WALKBACK COMPLETE: US RECOGNIZES WINNER IN HONDURAN ELECTION
What can you say? How often does the United States stake out a clear, unequivocal position on a major foreign policy event and then, over the course of a few months, slowly walkback from their original position to come around and embrace exactly the opposite point of view?
This is the Obama administration in all its amateurish glory. When Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was invited to leave back in June, the administration took the same side as the thugs and dictators of the world, calling it a “military coup” even though the Honduran Supreme Court had ruled the action legal and the Honduran parliament had passed a resolution supporting it.
The administration then imposed severe restrictions on visas for Honduras and other punishments in order to prove to the leftist thugs in Latin America like Chavez and Eva Morales that the US was on their side in the crisis. And notably, as late as September, the US was saying that they would not support or recognize the Honduran elections which took place yesterday.
Back then, according to this Bloomberg piece by Indira A.R. Lakshmanan, the United States stood against democracy in Honduras:
The U.S. won’t recognize a scheduled November election in Honduras without a resolution to the political crisis that began with a coup that ousted President Manuel Zelaya in June, a State Department aide said.The U.S. has told the “de facto regime that because of the environment on the ground, we will not recognize the election,” Philip J. Crowley, spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said in Washington yesterday.
On Sept. 27, the de facto government led by interim President Roberto Micheletti banned protests and suspended other civil rights for 45 days and denied entry to an Organization of American States delegation seeking to negotiate an end to the three-month standoff in the Central American nation.
At an emergency meeting of the 35-member body of the OAS in Washington yesterday, both sides were criticized for their actions.
In case you were wondering, nothing has changed since this piece was written. Zelaya snuck back into the country and is hiding in the Brazilian embassy, but no “resolution” to the crisis by the “de facto” government has been realized.
Unless you want to say that free and fair elections in which 60% of the Honduran people went to the polls and voted to elect Porfirio Lobo, an opponent of ousted President Manuel Zelaya, by a landslide.
The poll was held five months after Mr Zelaya was forced out at gunpoint, with an interim government taking over.
Mr Lobo is seen as a unifying figure. He won 56% of the vote, with over 60% of registered voters taking part.
A clear winner and high turnout were what the interim government were hoping for to give the election legitimacy.
But regional powers Argentina and Brazil have said they will not recognise any government installed after the election, arguing that to do so would legitimise the coup which ousted an elected president, and thus set a dangerous precedent.
Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva also said that Mr Zelaya will remain in its embassy in the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa - where he has been living since he secretly returned to the country in September - until the government gave assurances for his safety.
The US, meanwhile, said it would accept the election results.
Funny how the Obama administration didn’t announce their change in policy. They allowed South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint to break the good news to the American people earlier this month. DeMint had just returned from a trip to Honduras and reported on the “de facto” government’s efforts to make the election inclusive, and fair.
From MercoPress:”
I am happy to report the Obama Administration has finally reversed its misguided Honduran policy and will fully recognize the November 29th elections” added Senator DeMint.
“Given this commitment, which Senator DeMint has requested for months, he will lift objections on the nominations of Arturo Valenzuela to be Assistant Secretary of Western Hemisphere Affairs and Thomas Shannon to be US Ambassador to Brazil”.
Several Latin American countries - including, disappointingly, Brazil - will not recognize the vote. But it appears that Honduras has survived the effort to delegitimize its government by the US and other leftist bullies in the region.
The real story, of course, is the unbelievably amateurish actions of the Obama administration in not supporting democracy in Honduras in the first place. Many said at the time that the almost off the cuff reaction by the White House to Zelaya’s ouster was mishandled from the start and based on incomplete information. This view was buttressed when, in August, the Law Library of the Library of Congress issued a report by the Congressional Research Service that declared the Honduran government’s actions legal and justified. Democrats were furious and tried to get the report withdrawn - and for good reason. It made the president and his advisors look like they didn’t know what they were doing.
So Honduras has a new president, elected by 56% of the voters, and Manuel Zelaya (whose term ends on January 27) will soon be a footnote in Honduran history. And as Mary O’Grady of the Wall Street Journal points out, it was the Honduran people and government - with no help from the US - who stood defiantly against most of the world and proved that they have what it takes to make democracy work.
Unless something monumental happens in the Western Hemisphere in the next 31 days, the big regional story for 2009 will be how tiny Honduras managed to beat back the colonial aspirations of its most powerful neighbors and preserve its constitution.
Yesterday’s elections for president and Congress, held as scheduled and without incident, were the crowning achievement of that struggle.
National Party candidate Porfirio Lobo was the favorite to win in pre-election polls. Yet the name of the victor is almost beside the point. The completion of these elections is a national triumph in itself and a win for all people who yearn for liberty.
The fact that the U.S. has said it will recognize their legitimacy shows that this reality eventually made its way to the White House. If not Hugo Chávez’s Waterloo, Honduras’s stand at least marks a major setback for the Venezuelan strongman’s expansionist agenda.
The losers in this drama also include Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Spain, which all did their level best to block the election. Egged on by their zeal, militants inside Honduras took to exploding small bombs around the country in the weeks leading to the vote. They hoped that terror might damp turnout and delegitimize the process. They failed. Yesterday’s civic participation appeared to be at least as good as it was in the last presidential election. Some polling stations reportedly even ran short, for a time, of the indelible ink used to mark voter pinkies.
The American people will not be informed of this pitiful about face by our government. But the Honduran people don’t need our State Department’s blessing or condemnation to know what they have accomplished this day.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Brian Faughnan, Dan Collins. Dan Collins said: Walkback Complete: Us Recognizes Winner In Honduran Election http://bit.ly/8HjEEZ | Credit where due: excellent piece by Rick Moran. [...]
Pingback by Tweets that mention Right Wing Nut House » WALKBACK COMPLETE: US RECOGNIZES WINNER IN HONDURAN ELECTION -- Topsy.com — 11/30/2009 @ 9:09 am
[...] Rick Moran (credit where due) has up an excellent piece about Honduras’ election of Porfirio Lobo, a conservative, to be their President. It concludes this way: The American people will not be informed of this pitiful about face by our government. But the Honduran people don’t need our State Department’s blessing or condemnation to know what they have accomplished this day. [...]
Pingback by The Mouse That Roared: Congratulations, Honduras — 11/30/2009 @ 9:35 am
I am not so certain whether the Obama Administration was as “amateurish” as much as ideological here. Regardless, the people of Honduras have spoken and chosen wisely. It is a truly sad day when a left-wing American president feels compelled to cast his lot with a wannabe dictator who shares some of his core convictions. The same can be said of the Argentine and Brazilian leadership.
Sharp analysis.
Comment by jackson1234 — 11/30/2009 @ 9:54 am
Well considering that they had a “coup” and then elections within the same year, where a winner was someone not installed to lead, now if the transition of power is as seamless it will be better than some of our allies have done. Ok, now with the sarcasm filter off, I give it to Honduras, they knew what Zelaya was trying to do, gave him an opportunity to not do what he said he would, then when he refused they showed him the door. Its nothing we should have been involved with, and the handling seemed pretty unsteady as it was, funny how the crises (sp?) that come up and show up administrations are usually the small ones.
Comment by Boy 0 — 11/30/2009 @ 11:49 am
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Pingback by Was the Election in Honduras a referendum on Socialism? | Political Byline — 11/30/2009 @ 12:41 pm
I would not necessarily characterize the behavior of the Obama Administration as “amateurish.” There was really nothing the United States could do in the situation but reverse course. I’m sure it was assumed that Mr. Chavez would back up his man, sending in his military forces, if need be. Venezuela has built up an impressive military under Hugo Chavez. Presumably they plan to use it for something.
When Venezuela did not act to back up their man, there was nothing the United States could do but reverse course. While I doubt this is Mr. Chavez’s “waterloo”, I think this definitely does not help him. Some of his supporters in Central and South America have to be asking themselves if he will come to their aid should they face a situation simillar to the one faced by Zelaya.
Also, Mr. Chavez’s military forces have to be asking themselves what the point is. It is confusing. Why build a massive military force that is clearly out of proportion to any threats faced from your neighbors if you are not going to use it to meet your interests. I think this shows Mr. Chavez to be a coward.
You ask how often has the United States staked out a clear and unequivocal position on a major foreign policy and slowly backtracked. I’m sure this has happened quite often in the histroy of the country. If one wanted to research it, there are probably a large number of such instances. When the facts of a given situation change, the decisions that are made should also change.
To recap, the Obama Administration probably assumed Mr. Chavez was going to back his man even to the point of using military force if necessary. When Mr. Chavez did not back his man, the United States was left with really no other option but to change the underlying policy.
Should Mr. Chavez decide to back his man by military force if need be or if he should use his oil weapon against America to get it to do his bidding we might see American policy change yet again.
Comment by B.Poster — 11/30/2009 @ 1:17 pm
Yay! A new manufactured outrage!
It was a minor kerfuffle, not terribly well-handled by the O administration. But it’s Honduras. Not exactly high on the list of countries we need to care about. By the way, what was the smart play here? Endorsing the idea of military coups in Central America? With our history in the region?
As for us walking back clearly stated positions, how about “We do not negotiate with terrorists,” followed in short order by, “But we sure do bribe them if it’ll get us out of Iraq.” The US government makes cash payments to clan leaders who used to earn their pay from slaughtering Marines.
You’d do so well as a spinmaster for the White House. You’ve got to be tired of writing books. Why not give them a shot? You can use me as a reference. I would be glad to tell them that you are the biggest lackey they have and that they would be smart to use you.
ed.
Comment by michael reynolds — 11/30/2009 @ 2:05 pm
Michael:
“Endorsing the idea of military coups in Central America?”
Coup? More like “court ruling.” But hell, why let facts get in the way with a little, insignificant country like Honduras?
Comment by jackson1234 — 11/30/2009 @ 2:41 pm
Thanks, Rick, but there are so many demands on my writing skills that I’m afraid I wouldn’t enjoy a government salaried position.
Let me try to briefly restate my earlier position: It’s Honduras, who gives a sh*t?
Comment by michael reynolds — 11/30/2009 @ 2:48 pm
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Pingback by Fausta’s Blog » Blog Archive » The Honduran election Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean — 11/30/2009 @ 3:08 pm
Wow, unemployment at 10%, going to be 100,000 troops in EACH of Afhganistan and Iraq, but Honduras is on your mind? What? You felt the need to attack Obama? Does this make up for your attack on Jim DeMint? Guess what Rick? America doesn’t care what is happening in Honduras. Its still a pathetic banana republic.
Comment by Joe — 11/30/2009 @ 7:50 pm
Reynolds, your writing demonstrates a nearly complete lack of skill.
I am loathe to further comment as it may give the impression that you are deserving of recognition by anyone other than the sycophants and fellow travelers that inhabit your twisted universe.
By the way, I give a sh*t about Honduras.
jondough
Comment by jondough — 11/30/2009 @ 9:10 pm
Yeah, why give a shit about Honduras when there are so many cool commie bastards to jerk off in Caracas and Havana? Jesus, this has to be about the most fucking stupid comment I have read on this site, and it oozes at times. If this is a defense of Obama, he’s in really deep Honduran biomass.
Comment by obamathered — 11/30/2009 @ 9:29 pm
Or said another way:
“Let me try to briefly restate my earlier position: It’s Michael Reynolds, who gives a sh*t?”
Comment by SShiell — 11/30/2009 @ 9:43 pm
Jondough:
Wow, I have a whole twisted universe? Neat.
Incidentally as to my writing? I earn a fair bit more than the POTUS and I work quite a bit less. Although my benefits aren’t nearly as good.
Thanks for the recognition!
Comment by michael reynolds — 11/30/2009 @ 9:49 pm
Tuesday morning links…
The Christmas Season runs from the first day of Advent until the end of Epiphany. Joseph Bottum discusses. Advent and Epiphany are the religious, mysterious, joyful part, and Christmas is the secular, fun piece. It’s all good, in my opinion.
The…
Trackback by Maggie's Farm — 12/1/2009 @ 5:22 am
[...] furtively, and shamefacedly, the US has announced it will recognize the result, despite previously ranting that if free and fair elections were permitted, it would legitimize a [...]
Pingback by The Cathedral loses « Jim’s Blog — 12/1/2009 @ 5:44 pm
Honduras is important because it revealed a lot about our President’s character and abilities as a leader. He is listening to the wrong people. He doesn’t do his homework. He is willing to look like the world’s biggest fool rather than set the record straight when it was imperative he do so. He gave his enemies within our country ammunition for calling him a socialist because he was supporting a wannabe socialist dictator over democracy. Finally, he clearly has no problem taking a stance that weakens our allies and emboldens our enemies, and this is just another example of that. All in all, calling him amateurish is rather respectful. In 2008, if the press focused as much on his inexperience to be president as they did on Mrs. Palin’s inexperience to be VP, we might have a much more talented president in office right now. While I dislike Mrs. Clinton to a large degree, she certainly would make a wiser and stronger leader than the illustrious Mr. Obama.
Comment by Kathy Carlson — 12/2/2009 @ 12:08 pm
I like the use of multiple sources in this article. I found this video that does a similar thing. article brought up some interesting points I hadn’t heard elsewhere. Thank you. http://www.newsy.com/videos/outcry_over_election_in_honduras
Comment by Ashley — 12/2/2009 @ 5:54 pm
Will the US CONgress and Obama learn from the Hondurans?…
Zelaya should count his blessings, he could have been tree fertilizer. I want to congratulate the Honduran Congress and Supreme Court for standing by their people and deposing this tin-pot dictator before he could do any real damage to their cou….
Trackback by Action, Not Words! — 12/3/2009 @ 9:38 pm