Honduran Violence, U.S. Aid Test Obama's Global Image

While English language television in the United States mined the minutiae of Michael Jackson's upcoming funeral, millions watching Spanish, Portuguese and French language media in the rest of the Americas were transfixed by live broadcasts of the Honduran military shooting and killing a 10-year-old boy and other protesters.

From the U.S.-Mexico border to the southern tip of Argentina and Chile, Latin Americans were besotted by television and Internet images of the tens of thousands of Hondurans who risked their lives while staging a peaceful march to the airport where a plane carrying the ousted President of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, and United Nations President Miguel d'Escoto was trying to land.

In the course of Sunday's mass mobilization by Hondurans, many throughout the continent watched the drama of the police stepping out of the way of the marchers when their chief declared that he "holds the military responsible" for any bloodshed. Shortly after blood was, in fact, spilled as at least two people were killed by the military and several others were injured, according to Telesur, which broadcast live from the Tegucigalpa airport.

Public and official outrage in response to the killings and shootings are sure to intensify pressure on the military coup leaders who already face worldwide denunciation and pressure. The Organization of American States (OAS) suspended Honduras' membership Saturday; the European Union and most countries in Latin America with embassies in Honduras have withdrawn their ambassadors; the World Bank and some governments have either suspended or frozen loans to Honduras.

But the military coup leaders are still recipients of U.S. economic and military aid.

As a result, the whole Latin American world is watching Honduras and President Obama, who still has not heeded calls to suspend U.S. military aid to Honduras. In fact, Latin America may well be where the decline and fall of Obama's global rock star status begins.

The Obama Administration has chosen to respond to the crisis in a manner that will signify little to millions watching the bloodshed taking place in Honduras. While nobody in the hemisphere wants the return of the actions of the Bush era, many already believe that the Obama Administration's inactions mean that the "new" or fundamental "change" Obama promised during his also widely-viewed Summit of the Americas speech last April adds up to little more than this: more militarismo, but with a smile.

For example, rather than officially declare and denounce the Honduras putsch as a "coup", which would, among other things, trigger a cutoff of military and other aid, the Obama Administration has instead chosen the symbolic act of suspending joint military operations.

In a region where U.S. military aid, U.S. military training and U.S. political support for dictatorships responsible for killing, torturing and disappearing millions are at the heart of why Obama needed urgently to signal a "new" U.S. policy, Obama's continued "Si Se Puede" (Yes We Can) to continued military aid for such human rights violation-plagued governments as those of Colombia, Mexico and Honduras will only tarnish his and the U.S.'s image in the region.

The President's inability or unwillingness to call for an immediate suspension of U.S. military aid is already raising questions about the motives and role of Obama Administration operatives like Hugo Llorens, the current U.S. Ambassador to Honduras.

From 2002-2003 -- the year many in Latin America condemned the attempted military coup in Venezuela -- Llorens was the Director of Andean Affairs at the National Security Council (NSC).

Llorens was charged with advising then President Bush and his National Security Advisor on issues pertaining to Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. Although Llorens and the Obama Administration do not recognize the current government, they did, apparently, know that the coup in Honduras was going to take place.

That the Obama Administration knew of the coup and did not cut off aid immediately after it took place, makes its claims that it tried to "stop" the coup seem naive, at best.

That the Administration may not cut off aid even after coup-appointed Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Ortez described President Obama as "ese negrito que no sabe nada de nada" (that little black boy who knows nothing about nothing) is to add political insult to tragic injury before a hemispheric audience; That Obama may not cut off military aid even after Sunday's increased bloodshed adds even graver injury to that insult.

And in Latin America, a region where the word "Honduras" now means "defend democracy", a region where many know that Democrat-led U.S. regimes have propped up military dictatorships, assassinated leaders and covertly destabilized left-leaning governments with the same zeal and effectiveness as Republican regimes, President Obama and the United States, no longer have the luxury of being on the wrong side of history made on the streets. This hemispheric sensibility was articulated forcefully by Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez, who traveled with the Presidents of Ecuador and Paraguay to El Salvador on Sunday in order support Zelaya. During their late night press conference, Fernandez seemed to speak to and for millions when she stated, "We're not just defending Honduras. We're defending ourselves." The question President Obama must answer as unequivocally and rapidly as possible is, "Who are Latin Americans defending themselves from?"

For more on the Honduran coup and other issues, visit www.ofamerica.wordpress.com.

Follow Roberto Lovato on Twitter: www.twitter.com/robvato

Comments

[S1m0n]

" Although Llorens and the Obama Administration do not recognize the current government, they did, apparently, know that the coup in Honduras was going to take place."

In what way is this apparent?

[sabocat]

Uh, the NY Times reported that the US Embassy was in communication with people in the business sector behind the coup, in the weeks leading up to that tragic event. Besides, everyone in Honduras knew a coup was in play. it was common knowledge.

[sabocat]

http://www.radiolaprimerisima.com/noticias/general/56179

Those who lived through the dirty war of the 1980's in Central
America will feel the blood freezing in their veins to hear the news
that the "ministerial advisor" to the coup president is named Billy
Joya Amendola.

Examining the "work history" of Joya Amendola is indispensable to
understanding the political culture of the coup junta led by Roberto
Micheletti.

During the 1980's Billy Joya Amendola was one of the principal
leaders of Military Intelligence Battalion 3-36, in charge of the
kidnapping and disappearance of opposition politicians, and founder
of the death squads "Lince" and "Cobra". While in charge of this
task he became one of the principal figures involved in kidnappings,
tortures, and assassinations in Honduras, and he was accused
of participating personally in at least eleven
executions under the pseudonym of "Doctor Arranzol". Also, he was
accused of the kidnapping and torture of six students, four of whom
were later disappeared.

There is evidence that he worked in
Argentina under the orders of one of the principal oppressors there,
Guillermo Suarez Mason, known among other things for being the
principal organizer of the kidnapping of children during the last
dictatorship.

Today he is the right hand man of Roberto Micheletti.

(Any errors in translation are mine. Greg McDonald)

[Marmen]

PR one, I also voted for Barack in 08. I also voted for him when he was elected to the senate before that. As far as I have been able to gather form observing him over the years, Barack has always been a pragmatist. I’ve liked him because of his progressive thinking. He may be a leftist to Pat Buchanan, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingritch, Glen Beck, etc, etc and he may be too much to the right to people like Noam Chansky, or Ralph Nader and others like them ( I do like to listen to Noam C and I mostly agree with him).

Remember he said “there’s no red State, there’s no blue State, but there’s only The United States of America”. We knew he was going to govern from the center. That doesn’t mean he discards your ideas, but rather, they are going to play a part in his decision making, along with others, as opposed to Bush and his ilk.

The most important piece of legislation that will be considered this year will the Healthcare Bill. We have known for a while that Universal Coverage is in the best interest of the country, but look at how the Republicans are painting him: leftist, communist, fascist, “we’re on the way to a government controlled, rationed system”.

If he was actually any of those things he wouldn’t be able to advance the issue.

[PR one]

I guess the Health Care Bill will be an indicator that will let us know as to where, he does stand. During the Presidential campaign he was running to the left of the Bush era. No matter how you slice it. The platform that he proposed was center left. We as a Nation must stop associating the Left to Communism. That has been the right wing Conservatives description of the Left to promote the right wing dictators In Latin America. As to Health Care. We all know where President Obama stood during the campaign. Now, according to the latest poll. 72% of the American People do support a Government Option. 50% of Republicans feel the same. There shouldn't be any reason why the Public Option shouldn't pass by both the House and the Senate. It all depend how much the Democrats want it. When the right had control of both Houses and the Executive Branches they didn't ask permission to pass legislation.

[Marmen]

President Obama IS the guy we can trust in the White House. The problem when people are driven by pure ideology and/or adherence to one party is that you never have a leader that satisfies you because he has to have the ability to compromise in order to advance an inclusive agenda. Obama is the right president for us at this time. Just because he is not calling for the invasion of Honduras you are calling him a disappointment to the “left”? He was never a leftist candidate, those kinds of candidates will never be elected in the US, or in Honduras for that matter. Hondurans share the same dreams and aspirations with the American people and that includes not leaning too far to either side that you “lose your balance”.
And btw, if we in the US are so enlightened as we think we are, we should stop calling for the very military intervention that we are decrying. The situation in Honduras should be left for us in Honduras to solve, not Venezuela or the US.

[PR one]

I respectfully disagree with Marmen. I and many Americans voted in 2008 for the Presidential candidate Barack Obama because of his center left ideology. That is how his opponents and the mass media describe him. He ran on change. Change from what. Change from the conservative agenda that had plague this Nation from the Bush years. As President, honestly, so far have I been disappointed. I have not seen any change from the last 8 years. His decisions are more in tune with the Republican and Democrats Conservatives in Congress. If the President wishes to govern from Center Right, that is his prerogative. Also I will guarantee that by this action, he will only be a one term President.

[PR one]

By the way the Military treated a peaceful march at the airport. Where we saw, not heard. How they tear gas and shot at the crowd. Leave little evidence that they, the Oligarchy and the far right is still in control. We saw how the crowd went pass the Police line peacefully and there wasn't any problem. Who gave the order not to allow the plane from landing? Why do they fear Zelaya so much? And by the way, who mention anything about Military Intervention, but you who support the de facto authorities.

[Marmen]

Part 3 of 3:
The attorney general tells the president that the “only” body that can authorize the referendum is the congress, and anybody involved in the campaign would be violating the law and would be prosecuted; the National Elections Committee echoes the AG words, but he presses ahead anyway and orders the head of the Armed Forces distribute the ballots throughout the country, when he refuses, he fires him. What do you do now (impeachment is NOT an option under the constitution). The Congress re-instates the head of the armed forces and, well, you know the rest of the story.
What people around Honduras have been saying for the last couple of years:
“The only thing that changed during MEL’s administration is the time”.
During his campaign MEL’s slogan was “Necesitamos a Mel Zelaya” (We need Mel Zelaya), in the last six months people were saying something that rimes with the former but has a different meaning: “Nesecitamos Mel se vaya” (We need Mel to go)

[Marmen]

Part 2 of 3:
Well, Chaves introduces the Pres to his godfather Fidel Castro they try to figure out a way to win the people, how about mandating a 60 % minimum wage increase, that ought to do it, done. Why don’t you join us to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the triumph of the Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua with our pal Daniel Ortega? “I’d love to”. Now people are beginning to ask themselves “where is this going?”. And then when he is talking about a referendum to ask the people if we should convene a constitutional convention to re-write the constitution next November, people are asking themselves again, “what’s going on?”, “where is he going with this?” “what about doing something to better the country first, instead of spending money we don’t have on this referendum?”
And when the team of laywers from Spain that wrote the constitution for Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia giving the incumbent president the right to be re-elected for perpetuity show up in Tegucigalpa as Mel’s guests, then you begin to get really scared.

[PR one]

The Sandinistas, who overthrew the far right, right-wing dictator Anastasio Somoza. A beloved friend of the Cuban counter revolutionaries. Somoza provided the Nicaraguan territory for training and the the place where they went off to the fiasco of Bahia De Cochino.A tyrant whose soldiers murder among many others an ABC television reporter Bill Stewart in cold blood.

[Marmen]

Part 1 of 3:
The problem that I see is that here in the US no one, including Mr. Lovato is giving us the full picture of what has and is happening in Honduras. President Obama is being cautious because he “knows” more than we do. The supposed coup plotters did not consult with the US, but the American Embassy in Tegucigalpa knew what preceded these events, heck, everyone in Honduras knew (I knew, I left Honduras the day before he was removed from office), they tried to diffuse the situation but they could not persuade the authorities, or they were convinced that it was the only course of action. The list of sins that “Mel” Zelaya has committed is long and this last move was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Assume for a moment that the US is a poor country like Honduras and up to its neck in debt, the president is ostracized by his own party and he is wowed by Hugo Chavez with the promise of cheap oil with which you can “pacify” the population, and by the way, why don’t you join ALBA (The Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas) so you can have a people’s revolution in Honduras like we’ve had in Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia. The president says yes, but doesn’t bother asking the people whether they like the idea or not.

[PR one]

The problem was, that LA has broken from the past. As we have witness. The days of Right-Wing dictators is something Countries in the Hemisphere are breaking away from. In the past the vast majority of the people in Venezuela did not profit from oil Only the Oligarchy benefited. The Elite in Venezuela were using the oil for their benefit. Why shouldn't Chavez use it to better his agenda which is in step with the people of Venezuela? You will give counter arguments to contradict what is happening in Latin America. But the reality is that the Status Quo no longer is been accepted. There is a change of wind in the Americas. Move out of the way.

[quisp65]

The World isn't either being articulate enough or thoughful enough. What we have here is a Banana Republic with a Banana Republic Constitution. They followed Hondoran law at least in regards to ending Zelaya's term and swearing in another president. Others events could be left up to question. But for world opinion to say put him back in power is the equivalent to the the world saying to ignore the Honduran constitution. Honduras would always have to seek world opinion before its supreme court every interpreted its constitution and thats just not how we treat a sovern country. World opinion should either say we don't like article 239 of your constitution and give Honduras an alternative or accept Honduran law. However to say Honduras needs to follow Honduran law and reinsert the president is just World Class ignorance.

[chicagomike]

Article 239 was written to prevent a presidential dictatorship -- whether of the left or of the right. Zelaya tried an end run to overturn it, and failed. Too bad for him. But a good thing for Honduras.

[Jimboz22]

Thank you, Mr. Lavato, for writing this article and thank you Huffington Post for posting it. The sooner the left abandons their dear leader approach to Obama, the better it will be for the country and the world. Articles like these, which dispel the myth of Obama as the guy we can trust in the White House, contribute significantly to that end.

Hey, maybe some day as many people will take to the streets to demand an end to our wars in Central And South Asia and our support for right-wing thugs in Latin America as take to the streets to mourn the death of a pop star!

Let's see some real change. Suspend all aid to Honduras until Zelaya is returned!

[live by the golden rule]

Why insist that the US act unilaterally? Isn't that what everyone has objected to for many years? President Obama is acting through the relevant multi-national organization, the OAS. There likely is much going on behind the scenes that we do not see on the surface.
However, I definitely agree with the implication in this column that the US press has been far too distracted from serious news. We searched hard for more news re Honduras, and could find international news only occasionally [Iran, Honduras, upcoming Russia etc trip], and only on the international version of CNN, carried on channel 851 for those readers who are Time-Warner cable subscribers in NYC.

[Snowball]

How is it unilateral, when every single country in Latin America has condemned the coup? Not one country in the world has stood in support of it. The European Union has suspended trade with Honduras and recalled their ambassadors until Zelaya is reinstated and that country returns to democratic norms. The only unilateral act the US is doing right now is to decline to label what happened there a coup.

[expathonduras]

EU has not suspended trade... in fact no countries except Nicaragua have suspended trade with Honduras. Guatemala and El Salvador suspended for 48 hours.

[Altessa]

I agree with you. The Obama administration's response to the situation in Honduras has been appropriate in working through the OAS. I only wish that most American's got all of the details about Zelaya's attempt to undermine the Honduran constitution to allow for additional terms. The congress and supreme court could have gone about their action of removing Zelaya in a different way but Zelaya was warned by congress and supreme court that his actions were illegal and in voilation of the constitution. President's in Honduras serve one term.

The majority of Honduran people including those from Zelaya's party, support the removal of Zelaya whose term was to end in January 2010. The ballots for Zelaya's referendum to change the constitution were printed and sent in from Chavez in Venezuela. What does that tell you? Let the OAS take the lead in resolving this situation peacefully so that Honduran's can have their democratic elections this fall (as already scheduled).

I strongly disagree with Mr. Lavoto's article and his presentation of the situation.

[tomorrowman58]

I voted for Obama, but I suspect that at least in regards to Latin America the man is going to be pretty much the same ol same ol. I think he just missed a historic opportunity to show real change towards this crucial region. Opposition to the coup should have been immediate, blunt and sincere. Lain American issues have not been a strongpoint for any US president.

[harveyr2]

Obama's on the job training is costly indeed. Experience always trumps rhetoric.

[somefool]

Yeah, that has nothing to do with the article's point.

[Ada Soto]

Why is Obama so confuse that this is a Coup? Maybe he doesn't want it to call it that because it would mean to support a President Ideologically different and a friend of Chavez, He won't do it even if it means the right thing to do.

[rmreddicks]

If they designate it as a coup certain human rights conditions kick in. A somewhat cowardly take by the administration.

[rmreddicks]

"certain human rights conditions kick in" read sanctions.

[watchTVgetSTUPID]

I would b surprised if Hillary state department did not know about the coup in advance. Traditionally, it seems the bananna republic Generals check with the likes of Kissinger shortly before a coup such as the coup by Mont

[ron ray]

Obama seems to me the only one handling this the right way -- with the same caution and intelligence he showed on Iran.

The left wing wants him to get all bluster and demand the evil military stand down, suspend aid, heck maybe even invade. of course, they didn't mind a cautious approach in Iran. Yet it was the right one; you didn't want to encourage people to go out and get shot by the Iranian military when you couldn't help them.

the right wing wanted all bluster and bang-bang in Iran, but now in Honduras, the coup's OK. It's the same tendency that led Reagan and Pappy Bush to support Saddam before they didn't support Saddam. They prefer military rule to messy democracy, as long as the dictators play ball.

Obama realizes it ain't about us. we shouldn't impose our will and can't even try when Bush left us losing two wars.

His supporters seem pretty quick to abandon him every time he avoids a knee-jerk reaction, though.

[rmreddicks]

The knee jerk reaction by Obama would be to do what he's doing as the coup in Honduras develops. It is nothing other than what U.S. governments (no matter the admin or congress) have been doing since at least the promulgation of the Monroe Doctrine - and certainly, domestically, before.

If Obama and his administration are true to their election p.r. they will condemn this as a coup. I didn't vote for Bush lite.

[ron ray]

he did condemn it as a couple and call for the prez's return. I doubt one could cut off aid this quickly, which would be the next step.

I suppose he could invade without the approval of congress or consent from the UN -- which I guess would be Bush-heavy.

[KDog76A]

It would have to first be a coup, which it is not, it was a constitutional mandate. The government was bound by law to oust Zelaya, but if I were you I would research the topic so you can prove it to yourself.

[rmreddicks]

How in the world can you even pretend to compare actions vis-a-vis Iran and actions to the south? Those situation are not analogous in any way.

Obama was elected with the idea of certain possibilities. We can change our relations with the world. We can change our internal dialogue. We can no longer dictate. We can state powerful views that make sense. Perhaps they could be powerful because they do make sense. Obama has an opportunity. He's squandering that opportunity. (Domestically, also.) Perhaps he doesn't want it. Perhaps forces more powerful constrain him.

[islandsox]

But Obama is dictating. He is spending our money at massive rates and no one asked me about GM, owning banks, bailouts galore. Those things, due to their massive nature, should have been on a ballot so we could vote for them. And now in Honduras he sides against democracy. These things add up. I know, we need another Czar, one to Honduras.