Reply #6: From their point of view, they were

[Braulio]

Don't forget Honduras is a very corrupt crime ridden country. And Zelaya didn't help matters with his radical approach and the way he behaved, as if he were a mini-Chavez. Because Chavez is driving Venezuela towards communism, and ruining the Venezuelan economy in the process, this leads to a hysterical reaction in Latin America whenever somebody who may turn out to be another Chavez raises his head.

The way Noriega is trying to perpetuate himself in power, in a fashion similar to what Chavez and the Castro duo do, also makes people shake if the words "new constitution" are mentioned.

These ultra radicals are just too scary, too willing to debase the rule of law, and their ideas are straight from Stalin's playbook. I think the huge victory for Santos is indeed due to Chavez. Mockus is a good candidate, but there was no way the Colombians were going to risk ruining the way things are going. I got the feeling these communists are creating a huge headache for the Latin American left. Only Lula da Silva seems to be on an even keel, although I sure hope Evo Morales distances himself from the gang in Caracas and Havana, and becomes more pragmatic. That "Patria Socialismo o Muerte" they use in Venezuela is a sure sign of a forthcoming communist dictatorship, and normal people don't like communism.