Red State: US Government Cuts off Aid to Honduras in Support of Would-Be Dictator for Life

Honduras attempted to keep its democracy intact by booting out a leftist thug attempting to do the one capital-F bold-faced Forbidden act: Change the constitution to allow him to serve for life, the death-knell, of course, for so many aborted Latin America democracies. The graveyards are filled with fledgling Latin American democracies which followed the grim path of one man, one vote, one time.

For that, the leftist US government will deny them aid. This is what "meddling" looks like, and the Obama Administration doesn't shy from meddling if a leftist thug is being benefited:

The Obama administration on Thursday cut all non-humanitarian aid to Honduras over the ouster of President Manuel Zelaya, making permanent a temporary suspension of U.S. aid imposed after he was deposed in June.

The State Department made the announcement as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was meeting with Zelaya. Spokesman Ian Kelly did not say how much assistance would be cut but officials have said previously that more than $200 million is at stake. Kelly said it affected "a broad range of assistance to the government of Honduras."

"The Secretary of State has made the decision, consistent with U.S. legislation, recognizing the need for strong measures in light of the continued resistance to the adoption of the San Jose Accord by the de facto regime and continuing failure to restore democratic, constitutional rule to Honduras," Kelly said in a statement.

The San Jose accord, brokered by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, aims to return Zelaya to power with limited authority until elections now set for November. But Zelaya's replacement, Roberto Micheletti, has refused to accept it, prompting Clinton's decision to cut aid.

Democracy is more important than US aid. I hope Honduras realizes this.

And realizes that in three years' time, they might get some Extra Special Bonus Aid for holding firm against a would-be tyrant and his American (ahem) handmaidens.

Thanks to DS.

Hmmmm... Good idea:

Given just how big of a disgrace this is, perhaps right-wing blogs could organize some kind of thing promoting vacationing in Honduras as a form of American support that circumvents the WH.

Thanks to Jason for that.

Honduras ought to set up a "Buy Honduran" website. I don't know if many people will change travel plans to make a political statement, but a lot of people might switch to buying Honduras where possible.

I am imagining that most coffee beans are kinda of indeterminate origin -- they're all bought in bulk by the big coffee distributors, I'm thinking.

But if some company mostly buys from Honduras -- well, I'll switch to them exclusively.

I did a quick search but can't find anything on Honduran coffee, except for this, but they sell wholesale (bulk orders) and not retail.

Set up retail Honduran coffee website, guys.

Ah! Buy Honduran, an online marketplace.

The coffee's obscenely cheap at the moment, too.

Thanks to Rocks.

posted by Ace at 02:04 PM

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