Venezuela’s Chavez Says Situation in Honduras Is ‘Explosive’

[Zorro]

Source: Bloomberg

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the political situation in Honduras is “explosive,” and some members of the Central American country’s military may take action to restore deposed President Manuel Zelaya.

Chavez said that Zelaya will return to Honduras and will arrive there “at any moment,” without providing more details about the ousted leader’s plans. Honduras’s acting President, Roberto Micheletti, said Zelaya violated the constitution and will be arrested if he returns.

“The situation is an explosive situation,” Chavez said today during his Sunday television program “Alo, Presidente.” “Don’t be surprised if a patriotic current comes out” of the military, he said.

Chavez said U.S. President Barack Obama should take control of the “Yankee empire,” which he said includes the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency. The socialist Venezuelan leader said the “empire” was behind Zelaya’s overthrow on June 28 because Honduras was strengthening ties with Chavez.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aPuDXDs_ULF4

---

Sounds to me as if Hugo is encouraging a Honduran military coup.

[Bicoastal]

1. The only "proof" Hugo has of American involvement...

...is that we used to do this sort of thing all the time.

Personally, I think he's dead wrong, but it's frustrating that we don't have a great track record to fall back on.

[Downwinder]

3. Where's Otto?

[Gabi Hayes]

4. thank you....as in Third Reich, jah?

haven't heard much from him lately

[Judi Lynn]

6. He wrote a statement last week in the Miami Herald claiming he's not responsible for this coup.

If that's what Otto says, you KNOW it's the truth!

http://schema-root.org.nyud.net:8090/region/americas/north_america/usa/government/officials/otto_reich/otto_reich_afp.jpg http://www.ottoreich.com.nyud.net:8090/images/newsweek.jpg

[EFerrari]

18. He also has Otto Reich's official denial as Judi Lynn shows.

Whatever. This OP is bs. More than one source is describing the situation in the same terms. It's not good for people on the ground there right now. :(

[rabs]

30. From your post: The only "proof" Hugo has of American involvement...

...is that we used to do this sort of thing all the time.


Like this?

[Judi Lynn]

32. Good one, rabs. This guy truly needs to read "Confessions of an Economic Hitman,"

among so many, many others.

On edit:

That image really sticks in one's mind. Completely appropriate.

[IndianaGreen]

33. US Ambassador Hugo Llorens was in touch with coup plotters weeks before the coup

and Llorens is a Miami Cuban, appointed by Bush.

[DarthDem]

34. Great Post

Terrific take. Chavez pops off inaccurately like this all the time, and it looks like that's not going to change, but unfortunately, the Dumbya Administration gave him all the cover he needs for a long while.

[timeforpeace]

2. He wishes.

[Peace Patriot]

5. Honduras has a history of being a U.S. corpo/fascist footstool, used to commit

aggression against its neighbors, and experiment with torturing and 'disappearing' peasants, labor leaders and leftists as a sideline in Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere except for its ruling oligarchy and the U.S.-taxpayer-fattened military.

I hope the "explosion" doesn't explode, and that Chavez is right that the military is re-thinking its support for this criminal oligarchy, which gave the order to shoot up the presidential palace, roust the elected president from his bed at gunpoint, kidnap him and fly him out of the country as a prisoner, declare martial law, suspend Constitutional rights and shut down the press. And for what? For proposing the following ADVISORY referendum for a vote of the people: "Do you agree that, during the general elections of November 2009 there should be a fourth ballot to decide whether to hold a Constituent National Assembly that will approve a new political constitution?"
http://www.borev.net/2009/06/national_news_outlets_bring_th.html

...meanwhile LYING to the world that the referendum was about term limits and was illegal. It was neither.

Honduras will continue to be a pariah, shunned by the world, if they don't oust this gang of thieves and fascists. If Chavez is right, we will soon find out who in the Honduran military is loyal to Honduras and to democracy, and who is loyal to the Pentagon and Otto Reich.

[Zorro]

7. So are you saying a military coup against the current Honduran govt is acceptable?

And isn't borev.net funded by the Venezuela Information Office?

[Bacchus39]

8. sounds like PP doesn't disagree n/t

a

[peacetalksforall]

9. Twisting this a little. If by current you mean the guy who conducted the coup against Zelaya, it

can hardly be called a government - it isn't recognized by anyone.

Chavez should watch his mouth. He should also let the negotiations being conducted by the Costa Rican leader play out.

And Riech should be locked up and whoever it is that authorized and/or paid for his activism in the coup to trhwo out Zelays should be exposed? Was it the CIA? If yes, did Panetta approve it? If yes, then Clinton also approved it. Did Obama know about it? We can know that much NOW.

Given the news of the week end - perhaps it was "The Family" that authorized Reich.

[Downwinder]

10. Which Government do you consider current?

[InkAddict]

12. Where? in Honduras or in the USA n/t

[Downwinder]

14. Might be the same in both. But the CIA hasn't shown a capability of governing. n/t

[Peace Patriot]

19. Yes. They should do the same thing to the ILLEGITIMATE government

that they wrongfully did to the LEGITIMATE president. Throw. Them. Out. They are NOT the "current government." They merely have power, not legitimacy. They are a RIGHTWING COUP. I presume that the Honduran military swears to uphold the Constitution and the laws of Honduras, as our military does. They should never have obeyed these coupsters, and they should rectify it now, by withdrawing their support and arresting them.

And here is BoRev's link (to the referendum text) in Spanish: http://noticias.terra.com/articulos/act1690222/Zelaya_decide_iniciar_consulta_popular_para_reformar_Constitucion_de_Honduras/

[roamer65]

11. I hope Hugo is arming and funding them...IN FACT...

I hope he uses Venezuelan military to assist them.

[Zorro]

15. You're OK with Venezuela militarily intervening in Honduras?

Doesn't seem like a very wise thing to hope for.

[Downwinder]

16. Don't think that will happen. They have a Don Diago to lead them.

[scheming daemons]

13. Chavez isn't helping... he needs to STFU.

He's no good guy, despite what a lot of DU thinks.


Just because he hated Bush, doesn't mean he's good. Stalin hated Hitler.

[IndianaGreen]

27. So now Chavez is Stalin?

You guys are so pathetic. Where is your outrage about Micheletti's suppression of civil liberties in Honduras? I'll bet some of you think that Nicaragua's Somoza was a good guy too, and the Sandinistas were bad.

[subsuelo]

36. amazing, isn't it?

Democracy in Honduras is in tattered shreds, yet the crying and complaining continues to be directed at Chavez!

[Zorro]

38. The OP is about Chavez

Duh.

[subsuelo]

44. exactly. Big Story! What a jerk that Chavez guy is!

Breaking News! Chavez speaks out against military coup in Central America!!

That guy is such a jerk!!!!! Waahhhh he won't stop promoting democracy in Latin America!!!

[wantoutnow]

29. pitt fan? nice

however, what info do you have that backs up that Chavez is not a good guy? He was democratically elected. Perhaps its the SOA installed government who initiated the coup that needs to STFU. Or do you think the government of Honduras is legitimate and was elected by the people?

[EFerrari]

17. Chavez is accurately describing this situation as others have:

BUENOS AIRES HERALD: Honduras army under unbearable pressure
Posted by: "Fred Feldman" [e-mail]
Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:32 am (PDT)


http://www.buenosairesherald.com/BreakingNews/ViewPrint...

Honduran situation
Argentina Defence official believes the Honduran Army is under unbearable
pressure

Argentine Undersecretary of Defence and former Ambassador in Tegucigalpa
(2004/2007) Alfredo Forti believes that the Honduran Army is undergoing an
unbearable pressure and that many of its officers fear that the outcome
following the coup d'etat of June 28 could be a blood bath, said in an
interview with a local newspaper.

"Some Colonels have been transmitting abroad messages saying that they are
on the limit of enduring the pressure they are under and that they believe
the time will come when they will have to depart from their present
position, because otherwise there could be a blood bath", said Forti.

"These are expressions of a fracture within the Armed services. I do not
know if it is because there are Constitutionalist officers or if they simply
realize that it is a lost situation and are trying to find a way out", added
Forti.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x18750

And you are trying to start a Chavez flame war, as per usual. :applause:

[Zorro]

22. Do you think Chavez is encouraging a military coup in Honduras?

Do you think he may be aiding and abetting elements of the Honduran military? It wouldn't surprise me.

Hugo's comments on the situation seems to be relevant; it's not my fault he's a loudmouthed idiot.

Just last week there were howls of righteous indignation about how "military coups" must never be sanctioned. Can we get a pre-emptive condemnation of any attempted military coup in Honduras from you?

[Gabi Hayes]

24. you've got quite a "hobby,'' there, El Z.

didn't see any posts so far decrying the current coup

how come?

sounds like you might be just hunky dory with it

educate us, por favor

[Zorro]

39. Probably because you didn't look

If you did you'd find that I did state that I do not approve of coups.

I'll teach you a lesson, if that's what you really want.

[EFerrari]

25. I'm much more worried about the people of Honduras

than I am about any stupid assed right wing garbage you produce, Zorro. Sorry.

[Zorro]

42. You don't give a shit about the people of Honduras

Otherwise you wouldn't be cheerleading Chavez' meddling in Honduran affairs and his attempts to escalate the situation.

[EFerrari]

55. That is the ring wing narrative and right on time, too.

Their vampirism would be much easier if Honduras didn't have an organized Latin American left behind Zelaya. So of course they knock Chavez, who has been instrumental in uniting the region, at every opportunity.

[IndianaGreen]

60. I don't give a shit about the Honduran elites!

I do care about the Honduran working class and the peasants, unlike you and your ilk.

The only one meddling in Honduran affairs is the CIA and the neoliberals in the State Department, not to mention that Cuban POS we have as ambassador over there, Hugo Llorens.

[David__77]

47. A progressive military action to restore Zelaya would be a good thing.

So, yes, he should be encouraging that. Then no more kids will get killed by the fascists.

[anonymous171]

20. Sounds like a good idea to me. Zelaya is the legitimate president of Honduras after all.

[EFerrari]

21. Two lefter politicians have been assassinated in the last few days.

It's very, very dangerous there right now. :(

[JackRiddler]

23. Cold war-type panic rhetoric worthy of 1950s

Chavez is encouraging the restoration of the elected government of Honduras. In this, he's one with the majority of countries on earth.

He also seems to be describing how some in the Honduran military wish to overturn the military coup. That would be great news for democracy, and for Latin America.

The way you, as a supporter of the military coup, wish to describe its potential reversal as "encouraging a military coup" is a not-very charming throwback to 1950s red-baiting rhetoric.

[Zorro]

40. Do you consider Chavez a US ally or adversary?

Riddle me that.

[subsuelo]

45. Depends. You talking about the American people? Or the corporate fascist ruling class?

[David__77]

48. He's an ally of the people of the US, not the government's foreign policy.

His actions promote world peace and economic development by opposing superpower hegemony and supporting south-south cooperation.

[JackRiddler]

52. He is an ally to what is best in the United States, which is contrary to US empire.

Zorro that.

Oh, and thanks for the confirmation that you'd like to be on the witch-hunt for un-American activities.

[Zorro]

62. Oh yeah Chavez has the best interests of the US in mind

as he builds stronger relationships with Iran, North Korea, and Cuba. Got it.

[Gabi Hayes]

26. this is your preferred man in Honduras, right, el Zorro?

FOX's Special Report downplayed concerns over Negroponte's ... In his previous confirmation hearings, Mr. Negroponte was asked about his time in Honduras in the 1980's. At that time the C.I.A. station and the embassy ...
mediamatters.org/research/200502190002 - Cached - Similar

John Negroponte - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia From 1981 to 1985, Negroponte was the U.S. ambassador to Honduras. ... Department and CIA documents, it would seem that Ambassador Negroponte knew far more ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Negroponte - Cached - Similar

Negroponte Bush was nominating Negroponte, the man who gave the CIA backed Honduran death squads open field when he was ambassador to Honduras from 1981 to 1985. ...
www.change-links.org/Negroponte.htm - Cached - Similar

Honduras-The CIA Never Quits : Indybay Jun 29, 2009 ... Honduras-The CIA Never Quits. by Gary Sudborough ... John Negroponte was later made ambassador to Iraq in 2004 and afterward held a cabinet ...
www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/29/18604644.php - Cached - Similar
CIA Topples Honduran President To Protect Drugs Trade? Jun 29, 2009 ... On 29 June 2009, the CIA reportedly used the Honduran military to oust ... John Negroponte was US ambassador in Honduras from 1981 to 1985. ...
www.prisonplanet.com/cia-topples-honduran-president-to-protect-drugs-trade.html - Cached - Similar

The Negroponte File In a memorandum sent through a special back channel to CIA director William Casey and ... Negroponte reports on what he sees as the Honduran top military ...
www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB151/ - Cached - Similar

Equipo Nizkor - Negroponte Used CIA Back Channels to Defy Congress. Negroponte Used CIA Back Channels to Defy Congress. ... Although the Honduran military had ostensibly turned over power to a civilian government headed by ...
www.derechos.org/nizkor/negroponte/dobbs.html - Cached - Similar

May I Speak Freely? 13. In an interview with CIA Inspector General, Ambassador Negroponte recalled as follows: Former U.S. Ambassador to Honduras Negroponte describes three ...
www.mayispeakfreely.org/nodev/index.php?gSec=doc... - Cached - Similar

What Did Negroponte Hide and When Did He Hide It? Apr 19, 2001 ... What Did Negroponte Hide and When Did He Hide It? ... According to a 1997 CIA inspector general's report, U.S. officials in Honduras were ...
www.commondreams.org/views01/0419-01.htm - Cached - Similar

JOHN NEGROPONTE & THE DEATH-SQUAD CONNECTION | World War 4 Report As ambassador to Honduras from 1981 to 1985, Negroponte played a key role in establishing that country as a base of operations for the CIA's "Contra" ...
ww4report.com/negropontedeathsquad - Cached - Similar

[IndianaGreen]

28. Zorro has an autographed portrait of Anastasio Somoza.

Somoza is the model for all of America's strongmen in Latin America.

[EFerrari]

31. Like all the right wing mouthpieces, he's talking up that big old threat

the Chenis.

lol

[Zorro]

41. Is Chavez a US ally or adversary?

Simple question.

[David__77]

49. Simple, irrelevant question.

Unless, of course, you're saying that fascist coups d'etat are a good thing if the elected government is a "U.S. adversary."

[IndianaGreen]

54. Zorro believes that American interests are defined by Wall Street

instead of the American working class. Our soldiers are dying and suffering to enrich the few.

[IndianaGreen]

53. Chavez is an ally of the American working class

His enemies are our enemies, the same bankers and financiers that are giving a big BOHICA to the American working class.

[EFerrari]

58. Venezuela just returned its Ambassador to our capitol.

What do you think? Looks bad for your vampires, Zorro.

[Zorro]

43. Nope

Next question.

[Vidar]

35. Viva Chavez!

[UTUSN]

37. Explosive?!1 -no shit, Huguito: Explosivity would *diminish* if you BUTTED OUT!1 n/t

[subsuelo]

46. yeah, the world should just crawl back under the covers and pretend nothing happened

Great plan there. Real smart way to go, pretend like nothing happened!

[EFerrari]

59. Right. Then the Pinochettis could just kill people quietly. n/t

[David__77]

50. Any struggle against the fascist coup is moral, legitimate, and just.

Up to and including action by patriotic elements in the military, self-defense by the people, etc. This coup will not stand, and "normalcy" will only come when the forces that launched it are definitively smashed. It may take weeks, months, or even years, but happen, it will.

[madville]

51. i think hugo is just jealous his own coup attempt failed in 1992

People who fail usually have contempt for others who succeed at a similar task. :) ;)

[Judi Lynn]

56. Hugo Chavez became a hero to the working class after his coup attempt,

due to the fact the filthy scum against whom he led one of the TWO ATTEMPTS, the same MAN WHO WAS LATER IMPEACHED had ordered his police, who refused then his state military to fire directly into crowds of Venezuelans protesting his brutal increase in the cost of their heating oil, transportation, food, etc. The toll was around 3,000 people gone swiftly, due to one ugly, dirty little man. He was later imprisoned, but now owns homes in New York, and, of COURSE, in Miami, ultimate home of all dirty Latin American political whores, and killers.

Jealous? He became a HERO to the people because of his actions. The same people who poured into the streets and forced the right-wing scum who staged a coup against him to return Chavez, and their government to them.

You are clearly attempting to support the side of the right-wing scum the majority of people in Latin America DESPISES.

Do your homework. Don't invent lies to serve you as your entry into conversations among serious people of conscience.

[EFerrari]

57. Was that the last time you read the news?

[bananas]

61. It's not a coup because Micheletti isn't president

Every country, including the US, recognizes Zelaya as the president of Honduras.

[BOG PERSON]

63. So... what makes one military coup better than another?

[Judi Lynn]

64. No one's that stupid. n/t