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An interesting article.
Hmmm, interesting article? Put out by Anne Coulter, written by an acknowledged enemy of Chavez, whose credentials are “petroleum geologist AND public policy expert”. Wow. No conflicts of interest there.
The 22nd Amendment has been mentioned recently. Amendment? What is that, exactly? Again, after all your “enlightening” efforts imx, I an struck by the single directional thrust of ALL your perspectives regarding policy in ALL your comments. Sorry Home Boy, that’s not perspective, that’s dogma. Even among your selves, in your heart of hearts, doesn’t it get embarrassing to have to turn to Anne and Rosh for your “news”…and conversation.
What’s brain candy to you guys is very dangerous ground for those involved. Are you really the ones to be issuing definitive statements of “truth” on THIS website? Are you serving ANY good by venting your political spleen? sob (a cry, out loud)I guess we both have our opinions Ed… and since we’re both just observers on the sidelines we’ll have to see how this one plays out!
However it would seem that the fellow that wrote that article has a bit more experience than both of us… even if he is only a geologist by training and a former Congressmen in Venezuela before Hugo felt the voice of elected officials wasn’t something he needed to hear.
Not really dogma Ed… it’s called history and we’re best served when we choose not to ignore it.
Edited on Jul 01, 2009 09:07
Another viewpoint….
The Significance Of Washington’s Coup Attempt In Honduras
By Shamus Cooke
01 July, 2009 “Information Clearing House” — There should be no doubts about the U.S.’ decisive role behind the now-crumbling military coup in Honduras. As commander and chief of the U.S. armed forces, the blame for this intervention lies solely on President Obama.
The White House, however, would like you to believe that they “attempted to convince the Honduran military not to intervene.”
Rubbish.
When it comes to the Honduran military, the U.S. government needn’t ask permission for anything. The decades long relationship between the two institutions is one of dependence — Honduras’ military has long been financed and trained by the U.S. The New York Times explains:
“The two nations have long had a close military relationship, with an American military task force stationed at a Honduran air base about 50 miles northwest of Tegucigalpa. The unit focuses on training Honduran military forces, counternarcotics operations, search and rescue, and disaster relief missions throughout Central America.” (June 28, 2009)
And from Latin American expert Eva Gollinger:
“The US Military Group in Honduras trains around 300 Honduran soldiers every year, provides more than $500,000 annually to the Honduran Armed Forces and additionally provides $1.4 million for a military education and exchange program for around 300 more Honduran soldiers every year.”
This year U.S. aide to Honduras was $43 million.
It is utterly unimaginable that the Honduran military would act against the wishes of the hemisphere’s military and economic superpower.
In fact, the chief military leader of the Honduran coup — Joint Chief of Staff Romeo Orlando Vasquez Velasquez — lived and was trained at the notorious School of Americas (SOA), a U.S. military base that trains Latin American military officers to act in the best interests of United State’s corporations. It is no coincidence that another coup leader — Air Force head Gen. Luis Javier Prince Suazo — is also an SOA graduate.
When Honduran President Manuel Zelaya realized that Vasquez was acting against him, he was fired — the rest of the military chiefs resigned in protest; and the coup was on.
The highly conservative Honduran Supreme Court then gave the military the “legal” cover it needed to pursue the coup, a fact the U.S. media uses to justify the events.
The reason for the coup lies in President Zelaya’s recent foreign policy shift — away from the United States towards Venezuela and the rest of Latin America. This turn was the result of the United States largely ignoring Honduras, after a long lasting, villainous relationship had ended: the U.S. had, for years, funneled large amounts of cash and arms to the Honduran government to kill the regions political leftists, the high point being the regions turbulent 1980’s.
After Zelaya was elected in 2006 (he still has one year left in his term), he promised to shift Honduras’ politics toward helping the poorer layers. He realized that he could not achieve any of his promises with the scant amount of aide from the U.S. and looked instead to the Latin American trade association, ALBA. Zelaya explained:
“I have been looking for projects from the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, Europe and I have received very moderate offers … that forces us to find other forms of financing like ALBA.” ( Rueters, April 26,2008 )
The U.S. government did not like this move, since it prefers U.S. banks to dominate the economies of Latin American countries. The New York Times confirms:
“…[Washington’s] relations with Mr. Zelaya…had recently turned colder because of the inclusion of Honduras in the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, or ALBA, a leftist political alliance led by Venezuela.” (June 28, 2009)
Nearly all of the U.S. media’s writing about the Honduran coup is littered with negative references to Hugo Chavez, the “socialist project,” and other buzzwords meant to influence the reader toward acceptance of the coup.
For example:
“…[Zelaya] has the support of labor unions and the poor. But the middle class and the wealthy business community fear he wants to introduce Mr. Chávez’s brand of socialist populism into the country, one of Latin America’s poorest.” (New York Times, June 28, 2009)
Obama himself does nothing to condemn the coup. Yes, he is “deeply concerned” about the events in Honduras, but his vague comments about “dialogue” and respecting “legal procedures” is full of loopholes — big enough for a coup to squeeze through.
If Obama immediately refused to recognize the newly installed coup government in Honduras, while threatening to withdraw U.S. military and financial aide — along with the U.S. ambassador — the coup would dissolve in seconds. Strong actions like these, however, were completely absent.
Eva Gollinger comments:
“I think a clear coup d’etat against a democratic government that also happens to be a major dependent on U.S. economic and political aid should provoke a more firm and concise statement by the US Government.”
Such a statement did come not only from the General Assembly of the United Nations, but from the formerly U.S.-dominated Organization of American States (OAS). Both organizations are refusing to recognize the new coup government in Honduras and are demanding the return of Zelaya. This is a big blow to Washington, who in better times could rely on the OAS and U.N. to turn a blind eye to a U.S.-sponsored coup, such as the one in Haiti in 2004.
Now, however, the OAS has largely broken from the U.S. stranglehold, emboldened by the independent path taken by numerous Latin American countries, though especially Venezuela.
And this is the broader motive for the coup. The U.S. banks and other corporations that once dominated Latin America are being quickly pushed aside, so that governments may use their country’s wealth for social services and real economic development — not foreign for-profit plunder.
The U.S. coup attempt in Honduras is thus a sign of desperation. It was also a huge gamble. Obama had hoped that the U.N. and OAS would let this one slide. It was also hoped that the Honduran people would be intimidated by martial law and a communications blackout. Neither was the case.
Huge protests have defied the military-ordered curfew. Latin American countries have united in defiance of a tyrannical U.S. policy. It is reported that these happenings are causing splits in the Honduran military, while also a general strike was being prepared by the nation’s trade unions.
In consequence, the coup is likely to crumble, and Obama’s first attempt to re-tame Latin America will have failed. The actions of the U.N. and OAS are striking examples of the shrinking international influence of the U.S., meaning that future interventions — both military and economic — are likely to be more direct to restore U.S. hegemony. Obama’s more-subtle attempts to uphold U.S. “influence” in the world will ultimately require blunter, Bush-like tactics.
If the Honduran coup fails, Obama will eloquently discuss how pleased he is that “democracy was restored” — while refusing to admit that he tried to kill it.
Shamus Cooke is a social service worker, trade unionist, and writer for Workers Action (www.workerscompass.org). He can be reached at shamuscook@yahoo.com
Scott, I fear that Shamus Cooke gives Obammy way to much credit. It is counter-intuitive to assume he has time to be enmeshed in Central American political problems, as he is up to his arse trying to upend every societal norm here in the U.S.; his deer-in-the-headlights response to world events as they unfold indicates that he is in waaaaaaaay over his head and pay grade, despite his alleged brilliance. But what was the world (as well as the American electorate) to expect from a putz that has never held a leadership position, and whose entire career has been spent milking the teat of the public’s cow, avoiding taking any position based upon deeply held beliefs other than political expediency? The fact that he immediately came out swinging in favor of Zaleya, in concert with Chavez, Castro, the U.N., O.A.S. and other tin-pot populists reveals people’s greatest fears have been exposed as true. This is one naked emperor.
Edited on Jul 01, 2009 16:51
Edited on Jul 01, 2009 16:52
I’d have to agree that the writer’s opinion gives much too much credit to Obama for trying to make a move in Central America. He’s up to his eyeballs in the US trying to keep the wool pulled over everyone’s eyes!
Perhaps the writer should have addressed the deposed president’s efforts to change the constitution and when warn by the supreme court and other elected officials (many in his own party) he went ahead with his plans anyway. Right from the Hugo playbook…
I think it was more the people running Honduras that were afraid of a Hugo shift… not Obama… he’s shown himself to be a push over already… and where’s his side kick Joey B during this whole mess… isn’t he the one that is suppose to have all this wonderful international experience that Bamma lacks?
Edited on Jul 01, 2009 18:46
Howdy Imx. I like this, trying to be a nice guy thing. How’s the dog?
However, WE are talking about the history of Central America and Colonels who haven’t seen their feet in 30 years taking power, aren’t we? You know, the ones lined up at the trough taking CIA handouts? You knowwwww, THAT history. Help me out, make it simple, The Hitler and Eleanor having an affair (what was that allusion you used, forgive me if I forgot) history lesson you threw in confused my feeble mind.
I have no dog in this race, podnah. As if there are sides we are supposed to be on, even if we weren’t on the sidelines, smacking our gum and observing.
Why any person of intelligence, with no vested, personal interest would find themselves HAVING to vent is what gets me, imx. Is there any thought at all to why, as soon as ANYTHING occurs, the wolves trot out the combined wisdom of Rosh Coulter? That is their talking points, I assume you are aware. Or is it just, like minds think alike, and just a coincidence. Rosh has stated his goal, to help this president fail. What is your motivation? lolImx, I am humbled by the revelation I just got from your patiently working your way into my brain. THE perfect solution. One term president Bush and that liberal paragon Clinton broker the mess. Who could not rejoice? Riding around waving to the overawed crowd (after all, these are the lap boys of Zeus), handing out jelly beans and back nine passes to the Congressional Country Club (Mondays only, front tee’s, all the mulligans they want, and of course, all the hole in ones they want – we provide the witnesses). A Hide Your Daughter Alert would be put out to all above the rank deputy assistant minister of the cloakroom, of course.
Of course, this would have to fit in somewhere between their appearances at those mysterious enclaves where its rumored they dress up like French dancing girls from the 30’s, and kick up their heels while they unwind from their tasks of steering the world.
Now, imx, I want the power. I WANT to make that happen, and get invited to those “things”. Awwww, all we can really hope for is we don’t get our fingers stepped on scambling for the scraps that fell off the table.
Never mind.
lol. Just kidding. sobEdlreed wrote….”Why any person of intelligence, with no vested, personal interest would find themselves HAVING to vent is what gets me…”
Now that sums it up doesn’t it Ed? I was wondering the same thing about your continued postings. The ongoing rants you’ve posted, that while enjoyable reading have not yet expressed an opinion as to the current events in Honduras! Instead you continue to post these flowing responses that add nothing to the conversation Ed… and instead attempt to belittle and attack those that are contributing. An earlier posting was a real indicator of this…
Edlreed wrote…. “While I don’t have a clue as to the real machinations going on, I do know where you two have your radio tuned to in the morning.”
So if you don’t have a clue about the issue why do you insist on continuing to cloud the conversation with rants and attacks on those that have perhaps taken the time to become informed and are taking the time discussing the topic at hand? I’ve always found that open conversations with differing viewpoints are one of the best educations you will ever get… that is if you’re willing to listen, contribute, and defend your opinions. We may all not agree, but we all learn something!
Come on Ed… stop with the rants and join the conversation, stop with the psych-babble and jump in with an opinion. You’re obviously an intelligent guy and I’ve always enjoyed our exchanges… and I know you must have an opinion you can express and defend without attacking those of us that have already done so. Perhaps not.
I’ve tried to express an OPINION here in response to a question posted by another member here… if you don’t agree, express yours… if you feel the conversation is a moot point since we’re all sitting on the sidelines… then let your silence enforce that belief.
Edited on Jul 02, 2009 20:29
I found this article interesting…
[ http://www.otherwords.org/articles/no_happy_ending_in_honduras ]
No Happy Ending in Honduras. The Central American nation’s woes continue to rage despite Secretary of State Clinton’s insistence to the contrary.
Doesn’t sound like things are going too well…
Scott
[quote=”Scott”]I found this article interesting…
[ http://www.otherwords.org/articles/no_happy_ending_in_honduras ]
No Happy Ending in Honduras. The Central American nation’s woes continue to rage despite Secretary of State Clinton’s insistence to the contrary.
Doesn’t sound like things are going too well…
Scott[/quote]Hence the Amerikan warships in puerto Limon.
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