Obama's Silence on Honduras: "administration fishing around for rightwing allies in Latin America"

[Better Believe It]

Obama's Deafening Silence on Honduras
Seven weeks after the coup in Honduras, the US is hindering efforts to restore President Manuel Zelaya to power
by Mark Weisbrot
August 21, 2009


Seven weeks after the Honduran military overthrew the democratically elected president of Honduras, the divide between the United States and Latin America continues to grow. The strategy of the coup regime is obviously to run out the clock on President Manuel Zelaya's remaining months in office. A presidential election, in which Zelaya is not eligible to run because of Honduras' one-term limit, is scheduled for 29 November.

In response to that strategy, the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) issued a declaration on 10 August that it would not recognise any government elected under the coup regime. It is worth noting that this was a unanimous decision. Even close US allies Colombia and Peru approved the declaration.

Then on 17 August, President Lula da Silva of Brazil, who has grown increasingly impatient with the delaying tactics, issued a joint statement with President Felipe Calderon of Mexico saying the same thing. Calderon is a rightwing president and was one of President George Bush's few allies in the region.

The next step would be for the Organisation of American States, where all countries in the hemisphere except Cuba are represented, to take this position. But it operates mainly by consensus, and the US is reportedly blocking that move. Of course, Washington can't be seen to be the sole opposition, so it has recruited some rightwing governments, according to sources involved in the OAS discussions: Canada and Panama, along with a couple of other small country governments that can be bribed or bullied into joining Washington's rapidly shrinking regional coalition of the willing.

The millions of Americans who gave their votes, contributions or energy to Barack Obama's presidential campaign in the hope that he would change US foreign policy probably didn't expect to see this administration fishing around for rightwing allies to help block Latin America from trying to reverse a military coup. But that appears to be the reality.

Please read the entire article at:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/08/21-5

[boppers]

1. So Unasur refuses to accept democracy...

In the name of democracy?

Could this whole situation get any weirder?

[Colobo]

2. Obama said it clearly: He recognizes Zelaya as the president, but he's not going

to get too involved, as Latin Americans really hate when the US, for better or worse, get involved in our internal affairs.

[Cali_Democrat]

3. We should stay out of other countries' affairs.

Obama is playing this right.

No more meddling in Latin America.

[boppers]

4. I note, with sad irony:

That other countries are more than happy to try and tell Honduras what to do.

Some have gone as far as helping set up staged "elections" there, which is how this whole mess started.

[GivePeaceAchance]

5. I'm with the Prez on this Latin America does have to take control of its destiny...

When intervention goes wrong US takes twice as much heat. I think the President is doing exactly the right thing. it's for Latin Americans as it is Iranians to take charge of their countries destinies. Yes they can.

[dionysus]

6. another day, another hit piece. regular like taxes and the mail.