Is the US hiding Zelaya in Honduras?
posted at 2:57 pm on September 21, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Here’s a strange story just breaking out of Tegucigalpa. Former Honduran president Manuel Zelaya, deposed by a coordinated action between the parliament, the Supreme Court, and the army, claimed this afternoon to be back in the capital and at the UN compound. Zelaya asked for his supporters to gather there to allow him to reclaim his post, and people have begun arriving. The US confirmed that Zelaya was back in Tegucigalpa, but then the UN categorically denied Zelaya was inside their compound.
Is the US hiding Zelaya?
Deposed President Manuel Zelaya said Monday he has returned home to Honduras to reclaim his presidency, defying threats of arrest and summoning supporters.
While the State Department confirmed on Monday that Zelaya is in Honduras, his exact whereabouts were unclear, possibly in an attempt to avoid capture.
“I cannot give details, but I’m here,” Zelaya told the local TV Channel 36. His voice, but not his image, were transmitted.
He said initially that he was at the United Nations headquarters in his homeland, and Elisabeth Sierra, a spokeswoman for the Honduran Embassy in Nicaragua, where Zelaya had been exiled, reiterated the claim.
“He is in Honduras and calling the resistance to gather in front of the United Nations and protect the constitutional president of Honduras,” she said Monday.
But a spokeswoman at the U.N. offices in Tegucigalpa told The Associated Press he wasn’t there. “I have no idea where that story came from,” said spokeswoman Ana Elsy Mendoza. Nonetheless, Zelaya supporters were gathering outside the U.N. compound, said U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas in New York.
Well, if the US knows he’s in Honduras and the UN says he’s not in their compound, then the US must either be hiding Zelaya or coordinating with another nation to do so. The State Department needs to explain itself — soon.
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Lincoln Bedroom.
portlandon on September 21, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Good luck with that.
upinak on September 21, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Oh sh–
To all Hondurans: I am truly sorry we betrayed and doublecrossed you.
jwolf on September 21, 2009 at 3:00 PM
To any one of our lefties: Please explain the administration’s position on Honduras to me. It literally makes no sense, and I can’t come up with any kind of logical defense, either legal or moral.
BadgerHawk on September 21, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Hillary….wha’cha doing over there?
cmsinaz on September 21, 2009 at 3:01 PM
This gets more disgraceful by the day.
Clearly Hussein has plans for Honduras. I wonder what other countries he might have plans for.
It’s been the First Amendment so far. Hope the Second does not have to be invoked.
Harry Schell on September 21, 2009 at 3:01 PM
If Barry coordinated the transport of a criminal into Honduras, and is trying to overthrow a legitimate government, that would be grounds for impeachment.
Vashta.Nerada on September 21, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Are we meddling?
Akzed on September 21, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Arrest him and put him on trial. Show the world just how he’s violating his country’s constitution.
rbj on September 21, 2009 at 3:02 PM
I’m not a lefty, but I’ve got a simple explanation for this one… Barry wants to kiss up to Chavez by letting his puppet become Presidente-For-Life of Honduras.
teke184 on September 21, 2009 at 3:02 PM
So now we’re actively helping a marxist dictator overthrow an (albeit imperfect) democratic government who prevented a coup?
Welcome to Orwell land – freedom is slavery, war is peace
Defector01 on September 21, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Hillary please please get out of there. You are losing your base. I cannot believe you are letting these things go on and are supporting them. The missle shield? Honduras? the addresd to the UN will no doubt be the capper with TOTUS offering to fund the world with our ‘ill gotten gains’ Please please get out of there. This is not right.
-signed a 22 yr Dem
ginaswo on September 21, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Great, we`re harboring a fugitive from justice?
ThePrez on September 21, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Or he could be being hidden by any of the other 20-odd Latin countries that condemned his ouster could be hiding him, or his supporters, or he could just be lying to stir things up.
But don’t let that stand in the way of wild speculation.
Bleeds Blue on September 21, 2009 at 3:03 PM
You have got to be kidding me.
ElectricPhase on September 21, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Oh, HELL no!
Noocyte on September 21, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Arrest him and put him on trial. Show the world just how he’s violating his country’s constitution.
rbj on September 21, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Both of ‘em.
kingsjester on September 21, 2009 at 3:03 PM
What if the Marines are sent in to impose Zelaya on Honduras?
Akzed on September 21, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Hillary only LOOKS like she’s been putting on weight.
The Z man is hiding inside her purple pansuit.
marybel on September 21, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Barry hadn’t noticed there is a ally country named “Honduras”. This is not the most pressing issue facing America!
SouthernGent on September 21, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Dear Honduras,
Bomb the hell out of whatever diplomatic structure is being used to hide Zelaya, occupants and all.
Shy Guy on September 21, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Akzed on September 21, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Then Barry’s got a lot of ‘splainin’ to do.
kingsjester on September 21, 2009 at 3:05 PM
lol
cmsinaz on September 21, 2009 at 3:05 PM
If Hillary wants anything it is that seat.
But being that you are a dem makes me wonder.
What is your roll in any of this, your are not a generation that cares… right? And who did you vote for?
upinak on September 21, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Obama’s Illegal War?!?
PappaMac on September 21, 2009 at 3:06 PM
This little dictator is out of control, and Zelaya too.
Howcome on September 21, 2009 at 3:06 PM
But don’t let that stand in the way of wild speculation.
Bleeds Blue on September 21, 2009 at 3:03 PM
A US official has confirmed that Zelaya is in Honduras. Whatever is going on, we — meaning the US — are in on it.
jwolf on September 21, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Republic of Honduras, meet the Top Banana. Bring machetes, as many as you can find.
Steve Z on September 21, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Obama is not for freedom and constitutions around the world.
Honduras, show him how it’s really done!
Schadenfreude on September 21, 2009 at 3:07 PM
I mean, would the Marines go and impose tyranny on a peaceful country?
Akzed on September 21, 2009 at 3:07 PM
They’ve updated the Reuters story I posted earlier to REMOVE the reference that the Honduras Supreme Court had found Zelaya in violation of the constitution.
Before:
Now:
With this kind of spin doctoring and reporting (and chaos)…
I’ll bet the CIA has smuggled Zelaya in.
Skywise on September 21, 2009 at 3:08 PM
That’s the only thing that sounds even remotely reasonable, but I don’t you’d ever get anyone to admit it. I still hope there’s some other reason I just haven’t seen.
You’re a relatively smart guy. Care to take a stab at my 3:01 question?
BadgerHawk on September 21, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Schadenfreude on September 21, 2009 at 3:08 PM
They are looking for that 501c4 money from the WH!
upinak on September 21, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Akzed on September 21, 2009 at 3:07 PM
If the Administratioon issued the orders, they would have to go. And if that happened, pressure would build for Barry to go.
kingsjester on September 21, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Great. Michelle O and her Honduras vacation.
upinak on September 21, 2009 at 3:10 PM
It means we know about it. It doesn’t mean we’re in on it.
Bleeds Blue on September 21, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Obama seems almost as bound and determined to restore his ally Zelaya to power as Hitler was to restore his ally Mussolini to power.
MB4 on September 21, 2009 at 3:11 PM
The Brazillian Government is claiming that Zelaya is in their embassy in Tegucigalpa:
Honuran Newspaper El Heraldo has a live ticker of events as they unfold.
At 12:33 : Brasil confirma. La delegación brasileña en Honduras confirmó a AFP que Zelaya se encuentra en las instalaciones de su embajada en este país.
AverageJoe on September 21, 2009 at 3:12 PM
If our state department confirmed that Zelaya was there, that means they knew he was there. Thus, there is some form of coordination (even if it’s simply “let me know”) and/or direct participation.
JCred on September 21, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Great. Michelle O and her Honduras vacation.
upinak on September 21, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Then there would be wall-to-wall coverage on MSNBC. Seriously, I’m saying that there would be a public outcry about putting Zelaya back in.
kingsjester on September 21, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Weird the American president sides with the commies don’t you think?
tarpon on September 21, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Bleeds Blue on September 21, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Yes, what hotheads they are down there, refusing to forgive this guy’s attempt to make himself dictator for life.
In my opinion, they made a mistake by not putting this guy in front of a firing squad and handing him a cigarette. You can’t release a guy this dangerous and with friends like Hugo Chavez.
NoDonkey on September 21, 2009 at 3:12 PM
[long string of expletives not fit for public consumption]
Count to 10 on September 21, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Help me get this straight… a wanna be dictator is legally removed by all factions of the countries government and now the US is helping to get him back in the country and back in power? And our current Administration can’t understand why conservatives and a some former kool-aid drinkers (who apparently went through detox recently) are finding it hard to trust our President, his motives, and plans for our country. Interesting.
truetexan on September 21, 2009 at 3:13 PM
You talking about Zelaya or Osama Obama?
MrScribbler on September 21, 2009 at 3:14 PM
I don’t really get this story at all, so I’ll not comment. I’m still trying to figure out why the administration would announce the no missle defense contract on the anniversary of the Poles.
I just can’t grasp why.
AnninCA on September 21, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Which, considering we have enough knowledge of his whereabouts to go on record confirming his presence, would fall under Ed’s:
amerpundit on September 21, 2009 at 3:15 PM
12:49 Llamadas. Zelaya Rosales estaría en estos momentos recibiendo llamadas de diferentes presidentes del mundo, quienes se muestran solidarios con él.
Calls: Zelaya is recieving calls from different presidents from around the world expressing their support for him.
Hmmm… I wonder is Obama has called yet.
AverageJoe on September 21, 2009 at 3:15 PM
I am sure the bastion of truth (New York Times) will be breaking the actual location any second now…
5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1…
Crickets chirping…
Khun Joe on September 21, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Imagine for a moment, if you will, that he hates everything this country stands for.
Vashta.Nerada on September 21, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Why do you say that comrade? Did you not read the Reuter’s article I linked which is the “official” version of events?
It was a coup by evil “conservatives”.
Skywise on September 21, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Ask Hillary what her husband thinks we should do.
Daggett on September 21, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Husseins Law: Ignore the Constitution
BigMike252 on September 21, 2009 at 3:16 PM
The US plays Honduras on Oct 10 in a World Cup qualifying match.
For once, we deserve to be booed relentlessly. What Ogabe has done to Honduras is disgusting, and should cost him the presidency.
PimFortuynsGhost on September 21, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Why choose only one.
rbj on September 21, 2009 at 3:16 PM
If we know about his illegal presence in the country and we don’t say anything about it, we’re in on it.
Just like you don’t actually have to take part in a robbery in order to be in on it. All you have to do is have knowledge of it and say nothing to the police.
amerpundit on September 21, 2009 at 3:17 PM
He’s hiding in Hillary’s double-wide double-knit.
JammieWearingFool on September 21, 2009 at 3:17 PM
oh….snap!
cmsinaz on September 21, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Hussein’s Law Part II: The Constitution is a living document. That’s why I have to kill it.
Daggett on September 21, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Some lefty on youtube explained that the Honduran government was actually run by the military anyway and we need to stop supporting such horrible military regimes and support the legally elected president in everything he wants to do. He also said obama is on track to be the greatest president in world history.
Spectreman on September 21, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Oh, I can just imagine how the Devil Dogs feel about this.
Despicable.
pseudonominus on September 21, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Nice.
BadgerHawk on September 21, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Oops, missed that. :)
truetexan on September 21, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Ann, it means at best that this administration is clueless or tone deaf. At worst, it means Dear Leader hates Europeans.
rbj on September 21, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Oh, my Presidents got a first name, it’s l.o.s.e.r
My President’s got a last name it’s c.o.m.m.y (ie)
Oh, I wish he would just go away
And this is why I pray each day
That impeachment is not far away for O.B.A.M and A
Just sick to my stomach that our President, Hillary, and the State Dept are getting away with doing this to Honduras.
journeyintothewhirlwind on September 21, 2009 at 3:21 PM
1:13 PM : Corazón. “He venido a Honduras con el corazón abierto” para el dialogo y el entendimiento para el bien del país, dijo Zelaya, desde la embajada de Brasil en Honduras.
1:13 PM Heart: “I’ve come to Honduras with an open heart toward dialog and a settlement for the good of the country” said Zelaya, from the Brazillian embassy in Honduras.
AverageJoe on September 21, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Seriously. I’ve been asking for weeks for some kind of reasoning behind President Obama’s stance towards Honduras, and have gotten nothing but crickets.
Not. A. Single. Response.
It’s a legitimate question. I honestly can’t come up with any solid argument, even one that I would disagree with, for our posture here. I take the silence to mean that you can’t explain it either.
BadgerHawk on September 21, 2009 at 3:21 PM
It seems to me that the best possible spin you can put on this is to say that Obama wants the approval of the leaders of several of the neighboring countries, and since they want Zelaya back, so does he, regardless of how the Hondurans feel about it.
The worst possible spin is to say this is just one leftist supporting another, regardless of how wrong and unconstitutional the actions of one of them were. Ideology > freedom.
It’s quite ironic to see this sort of thing from a president that was supposed to improve the way the world sees America, though.
kc8ukw on September 21, 2009 at 3:21 PM
This absolutely sickens me. How did they get him into the country?
This is why I’m glad I’m retired from the military. What if our own SEALS were ordered to smuggle this douche back into Honduras so that he could overthrow Democracy there? I mean – that would just shatter every image I have of the American soldier – who’s supposedly fighting for Freedom and Democracy around the world. I still remember the Sailor’s Creed …
“to defend FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY around the world” … This is the oath our Sailors take – and Marines and Soldiers take a similar one. Now here we are in bed with Marxists … With a Marxist Commander In Chief.
Sad days.
HondaV65 on September 21, 2009 at 3:22 PM
Now a State Department spokesman says the U.S. doesn’t know Zelaya’s location. In which case, we’ve gone on record confirming his presence without actually being able to confirm his presence.
amerpundit on September 21, 2009 at 3:22 PM
I never get tired of always being right.
Honduras should have killed him when he attempted the coup – PERIOD.
corona on September 21, 2009 at 3:23 PM
The good of the country = Zelaya on trial.
BadgerHawk on September 21, 2009 at 3:23 PM
At this point, it seems if any Hondurans want to maintain independent, constitutional government in Honduras, they must capture and execvte Zelaya. Close to the beach, we have heard, lies the deep ocean.
Kralizec on September 21, 2009 at 3:24 PM
And mailed his head to Fat Hugo.
PimFortuynsGhost on September 21, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Call in an air strike, NOW.
pseudonominus on September 21, 2009 at 3:24 PM
It makes sense because armies escorting elected officials out of the country is not normally associated with democracy in Latin America. That’s why every memember of the OAS has condemned this, not just Bolivia and Venezuela.
It’s also a little ridiculous to think that we would smuggle him back in order to try to force him back upon the Hondurans against their will. I mean, you may not like Hillary and Obama, but they’re not actually bats**t crazy — that strategy hasn’t worked since we put the Shah on the throne in the 50s.
I note Brazil has claimed respons
Bleeds Blue on September 21, 2009 at 3:24 PM
AverageJoe’s updates would indicate that pretty much everyone knows Zelaya’s location now, so if the State Department somehow lost track of him in the past 30 minutes that’s really saying something.
BadgerHawk on September 21, 2009 at 3:24 PM
And the US State Department confirms he is in Honduras, so where does that leave you? Oh, I know, the Obama Administration just confirmed they are lying again. No surprise there.
Dusty on September 21, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Of course he wants dialog. He violated the law, was tried and convicted and exiled. He can’t demand return to his office… he has to negotiate for it.
THIS is the coup. And we’re the ones doing it.
Skywise on September 21, 2009 at 3:26 PM
How bizarre (I’m searching for a word here) is it that the American President is evidently, judging from his associations and his foreign policy actions, not an advocate for freedom and democracy?
kingsjester on September 21, 2009 at 3:26 PM
I am not in the military, but have always wondered, especially recently, what if the military is given orders they know are absolutely against the Constitution? Say, helping get a legally ousted President back into the country that ousted him (legally). Surely, there are some safeguards for this kind of situation.
truetexan on September 21, 2009 at 3:26 PM
Having talked (and I use the word loosely) with my liberal brother, it appears that the reasoning behind the position is the assumption that the military is currently running the country, in violation of their constitution.
So, basically, they are ignoring the facts.
Count to 10 on September 21, 2009 at 3:26 PM
Interesting that no one has actually seen Zelaya in Honduras. He has been speaking by phone. He has now asked his wife Xiomara, who has been traveling Honduras pushing for support for Mel, to tell the population that he is really really really is in Honduras.
AverageJoe on September 21, 2009 at 3:27 PM
Now that the Brazilians have taken responsibility, I suppose some of you will be “revising and extending” previous remarks, right?
Bleeds Blue on September 21, 2009 at 3:27 PM
Hard to keep all those lies straight…
Skywise on September 21, 2009 at 3:27 PM
upinak on September 21, 2009 at 3:05 PM
excuse me? What do you mean by ‘not a generation that cares’? would I leave thaat comment if I didnt care?
I am FWIW Gen X. I am a Hillary supporter who voted MAC PALIN
I love America as do millions of Reagan Dems who gave him that victory (before my time)
any other questions?
ginaswo on September 21, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Zelaya violated the Honduran Constitution. His removal was authorized by both their legislature and Supreme Court. Now President Obama is blocking representatives from Honduras from entering the U.S. and shutting off foreign aid, which are pretty clear attempts to strong arm a small democratic nation into violating its own Constitution.
Picture Bush trying to get himself a 3rd term. Somehow I suspect you’d be a little more receptive to his forcible removal from office.
BadgerHawk on September 21, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Lula ran this by Ogabe. No question.
Sub-human leftist filth always sticks togehter.
PimFortuynsGhost on September 21, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Extending, yes. Revising? Why?
Dusty on September 21, 2009 at 3:29 PM
No, the discussion just moves from the impeachment level to the disgust level, since Barry obviously supports overturning the Honduran constitution, but not necessarily by using our military.
Vashta.Nerada on September 21, 2009 at 3:29 PM
nah daggett Hill was the one for the job and frankly if GOP peeps didnt help TOTUS get the nom maybe we wouldnt be in this mess
but by all means talk crxp about the Clintons that helps a lot, NOT
if the GOP hasnt grasped the diff b/w the Clintons and TOTUS by now you are helpless
can we work together or what?
Jeebus this is why the GOP cant hold the Mod Dems like Moi you attack us when we try to help
jeebus
ginaswo on September 21, 2009 at 3:30 PM
That argument works for uninformed morons, but it doesn’t cut it for President Obama. He has all the facts, and is strongarming a democracy in support of a dictator anyway.
BadgerHawk on September 21, 2009 at 3:30 PM
It wouldn’t surprise me.
SoulGlo on September 21, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Smart Power Foreign Policy: Alienating our Friends and Embracing our Enemy.
kingsjester on September 21, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Good luck getting an answer to that one!
ohiobabe on September 21, 2009 at 3:31 PM
01:15 PM – Ejército. El jefe de las Fuerzas Armadas, Romero Vásquez Velásquez, quien hasta hace unos minutos dijo desconocer la llegada de Zelaya al país, aseguró que no desplazará elementos del ejército a las calles.
01:15 PM – Army. The Armed Forces chief, Romero Vasquez Velasquez, who until a few minutes ago said to ignore reports that Zelaya the arrival into the country, said that elements of the army would not be moved into the streets.
AverageJoe on September 21, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Good point but what would be your opinion be if Obama gives his support? Do you understand that by Honduras law he Zelaya is a criminal? Do you also understand that Obama has done everything to encourage Zelaya up to this point?
I’m not trying to be cheeky. I’m seriously enquiring to see where your loyalties lie, Obama and Zelaya or the Honduras constitution.
shick on September 21, 2009 at 3:31 PM
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