But the U.S., along with other nations, misread the Honduran Constitution and called it a coup. They vowed to force Honduras to take back Zelaya. The U.S. pulled visas for Honduran officials and businesses. It expelled Honduran diplomats who didn't support Zelaya.
Now it's pulled $30 million in aid and threatens to extend this crisis to forever by not recognizing Honduras' November elections.
It thinks it's part of a group:"This is a regional and international effort," a senior administration official told IBD Thursday. "We've talked to the Europeans . . . so if anything, we'll be redoubling efforts moving forward on this. And no, we're not isolated at all."
But as Honduras remains firm, the rest of the world, sees this and has started to restore normal ties. If this continues, the U.S. will be left holding the bag as the world's bad cop bully.
The Hondurans have manned up and refused to buckle. And the rest of the world is starting to accept what the Hondurans have done.
Hugo Chavez is happy with our State Department's decision:
Chavez says "it's about time" Washington took action against the government that has been in charge in Honduras since a June 28 coup ousted his ally, President Manuel Zelaya.
Hugo is busy on his global thug tour, apparently determined to get promoted from his Axis of El Vil status to full Axis of Evil:
Stymied in trying to advance his anti-US agenda in Latin America, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is tightening the screws at home — and touring friendly autocratic regimes abroad.
It should cause us to question our policies when such awful people as Chavez praise us.
But then, our current government has great trouble distinguishing between friends and foes.
We're trying to throw a small country under the bus for the crime of defending their constitution. I'm shamed by our government's actions in regard to Honduras.
UPDATE: Ralph Peters, too, thinks our government's actions toward Honduras is shameful.
