When former Honduran president Manuel Zelaya tip-toed across his country’s border with Nicaragua for a brief return last week, it is likely that nobody was cheering louder than his mentor, Venezuelan strong man Hugo Chavez. Despite the Honduran constitution’s definitive ban on presidential second terms, Zelaya wanted to stay in office. Chavez was more than happy to supply money and other less respectable resources to assist in Zelaya’s effort to circumvent his country’s constitution. But the Honduran Congress, Supreme Court, and military said no, and exiled him.
So, it is nothing less than astonishing that President Obama today welcomes Zelaya to the White House. Even worse, Obama is expected to continue pressing his ill-advised demand that the Chavez wannabe – whose return was endorsed just last week by Colombia’s drug-trafficking FARC terrorists – be reinstated, even though his ouster was done in accordance with the Honduran constitution. In other words, Obama is backing a would-be tin horn dictator who seeks to overthrow the democratically elected government of Honduras and to trash that country’s constitution.
And speaking of Colombia, note the contrast between Obama’s treatment of that nation with his backing of the Chavez puppet Zelaya. Obama refuses to press Congress to approve a trade pact negotiated by former President George W. Bush and pro-American Colombian president Alvaro Uribe. Now, the leader of the free world is sending a bewildering message to Latin Americans: Enemies of peace and liberty will get a much better reception at the White House. Uribe, a hugely popular conservative, has done much to promote democracy since he took office in 2002. He’s cracked down on Colombia’s notorious narcotics cartels, reduced terrorist attacks by an incredible 77 percent, lowered unemployment and poverty rates, and most importantly, strengthened ties with the U.S.
The Colombia Free Trade Agreement, signed by both governments in 2006 and approved the following year by the Colombian legislature, would eliminate most of the tariffs with our fourth- largest trading partner in Latin America and help a democratic ally that has already made great progress in replacing the illicit drug trade with legitimate commerce. It would also level the playing field for American businesses, farmers, and ranchers, who now pay tariffs as high as 35 percent. U.S. exports would increase by $1 billion annually, according to the U.S Trade Commission, producing a small but positive gain in our balance of payments. And it should be remembered that U.S. forces currently have access to three airfields and two naval bases in Colombia just in case Chavez or his puppets get any more imperialistic ideas.
UPDATE: Zelaya decides not to come to Washington, D.C.
Former Honduran president Manuel Zelaya was reported yesterday by Prensa Latina as cancelling his trip here for meetings with the Obama administration, saying he wants the U.S. to clarify its position regarding his removal from power.
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