Sunday, May 23, 2010

O'Grady: U.S. vs. Honduran Democracy

Four months after a presidential election, reports from Honduras suggest the Obama administration remains obsessed with repairing its foreign-policy image by regaining the upper hand. The display of raw colonialist hubris is so pronounced that locals now refer to U.S. ambassador Hugo Llorens as "the proconsul."

Washington's bullying is two-pronged. First is a maniacal determination to punish those involved in removing Mr. Zelaya. Second is an attempt to force Honduras to allow Mr. Zelaya, who now lives in the Dominican Republic, to return without facing any repercussions for the illegal actions that provoked his removal. Both goals are damaging the bilateral relationship, polarizing the nation and raising the risk of a resurgence of political violence.

- Mary Anastasia O'Grady, WSJ. Full Article 

- Proconsul Ambassador Lloren's response to O'Grady.
- Miguel Estrada's response to Llorens: "A shameful tenure."

This little "exchange" had slipped by me. It is very revealing and speaks volumes.  It begs the following question: Why does the Obama administration appear to be 'falling in line' with the Hugo Chavez agenda when it comes to Honduras? We are talking about the Hugo Chavez who is closely aligning himself with Iran, a dangerous, unpredictable, and bitter enemy of the United States. Is it naiveté? (I seriously doubt there is any naiveté in the Clinton State Department.) Is it all a "show" for the benefit of the "diplomatic community" while the real U.S. agenda is being carried out behind the scenes?  Or is it — and please pardon the conspiracy theorist angle — something more sinister? Whatever is going on, after it's all said and done, I hope it's change the Honduran people can believe in. We have been staunch allies of the American people. We deserve no less.

No comments: