:47 am
You gotta wonder if it's a good thing for Obama to take a position that Chavez and Castro agree with him on.
John Kaduk on 2 July, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Or Obama is supporting Zelaya because he will be trying a similar move (trying to add a 3rd term or extending from 4 to 6 years) at some point. He can't be caught condemning the move now if he tries it later on. It's a possibility.
Harrison on 2 July, 2009 at 4:30 pm
You mean the “referendum” that the Supreme Court there ruled was illegal?