Zelaya’s ultimatum
posted at 9:11 am on July 18, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
The negotiations between the opposing sides in the Honduras crisis have apparently reached an impasse, which prompted an ultimatum today from Manuel Zelaya, the Hugo Chavez acolyte ousted by the military, the legislature, and the Supreme Court. If Honduras does not agree to reinstate him, Zelaya threatened to sneak back into the country and seize power:
An ultimatum from ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya left little room for compromise in U.S.-backed talks Saturday aimed at resolving a crisis that has become the latest test for democracy in Latin America.
Zelaya, who was forced into exile in a June 28 military coup, gave negotiators meeting in Costa Rica until midnight to restore him to office, threatening to return to Honduras in secret and attempt to retake power on his own if no agreement is reached. He indicated he would reject any power-sharing agreement, a proposal to be discussed at the talks.
“If at that time, there is no resolution to that end, I will consider the negotiations in Costa Rica a failure,” Zelaya said at a news conference Friday night at the Honduran embassy in Nicaragua. “I am going back to Honduras, but I am not going to give you the date, hour or place, or say if I’m going to enter through land, air or sea.”
He did not say what steps he would subsequently take. But earlier this week, he said Hondurans have a constitutional right to rebel against an illegitimate government.
Costa Rica did what it could to work out a diplomatic solution, but this has been an intractable problem since it erupted. With both sides rejecting a power-sharing arrangement, the only offer Honduras could make would be amnesty from prosecution for Zelaya’s multiple violations of the Honduran constitution. Zelaya would take nothing less than reinstatement, which Honduras rejects outright.
Could Zelaya return to foment a rebellion? He’s got enough support at home to make that a real possibility. It doesn’t take a majority or even a particularly large minority to make a successful revolution, after all. The military would resist it — strongly — which could make this a bloody mess. The real problem for Honduras isn’t a rebellion, but an invasion of Nicaraguan and Venezuelan troops to put Zelaya back in power and back to being a Chavez stooge.
If that happened, eyes would shift immediately to Washington to see how Barack Obama would react. Will he make clear that the US will brook no foreign military involvement in Honduras, and back it up with a show of force in Central America? Or will Obama waffle long enough to allow Chavez and Daniel Ortega an opening to invade Honduras? Obama certainly has given them plenty of tacit encouragement thus far, and I suspect that Obama will do little but issue airy statements of regret in the event of a military invasion of Honduras.
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great work by the United States which propped this guy up and has taken an internal matter for the people of Honduras and turned it into a possible Civil if not regional war.
rob verdi on July 18, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Power sharing?
Makes no sense.
This is extortion of the highest order. Honduras, ifthey accept Zelaya back into the country, will have just gutted its Consitution, a Constitution that was painstakingly written nearly 20 years ago to prevent continuismo from making Honduras just another tinpot dictatorship in perpetuity.
Zelaya violated the law…openly and willingly, and hads the open aid and support of another dictator in the process. He was and is a threat not only to Honduras, but to the entire notion of democratic republics all across Latin America. And our allowing him to us the United States and her good offices to bolster his desire to violate Honduran law and establish another Chavez-style dictatorship is appalling. Smart diplomacy my a$$.
If Zelaya gets back to Honduras, Chavez’s armed Bolivarian “volunteers” will be on the ground in Honduras within a day.
coldwarrior on July 18, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Costa Rica’s position, as expressed by it’s reliably leftist Pres, Oscar Arias, was that the goal of negotiations was to return Zelaya to power.
JiangxiDad on July 18, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Heck, knowing our President, not only would he give tacit approval for Castro and Chavez, but probably arm them, transport them, and give them satellite intel as well. Seems like these power-mad goofballs are his kind of folks, after all.
JamesLee on July 18, 2009 at 9:18 AM
yup. I do think someone ought to DEMAND a comment from the WH re. Zelaya’s ultimatum.
Obama must pay a political price if turmoil erupts in Honduras.
JiangxiDad on July 18, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Would be grounds to oppose Obama in a whole new way. Let’s see if he dares.
JiangxiDad on July 18, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Part of the formula for the recent free-fall of President Obama in our national polls, is his handling of foreign policy. Failing to stand with the citizens of Iran, stating that it is not America’s position under his administration to meddle in the affairs of another nation, and then standing with a man who had to be removed by his own government for failing to apply the laws of his land to himself… Obama must think the American people are extremely stupid, or that we all have our heads stuck in the sand. Meddling in Honduras is exactly what Obama has done. Taking the side of tyranny while turning his back on democracy & freedom is exactly what Obama has done repeatedly.
This man has thrown American history down the rabbit hole.
May Obama continue to free-fall until even he becomes embarrassed by himself.
Keemo on July 18, 2009 at 9:24 AM
Obviously I have no experience with this type of government but why in the world would any of the citizens want a life long leader? And I thought Americans were sheeple. I hope the new administration of Honduras hangs in there. I was sorry to see that they had to reinstate the curfew, people get antsy when they are pushed out of their norm.
Cindy Munford on July 18, 2009 at 9:26 AM
But but, Hillary is back, I saw it on the news this morning. They gave her flowers and everything.
Cindy Munford on July 18, 2009 at 9:27 AM
This is the kind of thug dictator that eventually ends up with his body dragged through the streets while crowds on both sides throw rocks and curses at it.
This guy is best counting his losses, shutting his mouth, and moving on.
pilamaye on July 18, 2009 at 9:30 AM
this news is the most impt of the day. watch this, not the Walter Cronkite memorials.
oh, have you called your idjit congressman today?
kelley in virginia on July 18, 2009 at 9:30 AM
“airy statements of regret”
Fuuny how that phrase sums up my whole attitude about Obama and his administration in general—a living, breathing statement of regret. Honduras could spell real trouble for Obama with many segments of the US voter. He’s already on thin ice over Iran. Obama is simply unequal to the job he’s got–plainly said.
jeanie on July 18, 2009 at 9:32 AM
I wouldn’t put it past Obama to be speaking by phone with Chavez about this. I’m honestly not sure if that’s evidence of ODS, or looking at reality without blinking.
JiangxiDad on July 18, 2009 at 9:32 AM
The Messiah pays no price for acting in his infinite goodness and wisdom. He won. He’s always won. He always will.
jazz_piano on July 18, 2009 at 9:32 AM
The latter.
jazz_piano on July 18, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Good job Ogabe, giving Zelaya a reason to believe, a good reason, that you would support him in his continuing thuggish behavior. You POS.
Zelaya is a typical effin leftist: Gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar and then demands that not only should go unpunished but that he will break the jar if you don’t agree.
Bishop on July 18, 2009 at 9:33 AM
The economical thing to do…the thing that will save lives…would be to kill him soon, while you know where he is, before he can bring the spit-storm to the streets.
There is no other alternative.
Ragspierre on July 18, 2009 at 9:34 AM
JiangxiDad on July 18, 2009 at 9:32 AM
I’m there with you JD.. I think many Americans are taking a deep hard look at this man right now, mostly due to his actions involving foreign policy rather than the total destruction of the private sector here at home.
Keemo on July 18, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Yesterday Chavez declared that Zeleya would be returning to Honduras “within hours”.
What happened Hugo? Did evil Boooooshitler pop up and keep your pal from landing?
Limerick on July 18, 2009 at 9:36 AM
Do you think Obama would supply operatives also?
Ed Laskie on July 18, 2009 at 9:36 AM
I can just see President Jihadist responding to this: Reinstate Zelaya or I’ll turn Harold Koh and Samantha Power loose on Israel, shut down the internet, give direct aid to Iran and then go play hoops with my buds.
With everything else going on, that kind of convoluted threat could actually make sense to him, right?
After all, It’s always the fault of us Eeeeevil Jooooooooooos.
Cheers !
Kenny Solomon
Locked and loaded in South Flori-duh.
E T Cartman on July 18, 2009 at 9:37 AM
A coup?
I thought a was a Constitution mechanism triggered by his intent to become the Papa Doc for life?
ericdijon on July 18, 2009 at 9:37 AM
He already has surrogates.
Ragspierre on July 18, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Power sharing? Why should Hondurans agree to allow Zelaya to have any power in their government at all? He had power, and he abused it. He repeatedly demonstrated his contempt for the Honduran constitution, and his willingness to violate Honduran law. Zelaya has no right to demand power, or anything else, in Honduras. He has already shown himself to be unfit to hold power.
The only things Hondurans should allow Zelaya back into the country for are trial and punishment.
AZCoyote on July 18, 2009 at 9:38 AM
I might add this also…
I’m starting to hear a lot of chatter here in my area about the total failure of Obama and his staff to answer critics questions about his birth cert… What’s surprising about this you might wonder. The chatter is coming by way of local radio and television media heads.
Keemo on July 18, 2009 at 9:38 AM
What part of the country?
jazz_piano on July 18, 2009 at 9:44 AM
keemo, i forget, where do you live?
kelley in virginia on July 18, 2009 at 9:45 AM
jazz_piano on July 18, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Billings, Montana
Keemo on July 18, 2009 at 9:45 AM
My guess is the latter, in fact Obama will be cheering them on.
conservnut on July 18, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Zelaya has thugs behind him, including Ogabe, so he played it out as bluntly as he could.
His version of power-sharing is the same as that of Ogabe and the ‘rat controlled Congress; I get all the power and you other guys can fight over the scraps from the table.
Bishop on July 18, 2009 at 9:46 AM
America 2012, the movie.
tarpon on July 18, 2009 at 9:48 AM
I think we should support Honduras on this one. Zelaya needs to be brought to justice!
Libertarian Joseph on July 18, 2009 at 9:48 AM
O playing both ends against the middle as usual. Doesn’t want to be caught declaring himself(the Presidential method of voting ‘present’).Does this man have no convictions of any kind save the one that big government can solve everyone’s problems—-and why oh why can we all not see this as clearly as he.
jeanie on July 18, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Wel he does LOVE him some waffles.
thomasaur on July 18, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Come on man, are you serious? Nicaragua and Venezuela? We’re not talking military superpowers here. Venezuela couldn’t even move tanks to its own borders during the crisis with Colombia….
ujorge on July 18, 2009 at 9:49 AM
keemo, glad you live in a red state. here in Virginia, there are many liberals who think that tea parties are for racists, john birchers & anarchists. and that is just their opinion on domestic policy.
many of these same libs argue that zelaya was ousted in a “coup” because that is what they hear on media.
kelley in virginia on July 18, 2009 at 9:50 AM
don’t the russians have some subs off the coast of one of these countries?
kelley in virginia on July 18, 2009 at 9:51 AM
No it was not a coup
CWforFreedom on July 18, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Yes but he is a control freak and this would be an opportunity to use assets at his command, if nothing else intel.
Ed Laskie on July 18, 2009 at 9:52 AM
One would think Zelaya would want to go the legal route but he knows he has no leg to stand on; in fact he should be in jail according to the law.
Chavez will lose a great deal of face if he doesn’t make a military move; heck, Barry may help him.
RobCon on July 18, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Make’s me wonder if Obama is wishing he had gone for the civilian forces that were to be as well funded as our military while he still had political capitol.
heshtesh on July 18, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Where is Zelaya? He should be handed over for prosecution.
Libertarian Joseph on July 18, 2009 at 9:56 AM
A few hundred Chavez-paid-for Bolivarian “volunteers”…armed trained thugs with experience with FARC…can cause a lot of damage in Honduras in a very short period of time.
There is indeed a possibility of armed invasion…and Nicaragua has plenty of “community organizers” waiting and willing to go next door to Honduras to “help.”
One does not need tanks and all sorts of fancy hardware to take out a government and subjugate a people.
coldwarrior on July 18, 2009 at 9:57 AM
kelley in virginia on July 18, 2009 at 9:50 AM
You should see what’s going on here kelley. Families are stocking their basements with dry and canned food; everybody has armed up and stocked their basements with gun powder and accessories. People here are bracing for the worst simply because we have a lot of elderly that lived through the great depression, and they are warning us of what they see in the President and the Democrats in power.
Hunting season here in Montana is not about recreation and hobby this year; all about putting food in the freezer for the hard times that are upon our nation. Good reason in this part of the country for Liberals to remove anything Obama from their personal property. Nobody, I mean Nobody wants to be part of the blame for the condition this country is in, and the direction we are headed.
Keemo on July 18, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Well Honduras isn’t much of an adversary either.
JiangxiDad on July 18, 2009 at 9:58 AM
As a Foreign Service Officer, I take the following oath upon entering the service:
“I ________, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
This is similar to the oath that the military takes:
“I ________, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. ”
I assume that the military and public officials in Honduras take a similar oath to defend their constitution. Therefore, I do not see what the military did wrong when Zelaya explicitly threatened the constitution of their country.
I think our administration needs to accept the right of the Hondurans to defend their constitution and start showing some support to the right of democracy. A concept that Zelaya was attempting to destroy in the same mold as Chavez.
If our politicians flaunt a total disregard to our constitution, our military and public officials are in the right to do the exact same thing to defend the constitution as the Honduran Supreme Court, Legislature, and Military did. Perhaps our politicians should think about this as they continually attempt to destroy our constitution.
DoS_Conservative on July 18, 2009 at 9:59 AM
keemo: we should all be doing what you are. i live in rural virginia & can eat venison & fish all year if necessary.
our nephew is an internist–we will have to barter his services for other stuff. we will need a milk cow.
is there a survivalist blog?
kelley in virginia on July 18, 2009 at 10:02 AM
You must be lonely.
JiangxiDad on July 18, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Those little brown people down there don’t understand what’s good for ‘em. They just won’t listen to The One.
guntotinglibertarian on July 18, 2009 at 10:04 AM
These talks were a mistake to begin with, all stemming from State talking about “restoring democracy” in Honduras, even though it was a democratic process that removed someone trying to subvert the democratic process. State should have told Zelaya to sit and spin, but that would have required balls that state hasn’t had since 1975.
Nethicus on July 18, 2009 at 10:07 AM
kelley in virginia on July 18, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Survival data is available for free at most of our outdoor outlets right now. People are taking these conditions very seriously here. If a poll were taken right now in Montana regarding Obama approval numbers, I’m confident Obama would score around 70% disapproval. Same would apply to Democrats running both houses. Our State Senators (Baucus & Tester) are both Democrats, and are in deep trouble if they vote with Obama specifically on Cap and Tax, and Health Care.
Keemo on July 18, 2009 at 10:08 AM
I am so envious of those who live in rural areas or on farms right now…the cities of America are not going to be pleasant places pretty soon. You at least have options and space, we city-dwellers have neither. Deer don’t survive long in most urban areas, certainly not enough of them, and trying to be self-sufficient in terms of food is physically impossible for most people, even if every square inch of lawn were used as a garden.
By chance, would you or anyone you know be in need of another farmhand? It would sure beat working at a fast-food joint…
Dark-Star on July 18, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Separated at birth?
Is the guy who claims to lead the greatest democracy on Earth still standing up for this clown? I can’t keep up.
Jim Treacher on July 18, 2009 at 10:16 AM
True, but they’ll be defending their country and they have the majority of the people on their side. Besides, if it really comes to that, I bet they can get volunteers from other countries that are waiting at the chance to take out one or two “chavistas” in a war…
ujorge on July 18, 2009 at 10:19 AM
It’s too bad you can’t just take out Hugo Chavez. I’m tired of his crap. It isn’t like he’s doing his people any good.
Libertarian Joseph on July 18, 2009 at 10:19 AM
dark-star: sorry, we don’t live on a farm. but moving to montana sounds like a great idea. and because of global warming, you wouldn’t even have to wear long underwear.
kelley in virginia on July 18, 2009 at 10:25 AM
I believe you will find this useful. The original autor is a guy who call himselft “Ferfal” and he is from Argentina. He went trough the country economic collapse at the beginning of the decade, so he know a lot about surviving in that environment. They have everything including about what type of weapon to carry (handguns), type of car to drive (medium size SUV)…well, go there and see for yourself…
ujorge on July 18, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Lessons from Argentina’s economic collapse
Part I: Urban or Country?
Part III: Gray/Black Market
Part III: Guns, Ammo And Other Gear
Part IV: Interlude
Part V: Necessary Items
Part VI: More On Security
Part VII: tea With Aunt Sheeply
ujorge on July 18, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Any blood spilt in Honduras is on Obama and Clinton’s hands. They have empowered this mess from their opening comments.
I hope the Repubs in Congress who have been rendering Honduras moral support put it in these stark terms.
patrick neid on July 18, 2009 at 10:32 AM
kelley in virginia on July 18, 2009 at 10:25 AM
In my area, we had a 25 day stretch last winter where the temps never got above 10 degrees, with most nights at around 25 below. Bring those long underwear… :) Love to have you as a neighbor!
Keemo on July 18, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Is there really any confusion about what Obama’s reaction or lack thereof will be?
Oh, and then there’s this:
We certainly wouldn’t want to interfere in Iran’s peaceful development of nuclear energy. After all Nuclear Winter’s are so peaceful and serene.
davo on July 18, 2009 at 10:40 AM
I think he is hedging his bets. But the military removal still makes him a bit queasy.
Cindy Munford on July 18, 2009 at 10:43 AM
People see what you have elected in this new POTUS???????
A true communist!!!!!!!
Rick007 on July 18, 2009 at 10:45 AM
I hope they chose “Ore Else”!!!
Brizzy29 on July 18, 2009 at 10:51 AM
He knows the Alinsky way. He allows Congress to front his agenda at home.
Would he provide intel to Chavez? Only if he were certain that it could never get back to him, and I don’t think he trusts American intel formations that much.
Would SECHill provide some intel, via back-channels? I think she would on a very low level, which is all that would be needed. Negative intel…NOT telling the Hondurans what we know when they deserve to know it and it would do any good…is how I think THE ONE & friends will play this.
Ragspierre on July 18, 2009 at 10:52 AM
That would be I hope they choose “or else”.
Sorry to all the linguists out there.
Brizzy29 on July 18, 2009 at 10:54 AM
I wonder what our military is doing at Soto Cano Air Base these days?
c3ichief on July 18, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Zelaya just wants to be President for Life, I don’t see what the big deal is.
BadgerHawk on July 18, 2009 at 11:07 AM
1) The MSM is a big part of the problem here. Their constant lies to prop up their agendas have and will cost many lives. As has been pointed out, Zelaya was not “ousted in a coup,” he “attempted a coup and was ousted.”
This is not an accident. The MSM has become a cloistered, monolithic institution, and a destructive one at that.
2) Look carefully at the comparison. GW Bush engaged in a controversial war to oust a dictator. Obama is pushing to reinstate one.
Obama has consistently aligned himself with criminals and thugs, only turning his support to free people when the criticism becomes overwhelming.
Obama’s legacy is going to be a nasty one. We all compared him to Carter, we overestimated Obama.
Merovign on July 18, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Well, why would Obama help Honduras or protesters in Iran? That would be supporting personal freedom and liberty, things he is doing everything in his power/not in his power to take away from US citizens?
—-No freedom to choose which hosiptal to bring your famility.
—-No freedom to NOT pay 60 cents of every dollar you make to the gov.
—-No freedom to Heat or COOL your house due to energy brownouts cause its “not windy or sunny today”
—-No freedom to afford to heat or cool your house cause Green energy is inefficient and expensive.
—-No freedom to protest – less you are called a racist tea-bagger
—-No freedom to speak out against this administration – less your state may suffer financial repercussions, or you will loose your job (see the AG guy from Sacramento CA)
—- No freedom to send your kids to private schools unless you are a government worker or a lawyer or a special interest group.
—-No freedom to buy and own your own gun -pending
—-No freedom to carry your gun outside your house, having one in your car will and is illegal in many states.
—-No freedom to buy ammo… Tax has gone sky high on ammo, plus they are trying to make it illegal to load your own bullets.
—-No freedom to afford new ammo… They want you to register each case of bullets like you would a gun, with each bullet having a serial number for tracking… also going to make bullets 10x more expensive and rare.
—-No freedom to spank your kids
—-No freedom to keep your kids innocent to the sin and vulgarness of homosexuality
—- no freedom to have your kid not know what masterbaiton is from school and at the age of 8…
—-No freedom to own your own business with rising cost of doing business, having to have full health care on your employees (or will once they pass obamacare)Cap&trade tax, rising minimum wage, shipping cost and rising state,local,parish(yes i know Louisiana the only ones that have parishes instead of counties)
—-No freedom not to have property tax raised every year due to the fact more people don;t own property than do, so when they vote to raise it to pay for some community server it always goes through
—-no freedom to Hunt or fish without ever expanding license and regulation – plus scarcity in ammo and rising prices.
—-No freedom to have your vote count , since democrats rig every election… Republicans really need to try and get the dead vote, dead folks been voting for democrats 100 to 1 in every election
—-No freedom to stop this wall of text… im at work im sure i could add thousand of injustices in the world, and perhaps this went from a what obama does against freedom to what our Government does against freedom or just personal grievenances.. luckily nobody reads my post anyways :)
Donut on July 18, 2009 at 11:25 AM
The people of Honduras should have taken at least one lesson from the people of Iraq. They are not worried about Saddam sneaking back into the country and causing trouble. Honduras whould not have put this commie on a plane out to begin with.
MikeA on July 18, 2009 at 11:30 AM
You know Obama picked a side at the beginning and hasn’t reneged on it yet. But he also made clear that he didn’t want violence. So the question is now which one will he choose?
Zelaya’s violent return?
OR no violence which will set him against Zelaya, Chavez, and Ortega?
let’s hope he gets this one right.
therightscoop on July 18, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Yup, we can and should hope that. But what are the odds? I think we all already know which side Obama will come down on if this blows up. He is a communist. He’ll support the communists.
MikeA on July 18, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Letting Zelaya live was erring on the side of humanity, and no mistake, IMNHO. Sometimes, you just have to give people a chance to show themselves.
Zelaya HAS shown himself, and can be reliably expected to come back, cause bloodshed, and install himself in a socialist regime.
Now you kill him.
Ragspierre on July 18, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Obama will NOT get this right, so let’s hope it gets right without his “help.”
Merovign on July 18, 2009 at 12:03 PM
The more Zelaya talks the happier I am they kicked him out.
29Victor on July 18, 2009 at 12:08 PM
The error was not that Honduras let him live, exactly; but that they failed to control the ball by trying to give him a chance to quietly go away. They should have tried him in their own courts, and then gave him whatever sentance their laws provide, up to and including death. By turning him loose without a trial they assured that he would come back to haunt them, and that he has the advantage of not being a convicted criminal.
MikeA on July 18, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Now just watch
If a civil war ( back by Hugo & friends) or an outright invasion does happen, the Precedent will then come out and say we can’t involved because that damn Boosh has bogged our forces down in Iraq & Afghanistan.
And the damn MSM, wil ignore all his previous statements and happily go along with the new meme.
man I miss having a real President
Son of Sam Kinison on July 18, 2009 at 12:20 PM
God love ya, AP, and your never ending ability to ignore the most basic facts of a story when they don’t fit your preferred angle. A democratically elected congress, in conjunction with their supreme court, removes an over-reaching President by legal constitutional means, and the Associated Press calls it a “coup”. Cronkite is beaming in his grave.
holygoat on July 18, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Ragspierre on July 18, 2009 at 11:43 AM
My thoughts exactly. Zelaya, admittedly, is a socialist/dictator wannabe. He intends to overthrown the constitution, congress and military of his country with no regard for anything or anyone but his own self-serving demands.
What are the consequences of treason these days?
MalindaH on July 18, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Zelaya then said that, if he couldn’t get back in, he’d hold his breath until he turned blue and died … and Honduras would feel really, really bad.
Zelaya, who was forced into exile in a June 28 military coup,
Honduras ought to sue the writer of this, while all commentators, such as blog writers, need to correct this moronic and nasty characterization every time they run into it.
progressoverpeace on July 18, 2009 at 12:23 PM
If Hondurans have the right to rebel against an illegitimate government, as Zelaya claims, then their actions to expel the illegitimate President Zelaya was fully in keeping with the Constitution and thus he has no claim on the Presidency anymore.
eaglewingz08 on July 18, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Have heard this from several quarters…arrest him, put him on trial, execute him…shoulda been done a month ago…
But…
Honduran law does not have provision for this.
Honduran law, (through their Constitution) states that anyone serving as President who attempts to extend their term beyond the one-term one-time limits will be removed from office and stripped of their citizenship….and as a non-citizen, under Honduran law, one can be deported at any time for any reason.
Obama and Hillary getting involved…just screwed things up royally, as did the willful efforts by the MSM (and most blogs and pundits) to characterize this as an illegal coup.
Arresting Zelaya and holding him over for trial…when this started, was not part of the law nor part of the program.
Get the offender out of the country pronto…pretty much what the Constitution tells ‘em to do.
Had they allowed Zelaya to defy the Constitution and remain in Honduras…that would have been a coup.
coldwarrior on July 18, 2009 at 12:31 PM
I think Morrissey and AP have both said it was a coupe.
One of the MANY things said by these guys that have left me scratching my bald pate.
Ragspierre on July 18, 2009 at 12:32 PM
“Coup”
sorry….
NOT coupe, sedan, or other conveyance….
Ragspierre on July 18, 2009 at 12:33 PM
A coupe?
Thought it was one of those foreign sedans…four in front, four in back. :-)
coldwarrior on July 18, 2009 at 12:33 PM
The funny part is that, if they had said “coupe” they would have been closer to the truth than they were in calling the Honduran government’s actions a “coup”. If they had called the government’s actions a “potato” they would have been more accurate than they were.
progressoverpeace on July 18, 2009 at 12:43 PM
No, Obama is on record supporting the wannabe dictator, Zelaya, and even tried to bolster him during his coup attempt.
FloatingRock on July 18, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Only Obama could FARC this up.
Maquis on July 18, 2009 at 12:57 PM
“Candygram for Mr. Zelaya. Candygram for Mr. zelaya.”
Delivered by Mr. Barrett.
1921 C DRUM on July 18, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Obama was awfully chummy with Chavez and Zelaya at that Latin American summit a while back. Wonder what he promised?
This had to be preplanned by the White House. They were issuing statements defending Zelaya even before he entered Costa Rican air space…and making sure every US government official was calling it an illegal coup even before the Hondurans even knew Zelaya was on his way out of the country.
FOIA anyone?
coldwarrior on July 18, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Honduras, as is Israel, is the canary in the coal mine for individual freedom…
This is HUGE story, since the post Obama treason tribunals will include the needless deaths of Honduran citizens as additional evidence of the anti-Constitutional nature of this current Stalinist government and its henchmen.
ursa5000 on July 18, 2009 at 1:35 PM
either this man is insane, or he is certain of military intervention from another country or countries. there is no other explanation for his brass balls ultimatums. Which countries are going to invade? Anyone care to guess?
BrideOfRove on July 18, 2009 at 1:55 PM
heshtesh on July 18, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Don’t think that he won’t still try.
Regardless of what happens in Iraq and Afghanistan in the next few years, long about 2011 Obama will say that he has now been the CinC of the world’s most powerful military for the last 2 years. . .and that their capabilities are not aligned with the needs of the world anymore. (Oh, and the technology and equipment that the military needs are just too expensive!) In his new world order, Obama needs a much lower-tech organization of personnel to AUGMENT the exhausted National Guard here in the states more than he needs a military capable of foreign operations.
And just like that, Obama has henchmen in the states responsive to him and him alone. (Oh pardon me, he’d probably actually appoint a czar to handle the day-to-day stuff)
Do not forget ANYTHING this guy has said before–it will come back in time. I doubt any one of his closest advisors has a “long term” plan that ends at 8 years–that’s just not the timeline they’re working with. They think they’ve got plenty of time to remake this country in the image of his influences–and unfortunately it’s probably 50/50 right now that they’re right. {sigh}
johnny alpha on July 18, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Easily solved:
Bring him back and install him in a sumptuous villa outside of town. two days later, there is “an unfortunate auto accident.” End of problem. BTW his supporters, both of them, are vastly (half-vast?) overrated.
Flying Oklahoma
Caststeel on July 18, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Not to worry about Chavez or Ortega. Both dare not advocate an invasion of Honduras, at least not openly. You see their thrones are short on one leg and a bit tippy. Not everybody in South America is happy with them and the home front is restive, too. There are just enough troops to keep the “happy people” down. And just enough money to keep up bribes. No, at best some kinda “cat’s paw” is needed and nobody will volunteer for leaders of their reputation.
Bambi? He’s too CS to do anything but talk. And his home front is stirring, too.
Happy situation. 360 degree deadlock while Honduras gets on with living.
Flying Oklahoma Two Great Senators
Caststeel on July 18, 2009 at 2:23 PM
. . . .
To everyone in Honduras:
- Zelaya is coming back, like a thief in the night (or a scavenging dog).
- Lock your doors and windows every night (and don’t leave food out for pets; maybe he’ll move on).
Arbalest on July 18, 2009 at 2:29 PM
That’s not impossible, but I think Chavez, along with Obama’s other dictator allies in the region, have probably used the past number of weeks to sneak goons into Honduras to organize Zelaya’s supporters. They will try to make it look like a popular uprising with Zelaya at the head of the mob, (if he makes it into the country), and along with international pressure and isolation, that may be enough for Obama’s buds to topple the Honduran government.
But who knows, that’s just my guess, that they’ll try to replicate Venezuela to the extent they’re able. If there is an invasion, though, it seems like the best time would be in the middle of the chaos when Honduras already has it’s hands full dealing with riots. But if Zelaya simply doesn’t have enough hard core supporters for Chavez’s goons to organize then perhaps they’ll have to resort to plan B sans domestic chaos.
FloatingRock on July 18, 2009 at 2:35 PM
I’ll take door #3 – the US participating in said invasion, partly to prove to Chavez that foreign relations are “reset”, partly because Zelaya is a fellow megalomaniac, and partly because Zelaya is also a fellow ballot-stuffer (courtesy Fausta).
steveegg on July 18, 2009 at 2:41 PM
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