How We Know it Wasn't a Coup

We know that the Zelaya Affair isn't a coup because Zelaya is alive, showing that those who removed Zelaya from office failed to obey the iron rule of a coup--if you strike a king, kill him.

I've used the phrase often enough here. And it is true. A real coup would have killed Zelaya--and his family and any top supporters at hand.

The Honduran authorities attempting to preserve their democracy surely did the right thing in not murdering Zelaya to taint their rule of law-based actions.

Not that their actions got them any credit in Washington, D.C. It is a stunning lesson of how no good deed goes unpunished.

Oh, and the Hondurans might want to consider that if Zelaya comes back to be president, he might not be so concerned about appearances.