In the interest of stirring the debate I offer this thought provoking article -
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By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Wednesday, July 01, 2009 4:20 PM
PT
Democracy: Nations aren't usually put to the fearsome test to "live
free or die." But Hondurans are accepting it as the world pressures
them to reseat a potential dictator in office. They aren't bending.
Read More: Latin America & Caribbean
On Tuesday, all 192 members of the U.N. General Assembly voted to
condemn Hondurans' removal of President Mel Zelaya from office. He was
ousted this week after brazenly defying a Supreme Court ruling against
a reelection referendum. Using the language of the effort's
ringleader, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, the U.N. called the
constitutional act "a military coup."
The same day, the Organization of American States gave Honduras three
days to reinstall Zelaya as president or its membership would be
suspended.
The World Bank "paused' lending until Zelaya is back. The Inter
American Development Bank followed suit.
Standard & Poor's warned of a credit downgrade. Tourists were told by
embassies to leave. Three bordering nations cut off trade. Nations
pulled ambassadors. Venezuela's despot, Hugo Chavez, cut off cheap
oil. He now bucks for an OAS-led military invasion if his leftist pal
Zelaya is not restored to power.
The U.S. has its own bag of potential sanctions for Honduras, although
as new facts emerge about Zelaya's involvement in the drug trade and
his mental instability, doesn't look as though it intends to use them.
Still, the Sword of Damocles over Honduras could mean a suspended free
trade treaty, a cutoff of its $200 million in aid, and an end to its
immigration agreement with the U.S.
As the world follows Chavez's lead in trying to force Honduras to
accept a lawless man as its leader, disasters for Honduras loom.
The tiny country is impoverished. Its seven million people have a per
capita income of just $1,635 a year. Its economy has been enfeebled by
Zelaya himself. He has fixed prices and wages, and opened the door to
drug traffickers, creating a burgeoning narcostate.
It seems impossible that Honduras could withstand new draconian
pressure and isolation over taking Zelaya back.
Yet evidence shows that Hondurans consider the latter fate worse. If
Zelaya is restored as president, he will resume his dictatorial
ambitions while Hondurans lose their future freedoms. Oh, the OAS will
tell them "dialogue" will solve it.
But Hondurans know better: If the rule of law won't dissuade Zelaya
from being dictator, why would sweet talk work?
Honduras' new, constitutionally appointed leader, Robert Micheletti,
defied the global blowhards sitting in judgment of Honduras and said
he wasn't leaving.
To Chavez, he said: "You don't scare me." He also warned Zelaya that
if he flew back to assume office, he'd be arrested. Honduras'
Congress, and its Supreme Court are holding the line, too.
This can only be happening because they are listening to the only
people whose opinion matters: Hondurans, some 80% of whom approve of
the Court action. "Everyone here is celebrating," a business leader
told Latin Finance.
Tuesday, thousands of these Hondurans peacefully rallied in the
streets, in vivid contrast to the 200 pro-Zelaya thugs who trashed
fast food joints and burned garbage a day earlier.
Hondurans will have to prove it. Accepting a fate as an international
pariah state bears a hefty price. But plucky Hondurans have made their
choice, valuing freedom over world esteem. If against all odds they
win, their choice will strike the biggest blow for democracy since the
fall of the Berlin Wall.
The chain reaction that ensues may topple the false democracies in
Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Cuba. Just as Hondurans
aided freedom fighters to crush Sandinista communism in the '80s,
they'll now turn back the tide of false democracies.
If only America could be at their side for the victory this time.
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