Honduras boots wanne be leftist dictator.

[K.Bullock]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124623220955866301.html

Hillary and Obama Cry foul?!? What is that about?

The attorney general had already made clear that the referendum was illegal, and he further announced that he would prosecute anyone involved in carrying it out. Yesterday, Mr. Zelaya was arrested by the military and is now in exile in Costa Rica.

It remains to be seen what Mr. Zelaya's next move will be. It's not surprising that chavistas throughout the region are claiming that he was victim of a military coup. They want to hide the fact that the military was acting on a court order to defend the rule of law and the constitution, and that the Congress asserted itself for that purpose, too.

Mrs. Clinton has piled on as well. Yesterday she accused Honduras of violating "the precepts of the Interamerican Democratic Charter" and said it "should be condemned by all." Fidel Castro did just that. Mr. Chávez pledged to overthrow the new government.

Honduras is fighting back by strictly following the constitution. The Honduran Congress met in emergency session yesterday and designated its president as the interim executive as stipulated in Honduran law. It also said that presidential elections set for November will go forward. The Supreme Court later said that the military acted on its orders. It also said that when Mr. Zelaya realized that he was going to be prosecuted for his illegal behavior, he agreed to an offer to resign in exchange for safe passage out of the country. Mr. Zelaya denies it.

[Bob Gutermuth]

If Clinton and Osama are again it, it must be something worthy of American support.

[YardleyLabs]

At some point, if we are going to support democracy in other countries, we must voice our support for democratically elected governments against the power of a military coup. The issue of opposing coups d'etats by the military or others to overthrow elected governments has nothing to do with whether or not we support the individual policies of those elected governments. The coup in Honduras has been opposed by the EU and by most democratic countries.

[K.Bullock]

At some point, if we are going to support democracy in other countries, we must voice our support for democratically elected governments against the power of a military coup. The issue of opposing coups d'etats by the military or others to overthrow elected governments has nothing to do with whether or not we support the individual policies of those elected governments. The coup in Honduras has been opposed by the EU and by most democratic countries.

I would understand that under normal circumstances. it seems though that this coup was staged to protect democracy. The Honduran congress and Military, as far as I know to this point, acted within the constitutional laws of their country. It seems that we should support that not oppose it. Am I missing something?

[Hew]

Am I missing something?

You apparently read the linked article whereas Yardley apparently didn't.

[YardleyLabs]

You apparently read the linked article whereas Yardley apparently didn't.

I read it, including the fact that it was an opinion piece rather than a news article. The issue is not the legality of Zelayas' efforts to have a referendum on modifying the Honduran constitution. It appears that such a referendum would have been illegal although it is not clear why a non-binding resolution would have been illegal. However, that does not justify actions outside of the constitution to remove the President.

As far as I can tell, there is no basis either for removing the President under the constitution or even for the President to retire. Under Honduran law, Zelayas would remain President until January 2010 with power subject to the limitations of law and balanced by an independent judiciary and legislature. If the law would support arresting the President, that should have been the action taken with a subsequent trial a verdict under honduran law.

Presumably, the illegal nature of the action to remove Zelayas was the reason for claiming that he had resigned from his position. However, Zelayas denies ever having signed such a letter or having agreed to resign.

Ultimately, as in Iran, the selection of leaders is an internal issue, not an American one. In both places, however, it is appropriate for the administration to voice its support for democratic procedures that follow the laws of the countries, standards of international law, and in the case of Honduras, the standards of the OAS of which Honduras is a member.

[BonMallari]

The US record of backing coup or juntas and backing the wrong side is well documented...We always seem to back someone only to have to throw them out later....Noriega, the Shah of Iran,Ferdinand Marcos to name a few

[Hew]

Hmmm....in one corner we have the Honduran Constitution, the Honduran Supreme Court, the Honduran Congress, and the Honduran Attorney General.

And in the other corner we have the leftist ex-president of Honduras trying his best to usurp more power, Hugo Chavez, the Castro Brothers, Hillary Clinton and Yardley Labs.

Gee, I wonder which side is right?

[YardleyLabs]

The US record of backing coup or juntas and backing the wrong side is well documented...We always seem to back someone only to have to throw them out later....Noriega, the Shah of Iran,Ferdinand Marcos to name a few

Of course, we usually are backing the military ouster of the democratically elected leadership as the right wants us to do again. The unusual aspect here is that the administration has voiced support for a legal process and opposed the coup.

[Uncle Bill]

Of course, we usually are backing the military ouster of the democratically elected leadership as the right wants us to do again. The unusual aspect here is that the administration has voiced support for a legal process and opposed the coup.

You are WAY off base in this ass-um-tion. What the right in this nation wants is for the obvious phoney that got 'elected' to office, and was term limited, to stand down at the end of his term. We also see this happening once ACORN has bought all the votes needed in this nation, proposing the same thing at the end of the BHO term.

Unlike your view of electing a 'messiah', he's still subject to the regulations of the constitution...your backing ACORN and Soros be damned.

As Atlas continues to shrug, and your most avid BHO fans see they've been had because these stupid programs getting voted in are only for the unionized benefit, those losing their jobs will suddenly become your worst enemy.

It's just a matter of time before the startled ignoramuses that followed your leftist promises, will see the lies among the obfuscations written by the prompter, and relayed by the messiah. Even you will soon run out of excuses for what you KNOW is a huge reduction of your freedoms with each passing bill from this purely Democrat majority.

As those that have been taxed out the wazoo quit squatting for your insane programs, and run out of money to fund your socialism, the BHO leadership will be calling on thee to pick up the slack. And when your ilk fails to provide all the SFN crowd with their whims, what's your plan to hide?

Just remember what Tonto said to the Lone Ranger when they were surrounded by Indians..."What you mean, Kemo Sabe?"

UB