Fausta's Blog

American and Latin American Politics, Society, and Culture

March 4, 2010 By Fausta

Argentina’s angle

My latest article, Argentina’s Angle, is up at Real Clear World.

Please read it and leave a comment.

Share

Filed Under: Argentina, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton Tagged With: Cristina Fernandez, Falklands Islands, Fausta's blog, Islas Malvinas, US State Department

November 2, 2009 By Fausta

The international reaction to Honduras agreement: 15 Minutes on Latin America

mel_01ban

Today’s podcast at 11AM Eastern:

The Honduran deal – international reaction: 15 Minutes on Latin America

PDF file of the signed accord here, in Spanish.

Related articles:
Otto Reich writing at The Corner: Honduras & U.S.
Mary O’Grady at the WSJ: Hillary’s Honduran Exit Strategy
WSJ editorial: Honduras 1, Hillary 0
A Honduran compromise provides Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with an elegant diplomatic exit.

IBD editorial: ‘Dialogue’ Trumps Honduran Law
Spain’s El Pais editorial: La derrota de Zelaya
Jonathan Adler: Is the Honduran Political Crisis Over?
Honduras News: Manuel Zelaya Regretting Agreement
Venezuela’s Noticias 24/Agence France Presse: Zelaya teme alguna “manipulación y juego oscuro” de parte de Micheletti
Spain’s El País: EE UU pactó con garantías la vuelta de Zelaya al poder
Grupos de diputados se comprometen a apoyar al mandatario depuesto

La Gringa, posting from Honduras: Thomas Shannon, the US State Department ‘cleaner’
AP: Honduran Congress to review crisis accord Tuesday
Dan Miller: Zelaya Wins, Honduras Loses

Background post from last Friday: Honduran government caves into US pressure, agrees to Zelaya’s restitution

———————————-

At 12:15Eastern I’ll be on CNN Live‘s Blogger Bunch. Update Unfortunately, Skype kept cutting off all the bloggers, and there’s no video.

The Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean will be up later today.

Share

Filed Under: Blog Talk Radio, Hillary Clinton, Honduras, podcasts Tagged With: Fausta's blog, Manuel Zelaya, Mel Zelaya, Roberto Micheletti, US State Department

October 30, 2009 By Fausta

Honduran government caves into US pressure, agrees to Zelaya’s restitution

miche291ban

The BBC phrases it tactfully: Honduras rivals resolve deadlock

The interim leader of Honduras says he is ready to sign a pact to end its crisis which could include the return of ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

Roberto Micheletti said the agreement would create a power-sharing government and require both sides to recognise the result of November’s presidential poll.

Mr Zelaya said the deal, which requires the approval of the Supreme Court and Congress, would be signed on Friday.
…
The opponents had earlier been told by US Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Shannon that they had to reach an accord in order to ensure international support for the election on 29 November.

Afterwards, Mr Micheletti announced that a power-sharing deal had been reached that included a “significant concession”.

“I have authorised my negotiating team to sign a deal that marks the beginning of the end of the country’s political situation,” the interim leader told a news conference.

“With regard to the most contentious subject in the deal, the possible restitution of Zelaya to the presidency” would be included, he said.

Mr Zelaya described the accord as a “triumph for Honduran democracy”, and said he was “optimistic” of returning to power.

Noticias 24, however, states it as it is: Micheletti sucumbe a la presión de EE.UU. y acepta la restitución de Zelaya (Micheletti caves under US pressure and agrees to Zelaya’s return). Noticias 24 lists the main points of the agreement (my translation: if you use this translation please credit me and link to this post):

1. The creation of a reconciliation government.
2. Rejection of political amnesty.
3. Recognition of the November 29 elections.
4. Transferring control of the Armed Forces from the Executive to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.
5. Creating a verification commission to enforce compliance with the agreement.
6. Creating a truth commission to investigate the events before, during and after June 28, the date of Zelaya’s removal.
7. Requesting that the international community end all sanctions against Honduras and that they send in observers to the presidential election.
8. Supporting the proposal for a vote of the National Congress with the approval of the Supreme Court of Justice to reinstate all the Executive Power prior to June 28, that is, restoring Zelaya to power.

Both sides signed the agreement.

La Gringa, who liveblogged last night’s news, posted

Worst news of all: supposedly Thomas Shannon has been pressuring the congressmen to vote for the restoration of Zelay or else! The exact words were that “Shannon scared the living hell out of everyone here including Micheletti.” Yeah, remember the press conference? “We’re just here to help. We aren’t going to intervene. We’ll respect any decision that the Hondurans make.” Yeah, right. Now they are even threatening elected Honduran officials that they won’t recognize elections unless they vote yes. I’m sure there must be economic threats as well.

El Heraldo (in Spanish) makes it clear that US State Dept. envoy for Latin America Thomas Shannon went to Honduras to twist arms: his position was that the November 29 elections would not be recognized unless Zelaya was returned to power. I guess nothing ensures democracy like restoring to power the guy who did his outmost to undermine democracy, at least in Shannon’s eyes.

Others reporting:
NY Times Deal Reached in Honduras to Restore Ousted President
WaPo: In Pakistan, Clinton announces resolution to Honduran crisis
The Guardian: Deal could lead to reinstatement of ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya
Agreement to create power-sharing government paves way for return of leader ousted in military coup

Here in the US, John Kerry wants Law Library report on Honduras retracted (the Library of Congress stands by its report), while yesterday in Honduras Zelaya warmly greeted Shannon in the room with the tin-foil curtains where he stays at the Brazilian embassy to protect himself from mind-altering radiation:

ZelayaShannon

Zelaya crowed

“The mere fact that Micheletti recognizes the need to rebring the state power to June 28 means a triumph for Honduran democracy.”

Related reading: Who’s behind the Obama Honduras policy?

Blog reaction
US crams Honduras agreement on return of Zelaya down government’s throat
Honduras Caves to US Interference
Zelaya returned to power
AN OBAMA ADMINISTRATION “TRIUMPH”
Scott Johnson

It is perfectly fitting that the signal diplomatic triumph of President Obama’s first year in office is the restoration to power of the lawfully deposed Honduran thug and friend of Fidel Castro, Daniel Ortega and Hugh Chavez. It is inimical to the national interest of the United States. it is a setback for the supporters of democracy in the beleaguered country of Honduras. And it is a defeat for those who believe in the rule of law. It is, in other words, a triumph of “smart diplomacy.”

Zelaya To Return As President Of Honduras, But Only To Sit On His Proktos
Ousted Leftist Zelaya & Honduran Government Sign Pact
Smart Diplomacy: Mrs. Clinton Helps Re-install Ousted Honduran Thug
Times of London:

The breakthrough came after renewed pressure from senior US officials who travelled to Honduras this week for a last-ditch effort to end the crisis.

Chicago comes to Honduras
Honduran Government Succumbs to the Obama Administration’s Pressure, Fellow Marxist Manuel Zelaya Will Be Returned to Power…..
Micheletti Caves in Honduras
Telling It as It Is — New York Times Style
Honduras Folds Part 2
Meanwhile, back in Honduras
Zelaya’s back!
Under U.S. Pressure, Bankrupt Honduras Agrees to Return Authoritarian Ex-President to Power
Obama Administration Forces Honduran Capitulation to Chaves Wanna-Be
The Rank Stench of Success
The Democrats in Honduras
A Settlement is Achieved in Honduras. Elections to be Respected, Zelaya’s future uncertain.
Travesty in Honduras
Who Came out of the Honduran Crisis Looking the Best? Hillary.
Ros-Lehtinen Comments on Developments in Honduras
Zelaya To Be Temporarily Restored to Office In Honduras; Recent Killings Definitely Not Related, No Sir
Finally: Obama gets a foreign policy success—unfortunately, it’s in Honduras, not Iran
US Makes Honduras Restore President
Fausta: “Honduran Government Caves” to US; Restores Zelaya
Everyone’s mighty confident about this Honduras deal
Obama Saves Face – Forces Honduran Congress To Go Through The Motions Of Restating Their Position On Zelaya
Honduras: Sold out
Don’t pack your bags yet, Mel
Reports of a Deal in Honduras Are Premature
Honduras: An Obama-Clinton disgrace
Return of the Honduran Prodigal

The U.S. embassy in Honduras did yeomen’s work watching out for the interests of the Zelaya clan, leaving many to wonder which side it was pulling for. In short, against a small, friendly, anti-Chávez ally, the administration mustered the sort of muscle it would never dare use against Iran, Russia, or Venezuela.

The accord requires implementation by the Hondurans, good behavior by Zelaya, and a quick infusion of international support for the elections. It requires hands-on U.S. diplomacy, not pre-June 28 complacency, to make sure Zelaya doesn’t yet derail the electoral process and steal Honduras from under the eyes of the Obama administration.

Potential Deal Reached In Honduras
Honduras agreement allows Zelaya return

Post re-edited to correct a broken link. Blog reaction roundup will be updated through the day.

Share

Filed Under: Honduras, Latin America Tagged With: Fausta's blog, Manuel Zelaya, Mel Zelaya, Roberto Micheletti, Thomas Shannon, US State Department

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
Tweets by @Fausta
retirees_raise-2015_300x250

Pages

  • About
  • Email

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Previous Posts

  • Mrs. Maisel goes full Alinsky on Mrs. Schlafly
  • Venezuela: Did the Minister of Defense back out at the last minute?
  • You need to unfriend me
  • Go ahead and Kiss the Girl, if you dare
  • Ashamed

Recent Comments

  • John on Mrs. Maisel goes full Alinsky on Mrs. Schlafly
  • Today’s hot topics: Democrats’ collusion shift, tax-return rift, Venezuela drift, and more! – PoliticalWitchDoctor.com on Venezuela: Did the Minister of Defense back out at the last minute?
  • Today’s hot topics: Democrats’ collusion shift, tax-return rift, Venezuela drift, and more! - AmericanTruthToday on Venezuela: Did the Minister of Defense back out at the last minute?
  • Did Venezuela’s Minister of Defense Back Out At The Last Minute? on Venezuela: Did the Minister of Defense back out at the last minute?
  • Roseanne Not Back, Khan not Invited, Operaman’s back, Jobs back, Fausta’s back (but not here yet) Thoughts under the fedora – Da Tech Guy Blog on Venezuela: Did the Minister of Defense back out at the last minute?

Archives

  • 2019
    • December 2019
    • May 2019
    • January 2019
  • 2018
    • December 2018
    • October 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
  • 2017
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
  • 2016
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
  • 2015
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
  • 2014
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
  • 2013
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
  • 2012
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
  • 2011
    • December 2011
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • July 2011
    • June 2011
    • May 2011
    • April 2011
    • March 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
  • 2010
    • December 2010
    • November 2010
    • October 2010
    • September 2010
    • August 2010
    • July 2010
    • June 2010
    • May 2010
    • April 2010
    • March 2010
    • February 2010
    • January 2010
  • 2009
    • December 2009
    • November 2009
    • October 2009
    • September 2009
    • August 2009
    • July 2009
    • June 2009
    • May 2009
    • April 2009
    • March 2009
    • February 2009
    • January 2009
  • 2008
    • December 2008
    • November 2008
    • October 2008
    • September 2008
    • August 2008
    • July 2008
    • June 2008
    • May 2008
    • April 2008
    • March 2008
    • February 2008
    • January 2008
  • 2007
    • December 2007
    • November 2007
    • October 2007
    • September 2007
    • August 2007
    • July 2007
    • June 2007
    • May 2007
    • April 2007
    • March 2007
    • February 2007
    • January 2007
  • 2006
    • December 2006
    • November 2006
    • October 2006
    • September 2006
    • August 2006
    • July 2006
    • June 2006
    • May 2006
    • April 2006
    • March 2006
    • February 2006
    • January 2006
  • 2005
    • December 2005
    • November 2005
    • October 2005
    • September 2005
    • August 2005
    • July 2005
    • June 2005
    • May 2005
    • April 2005
    • March 2005
    • February 2005
    • January 2005
  • 2004
    • December 2004
    • November 2004
    • October 2004
    • September 2004
    • August 2004
    • July 2004
    • June 2004
    • May 2004
    • April 2004
    • March 2004
Content Copyright Fausta's Blog

Site Developed and Managed by 300m.com