Patterico's Pontifications

7/5/2009

Former Honduras President Flying Home (Updated)

Filed under: International — DRJ @ 2:21 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

Former Honduran President Manuel Zelaya is currently flying to Honduras from Washington DC, accompanied by other planes carrying South American leaders who joined to support Zelaya. Meanwhile, in Honduras, protesters, military guards, and police helicopters are waiting at the Tegucigalpa airport and the Honduran military has orders to prevent Zelaya’s plane from landing.

It’s interesting that the Zelaya caravan originated in DC.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Zelaya ended up in Nicaragua and is flying to El Salvado, but he may try again tomorrow. Honduras claims “Nicaragua is moving troops to their border in an attempt at psychological intimidation.”

And it seems the U.S. government may be taking an active role in the negotiations and in putting pressure on Honduras:

“Without OAS membership, the isolated interim government faces trade sanctions and the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidized oil, aid and loans.

Micheletti’s vice foreign minister, Martha Lorena Alvarado, said the interim government sent the OAS a letter expressing “willingness to conduct conversations in good faith.” In Washington, senior Obama administration officials took that as a positive sign.

Speaking on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the State Department, the officials said the United States and other OAS member countries are coordinating contacts and outreach to facilitate a resolution, despite their insistence on having no formal relations with the interim government.”

— DRJ

51 Responses to “Former Honduras President Flying Home (Updated)”

  1. So arrest him and put him on trial like you should have in the first place, and tell the yammerheads to butt out.

    mojo (74ba73)

  2. Maybe Obama is going to accompany him. It would make a perfect image; two would-be dictators. Now he is even going to negotiate an arms control treaty but won’t have time to have the Senate ratify it. Next we’ll see a plebiscite to do away with elections.

    Mike K (2cf494)

  3. How can they prevent Zelaya’s plane from landing? It’s going to run out of fuel eventually.

    Official Internet Data Office (37b677)

  4. I saw this headline on google news several hours ago and I don’t think it’s that long of a trip. That plane ain’t going to Honduras. It’s a commie intimidation tactic. It will fly straight to Venezuela.

    Still though, we better have our military poised to fight any communist invasion of Honduras. If we let something like that happen, it’s difficult to see why the Democrats even tolerate us having a military except for killing Christians in the Balkans for the purpose of creating an Islamic stronghold in Europe.

    jcurtis (14bf32)

  5. What a disgusting farce.

    A bunch of leftwing politicians from South America giving back rubs to another leftwing politician — former or otherwise — from Honduras who defied the various branches of his government and tried to do to it what ultra-leftwing Hugo Chavez has done to Venezula. And this entire bunch also being guilty of having recently expressed more sympathy to the ultimate of ultra-leftwingers of the Americas, Fidel Castro.

    Meanwhile, I’m sure the leftwinger in the Oval Office likely is nodding with approval and ecouragement—never mind his MO generally being that the US shouldn’t meddle in the affairs of other nations.

    BTW, if Zelaya were a rightwinger and pulled the same stunt, I’d feel no more sympathy for him too. And if a President Bush and a bunch of rightwingers from South America were making a spectacle of themselves the way that Obama and the OAS are, I’d want to spit at them too.

    Mark (411533)

  6. I was stationed in El Salvador in 1981 (during the height of their civil war) and flew by helicopter to Honduras every day. For those of you who have never flown a fixed wing into Tonconin airport in Tegucigalpa, look at this video of the approach. When you roll out on final and look out the right side you are level with a patio bar. Crosswinds are pretty sporty too.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_z5HtME9n8

    To worry about arrest and imprisonment while airborne, you have to be an true optimist.

    arch (d5530e)

  7. It’s interesting that the Zelaya caravan originated in DC.

    The OAS is headquartered there. Its Secretary-General is in the “caravan.”

    Zelaya’s plane was diverted to El Savador.

    steve (037e4f)

  8. our little country is kind of grossing me out

    happyfeet (e8d590)

  9. “a” true optimist

    arch (9df21d)

  10. The AP and the rest of the communist propaganda machine are still reporting the plane is on the way to Honduras long after it landed in another country.

    Their intention all along with this Honduran landing story was to stir up demonstations and violence, and they hope a death or two, for a propaganda victory to weaken the legitimate government in favor of their communist dictorship.

    jcurtis (14bf32)

  11. arch, love the videos, thanks, the hills and quick descent remind me a little of the approach to Pago, but no where near as spooky.

    Ropelight (bb3af5)

  12. Heh… Apparently those on the planes were all told “Everyone on those planes gets arrested if you land”.

    I suspect they decided that some other city was much nicer this time of year…

    Scott Jacobs (d027b8)

  13. It seems that all things encouraging left wing dictators originate in Washington these days.

    Ken Hahn (9bddc9)

  14. steve,

    Returning Zelaya to power seems to be a joint effort between the OAS and the U.S. government:

    “The United States has given its backing to the OAS to pursue a multi-lateral effort at reaching a compromise between Mr. Zelaya and the interim government led by Roberto Micheletti.

    Maureen Meyer, a specialist on Central America at the Washington Office on Latin America, which promotes democracy in the region, says foreign mediation might be the best hope for easing the situation in Honduras.

    “The international community and the OAS should play a strong role, as well the U.S., given that if left to their own devices, nothing is going to get resolved in Honduras by the Hondurans,” said Maureen Meyer.”

    I’m also curious why they are using a Venezuelan plane.

    DRJ (cdbef5)

  15. Were Peter Graves and Kareen Abdul – Jabbar the pilots?

    Dmac (f7884d)

  16. ^ LOL

    (I’m imagining a plane full of Banana-Republic leftists, so permissive towards — if not in love with — Chavez and Castro, flown by pilots from that movie. And Barbara Billingsley on board doing jive talk to the assembled passengers, with Obama tuned in on a speakerphone.)

    Mark (411533)

  17. You could also imagine Howard Cosell doing the play – by – play of the dictator’s imprisonment, ala the scene in Woody Allen’s Bananas.

    Dmac (f7884d)

  18. steve – The Secretary General of the OAS is another dirty socialist. What a surprise!

    daleyrocks (718861)

  19. I’ve updated the post. Zelaya is in Nicaragua and reportedly will go to El Salvador.

    DRJ (cdbef5)

  20. DRJ – Has anyone checked with imdw to see if Zelaya’s homecoming is legal?

    daleyrocks (718861)

  21. Another example of the Right sitting around wringing its hand addressing “issues” while the Left simply pronounces and does as it wishes.

    The Right needs to start being about actions and not empty words. So for that, congrats to Honduras for showing us the way.

    HeavenSent (1e97ff)

  22. Will this illegal and immoral coup ever end ?!

    JD (172021)

  23. The Secretary General of the OAS is another dirty socialist.

    Odd that Hugo Chavez called for his resignation two years ago in a vulgarity-laden speech.

    steve (b78a78)

  24. Obama is a leftist coward who is stabbing a good country in the back, while tea bagging Chavez.

    Ray (50c3a0)

  25. Airplane pilot to Zelaya:

    “Lo siento mucho, El Presidente, but we’ll have to divert to Managua. And, say, have you ever seen a grown man naked, spent time in a Turkish prison, or like to watch movies about gladiators?”

    MarkJ (d2394a)

  26. Might be tough assemble a coalition of the willing to support Roberto Micheletti.

    The European Union and other nations have recalled their ambassadors from Honduras. The World Bank suspended aid. And the OAS voted voted 33-0 to nullify Honduran membership, “opening the way for sanctions.”

    steve (b78a78)

  27. Returning Zelaya to power seems to be a joint effort between the OAS and the U.S. government:

    Comment by DRJ — 7/5/2009 @ 5:15 pm

    DRJ, you might have a slightly wrong impression. The US is an OAS member state so it would be like saying joint effort between the UN and the US.

    Chavez has a 1/33 vote to overrule the US Constitution. Ortega has a 1/33 vote. It appears as of a couple weeks ago Castro has a 1/33 vote to overrule the US Constitution as well.

    We found out last night that they have that power to overrule the Honduran Constitution and Honduras is just another OAS member like the US.

    jcurtis (14bf32)

  28. it’s like our little country dropped out of school and joined a gang

    happyfeet (71f55e)

  29. “Odd that Hugo Chavez called for his resignation two years ago in a vulgarity-laden speech.”

    steve – Hugo Chavez is odd, wouldn’t you agree. Supporting FARC against the legitimate government of his neighboring country is not the most sane thing to do.

    daleyrocks (718861)

  30. steve likes that the dirty little socialists are getting reinforcements from all of the other dirty little socialists.

    JD (59fb9c)

  31. jcurtis,

    Let me be the first to admit I may be wrong about a lot of things, especially here, because I’m not a foreign affairs specialist and have no first-hand knowledge about Honduras or the OAS. However, I’ve noticed reports of more participation and input from the U.S. and Venezuela than from other OAS members like Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina or Uruguay. That suggests to me the U.S. and Venezuela may be working together behind the scenes.

    DRJ (cdbef5)

  32. I’m sorry to say that Obama seems to have the instincts of a dictator of the leftist variety. Hopefully, this become apparent to our population before 2012.

    Mike K (2cf494)

  33. it’s like our little country dropped out of school and joined a gang

    Given all the dysfunction, both social and economic, found in communities most closely aligned with Obama in Illinois, and his (and the Democrat Party’s in general) most fervent base nationally (Hi, Al Sharpton!!), that’s an apt analogy.

    And, so, if the variety of corresponding boneheaded antics and ass-backwards thinking reaches its logical conclusion, the US will end up a bigger version of Detroit/Flint stirred together with a bit of Mexico City, all shakened and mixed with the favelas (shantytowns) of Rio and Sao Paolo, blend together with the socialist stupor of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Everything topped off with a dash of Marion Berry, a slice of Oakland/Compton, a sprinkle of Berkeley, and some “Che Guevara” T-shirts on the side.

    That suggests to me the U.S. and Venezuela may be working together

    Their two leaders, one of the left and the other of the ultra-left, hand-in-hand? I guess stranger, but not necessarily any more contemptible, things have occurred behind closed doors.

    Mark (411533)

  34. It’s like my country–the U.S. of A. which used to be for freedom and law–is gone crazy and now supports tin-pot dictators.

    steve miller (722243)

  35. DRJ – Even the appearance that we may be working in conjunction with those dirtbags should be troubling to everyone. Is it? Sadly, No.

    JD (4ff1b9)

  36. I’ve noticed reports of more participation and input from the U.S. and Venezuela than from other OAS members like Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina or Uruguay.

    Zelaya’s scheduled to meet in El Salvador with the President of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez, with Rafael Correa of Ecuador and Fernando Lugo of Paraguay. All three had accompanied him today. He reportedly met in Managua with Ortega.

    steve (b78a78)

  37. steve is happy to support the dirty little socialist wannabe dictator. Fuck the Honduran Consititution!!!!!!!!!!!!

    JD (4ff1b9)

  38. The Honduran opposition should have arrested him and put him on trial, as mojo says (#1).

    OAS nations are so terrified about interference in their internal affairs, they stand around and do nothing when a Zelaya defies the rule of law. Our hemisphere will learn the hard way to deal with these illegal power grabs before they turn into full-blown crises.

    steve (b78a78)

  39. steve #36,

    Okay, but daleyrocks’ link says: “U.S. working through the OAS and Multilaterally.” Doesn’t the “multilaterally” notation indicate the U.S. was working directly with other nations, and not just through the OAS, to return Zelaya to power? If so, why is this so important to the Obama Administration?

    DRJ (cdbef5)

  40. mojo and steve are falling into the same little trap of wishing that the Honduran Constitution gave a flying f*ck what they wish it said.

    JD (4ff1b9)

  41. Okay, but daleyrocks’ link says: “U.S. working through the OAS and Multilaterally.”

    What link?

    The UN, US, European Union and the OAS are all involved.

    Zelaya mugged the constitution and should be held to account in Honduras.

    steve (b78a78)

  42. He has been warned. Behead the lout and fling his body on a dung heap. Sic semper tyrannus.

    Thomas Jackson (8ffd46)

  43. steve – This is the link to which DRJ was referring:

    http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2009/125510.htm

    daleyrocks (718861)

  44. Yes! There was a procedural error! That’s how we’ll sell this!

    Everyone agrees that Zelaya acted illegally, otherwise why insist that they should have arrested him? All the Honduran government needs to do is return him to the Presidency because there was a procedural error. We’ll pretend we already know the outcome – the socialists just want those t’s crossed and those i’s dotted.

    But wait! Another commenter already brought up the ‘separation of powers’ argument.

    Which means all the scumbag filth socialists have to do is restore him to power, and then there’s a new argument about why nothing can be done to rid the country of a power grabbing socialist scumbag.

    After everyone plays ‘nice’ and restores Zelaya to the Presidency, these scum will be arguing that it’s illegal to arrest the President of Honduras, because that’s a violation of the separation of powers. You see, that kind of power can never be given to the Supreme Court. (Unless they’re deciding something pro-leftist)

    And they’ll say, “no, you have that wrong, it’s enumerated in the Honduran Constitution. You just have to restore Zelaya to the Presidency, and then you can arrest and try him.”

    But we already know they don’t give a fuck about the Honduran Constitution.

    Shove your procedural errors up your ass.

    Apogee (e2dc9b)

  45. steve,

    I’m sorry about the link and thanks to daleyrocks for fixing it. I try to remember to check links but obviously I didn’t that time.

    I think you and I are focusing on different things here. IMO you are looking at how you think Honduras should handle this, while I’m more interested in what the Obama Administration is trying to accomplish and how it’s going about it. And since a lot of the U.S. action is happening behind the scenes, I’m basically using published reports to guess at Obama’s role in all this.

    DRJ (cdbef5)

  46. Seems like the Hondurans have discovered a cheap solution to keeping the deposed clown out of the country: keep a few trucks ready to block each runway for the indefinite future.

    M. Scott Eiland (5ccff0)

  47. Apogee – They do not even try to hide it anymore. It is disgusting.

    JD (4ff1b9)

  48. What’s the current status report from imdw?

    daleyrocks (718861)

  49. What’s the current status report from imdw?

    Apparently his head was so far up his ass that he disappeared into himself.

    Steverino (69d941)

  50. Comment by Steverino — 7/6/2009 @ 3:54 pm
    T.M.I!

    AD - RtR/OS! (820b2e)

  51. The Honduran opposition should have arrested him and put him on trial, as mojo says (#1).

    Comment by steve — 7/5/2009 @ 8:43 pm

    What is this trial supposed to look like and wouldn’t it be extraconstitutional?

    jcurtis (14bf32)


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