Tuesday, July 7, 2009

We may not have oil or dollars, but...


A friend in Honduras sent me this picture. In an oblique reference to other countries interfering in their business the sign says,

"Honduras is an example for the world. We don't have oil or dollars, but we have balls."

Let us not fool ourselves. While the safety and sovereignty of Hondurans is in question, what is really at play here is the future of Latin America in general, essentially the rest of the countries that have yet to fall victim to Chavez's machinations. He has already sealed the deal in several other Latin American countries. His petrodollars allow him to do that. Honduras, a small country of approximately seven million people is the litmus test for the rest of the region. Chavez is a persona who views himself as the saviour of Latin America and the mentor for many others who would follow his example and end democracy there. The Hondurans have spoken and do not want his rule by proxy. That much is obvious.

Watch one gentleman, Senator Tom Coburn, who gets it.



In a related note, the Secretary of State is slated to meet with Mr. Zelaya. I am not holding my breath on any favorable outcome from that meeting even though I am hoping Mrs. Clinton heard Senator Tom Coburn's words and heeds them.

And read this Bloomberg.com story where Honduran Supreme Court Justice Rosalinda Cruz explains that what occurred was the execution of an arrest order and not a "coup."

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Our new foreign policy approach, "Coddle our adversaries and shove our allies under the bus." Nice!

Anonymous said...

Senator Coburn is right. The Honduran people have the right to have their constitution followed. It's what the rule of law is all about. It is unfortunate that the country Honduras looks to as an eample, us, is siding with the anithesis of democracy.

Anonymous said...

I’m from Honduras and the majority of the people in Honduras feel betrayed by the international community. That everybody is against us. Yes Zelaya has followers, approximately, 25 to 30 percent of the population. People from the interior of the country with very low income and resources. Zelaya has promised then the moon and the stars and has been basically, rallying them against what he calls “the rich “a mirror of what Chavez did in Venezuela. In reality no less than 70% of the population is oppose to his new ideologies. We do not want to be the next Venezuela or Cuba that’s our big crime! The International Media has been unilateral and only focus and report on Pro Zelaya rallies (which more often than not are full of violence) and refuses or ignores the peaceful rallies on favor of the new government ( people in white shirts for peace) Time will show how unfair and terrible wrong Honduras was treated, when the United States instead of worrying about treats far away, will have a real treat in his back yard, did anybody remembers that Chavez offered to Iran Venezuela territory for a military base? Imagine a Russian or Iranian Base in Honduras?