Top 10 Reasons the U.S. Isn't Getting its Panties in a Bunch over Honduras
In its response to the events of Honduras, the Obama Administration is acting like a CT (Coup-tease), whose commitment phobia and intimacy issues render it paralyzed and unable to engage in a healthy relationship with Latin America. The Administration flirts with the idea that the coup is really a coup, and it has coquettishly suspended "joint military operations. " Ultimately, however, Obama has refrained from doing the deed, which would mean cutting off aid to Honduras until Zelaya is reinstated. Obama promised he wasn't like all the other guys, but he is repeating some of the behavior and habits displayed by former presidents.
1. At the end of the day, the coup is just not as tweetable as Iran.
2. Treating it as a coup is waaaay too trendy. Everybody is doing it.
3. We kinda sorta trained the coup leaders at the School of the Americas so it's like kinda awkward. Both Honduran coup leader Gen. Romeo Orlando Vásquez Velásquez and Air Force General and coup participant Luis Javier Prince Suazo attended the SOA in 1976 and 1984.
4. Condoning Zelaya's mustache would set a dangerous precedent, which would have a domino effect that could spread beyond Latin America. The specter of facial hair already haunts the faces of Raul Castro and Lula. Can we really afford to lose another country to a mustached leader?
5. Obama thinks the new Honduran Chancellor, who described him as "That black boy who knows nothing about anything" is critiquing racism through satire.
6. We're nostalgic and going retro. It's been a while since the U.S. ignored and/or actively supported a coup in Latin America. Check out the 1950's timeless classic which started the craze "Guatemala" (1954), the 1960's hit "The Dominican Republic" (1965), the 1970's oldie but goodie "Chile" SEPTEMBER 11, 1973, and the 1980's series "Central America" 1980-1989.
7. It's still "too soon" to talk about anything but Michael Jackson.
8. Obama may want to use the "Zelaya option" (kidnapping a pajamas-clad national leader and flying him to another country) on Joe Biden.
9. As goes rumor goes, so goes the United States. The coup Leader Roberto "Michelin Man" Michelett is confident that there are indeed rumors of support from Taiwan and Israel. ``Israel and Taiwan have said they support us....I don't have an official declaration, but that is the rumor I've heard... It's an aspiration I have that all of the countries will be a friend of ours. I have the hope and faith in God that they will come.
10. Restoring democracy after a coup in a country where we have influence, power, and sway would be too easy. We prefer spending time, money and lives bringing democracy to countries that don't want it, through force and invasion.
www.KatieHalper.com
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Number 11, Americans clearly don't understand Latin American politics and therefore, it is deemed a 'loser' as Obama can't save his falling poll numbers with it. Go one way and lose his base. Go the other way and solidify his growing opposition.
Brilliant post. Thank you, Katie. You have a new fan.
The light side of reactionary oppression? Or is this black humor?
When light shines in the darkness -- must the darkness always give way?
Always, for that is our destiny, that is why we are here.
"We kinda sorta trained the coup leaders at the School of the Americas so it's like kinda awkward"
So were a lot of Zetas, the enforcement arm of the Sinaloa Drug Cartel.
The School of the Americas is the original Blowback Mountain.
Interestingly, the Honduran Constitution of 1982 does provide for loss of citizenship for those who “incite, promote or aid in the continuation or re-election of the President” http://pdb
ARTICULO 42.- La calidad de ciudadano se pierde:
5. Por incitar, promover o apoyar el continuismo o la reelección del Presidente de la República; y,
Further, Article 239 indicates that anyone who has held the office of chief executive cannot be president or vice president and anyone who proposes reform to that prohibition can be barred from holding public office for ten years:
ARTICULO 239.- El ciudadano que haya desempeñado la titularidad del Poder Ejecutivo no podrá ser Presidente o Vicepresidente de la República.
El que quebrante esta disposición o proponga su reforma, así como aquellos que lo apoyen directa o indirectamente, cesarán de inmediato en el desempeño de sus respectivos cargos y quedarán inhabilitados por diez (10) años para el ejercicio de toda función pública.
My educated guess on that provision is that it is aimed move at banning past military dictators from pursuing the office than it is a stricture contra re-election, per se.
Additionally, Article 374 bars any amendments regarding the length of the presidential term (amongst other things).
This is the humor thread, so take your dilapidated constitutional arguments over to the other side..
Obama isn’t really concerned about the Honduras situation because:
1. We’re waiting for Chavez to attack Honduras so we can intervene and bomb Miraflores, the Venezuela Presidential Palace. (The place is so close, we could do it at 9AM and be home in time for lunch!)
2. We pay Colombia to worry about things like this.
3. Zelaya tells lousy jokes at state dinners.
4. The women are much more attractive in Costa Rica anyway, so who cares?
5. We don’t know what’s going on down there because everyone is speaking Spanish.
6. What are we then going to say if they overthrow Ahmedinejad?
7. They spell it “Democracia,” which is a totally different concept.
8. Lately, Michelle has really been in the mood.
9. This is all David Letterman’s fault and responsibility for telling that joke about Palin’s daughter.
10. U.S. economy.
hahahahaha
This is comedy? Give me 10 minutes and I'll come up with a better list.
Still waiting
Oops missed the above. My bad
The coup leaders could look to support from the leaders of Burma, they seem to share the same commitment to "democracy
Zelaya was trying to change the Constitution and the Congress and Supreme Court said that by Law he could not. He tried to do it anyway and that is when he was overthrown. A perfectly lawful and correct action by the Supreme Court and Congress of Honduras. Micheleta by the way is of the same political party as Zelaya. You meant to be funny, but were not. You tried to sound smart, but did not. You want to know real comedy? Read the articles on Huffpo. I laugh everyday I read it.
Man. Talk about a country with a bad case of mental constipation.
Hmm, a "constitution" drafted in the early 1980s under the military dictatorship of Gen. Policarpo Paz Garcia. About as legitimate as Germany's Enabling Act of 1933. Why are you so opposed to a democratic referendum on it? If the people don't wont to amend it, the won't vote yes.
I laugh everytime I read one of your i diotic posts.! Thanks!
Truly a "salad". Much like a "tea bagging" LMAO.
Keep tossing that salad teddy! Hee Hee Hee. I think more readers get a kick out of your handle than you know. Who's really laughing?
So basically the reason the USA doesn't care is there is nothing in it for the USA! No oil to take over or maybe no political capital or nothing to gain for the elite corporate fat cats!
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