Viva Honduras! Viva Libertad! (UPDATE)

This is one of those times when reading the news coverage of some event makes me feel almost like poor Winnie the Pooh.  What I’m reading seems to be such a “through the looking glass” distortion of reality that I can’t help wondering if there’s something I missed, or something I just don’t “get” (and yes, I realize I mixed literary metaphors there- call it evidence of my disorientation).

Please, help me understand…

- After ~20 years of military dictatorship, civilian government is reestablished;

- To defend the country from any attempt by any future wannabe strongman, the office of President is limited to one single four-year term.  Any attempt on the part of any such wannabe strongman (aka tyrant) to override the term limit is illegal;

- The newly-former President Zelaya did in fact attempt such an illegal extension of his incumbency;

-  The Honduran Supreme Court duly informs Pres. Zelaya that his actions are illegal, that he must cease and desist;

- Pres. Zelaya inflames lawless mobs of his supporters to storm Army bases to seize and distribute illegal referendum ballots;

- For this breach of the Constitution (which amounts to an attempted civilian coup, doesn’t it?) the Supreme Court-  I say again, the Honduran Supreme Court- issues an arrest warrant and the Army acts on this constitutional authority;

- The Honduran Congress endorses the action, and replaces now-former Pres. Zelaya with another member of the same- yes, the same- political party.

I have never in my life read of anything remotely like this “coup”, from the dawn of civilization to the present day. How… please help me understand… how does any of this fit any definition of a “military coup”?

And our President, so circumspect and cautious about not meddling in Iran, has no such hesitation in regards to Honduras.  Amazingly, he promptly upholds the old- and, I thought, discredited- tradition of American presidents meddling in the internal political affairs of Latin American countries.  Incredibly, however, he speaks out not to congratulate Hondurans for defending their liberty under the rule of law, but weighs in on the side of the wannabe despot.

Shame.

Specifics on the legality of the action here.

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UPDATE:  Having stuck one foot in it, President Obama attempted to “clarify” his position regarding Honduras, and wound up sticking his other foot in it as well.

The reason he supports ex-Pres. Zelaya’s reinstatement is- I kid you not-  “because we respect the universal principle that people should choose their own leaders” (link).

Excuse me, but what does that have to do with anything here?  It isn’t about a people’s right to choose their own leader, it’s about their right to remove their leaders, in a manner prescribed by their own laws, when such leaders violate the laws by which they are governed.

So does that mean that this “universal principle that people should choose their own leaders” mean that once they elect their leader they have no right to remove him? So, it logically follows that the impeachment of Richard Nixon was illegal since Americans had twice chosen him as their leader? Hans Bader made that point in a column here that also lays out the specific details of the scrupulously legal deposing of a would-be dictator.

How stupid does Pres. Obama think we are?