“The Department of State announces the termination of a broad range of assistance to the government of Honduras as a result of the coup d’etat that took place on June 28…

The Department of State recognizes the complicated nature of the actions which led to June 28 coup d’etat in which Honduras’ democratically elected leader, President Zelaya, was removed from office. These events involve complex factual and legal questions and the participation of both the legislative and judicial branches of government as well as the military.

Restoration of the terminated assistance will be predicated upon a return to democratic, constitutional governance in Honduras.”

***
“Unfortunately, we won’t suffer a single minute for our decision. The people of Honduras, who have worked hard to establish a stable democracy so they can finally pull themselves out of abject poverty, will pay instead. They do not deserve this treatment from us. They deserve our praise and all the help we can possibly give them.

To borrow an oft-used Obamaism, let me be clear. Our government is demanding that the current government of Honduras violate its own laws to return a man to power who ignored the lawful orders of his own courts and deliberately attempted to violate the Honduran Constitution to satisfy his own desire to remain in office longer. Our position is shameful and wrong and it needs to change.

The President should turn around on this issue right now. He has put us on the side of tyrants and that is never a place the United States should be.”