Honduran Crisis Shows Insitutional Weaknesses of Latin America

aztec says on Jul 2, 2009, 11:02:

Tribute to the Heroes of Honduras

http://animoto.com/play/9C9OTq8RYmFP5wkJb9znxw?utm_source=share_email&...

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aztec says on Jul 2, 2009, 17:53:

Honduran sovereignty: who has jurisdiction?

"Does the Honduran government have the right to enforce its own Constitution? Isn't it a sovereign nation?

Webster's defines ‘sovereignty' as "supreme power, especially over a body politic; freedom from external control...especially, an autonomous state." Therefore, a simple definition of national sovereignty is the right of a legitimate nation-state to enforce its own laws and determine its own fate without influence, pressure or threat of force from an outside source.

Does Honduras have exclusive jurisdiction to enforce its Constitution, or does the rest of the world have a legitimate say in how Honduras self-governs? In order to answer this question one must first ask if Honduras is an autonomous nation, or is Honduras a dependent territory that must first seek permission prior to enforcing its laws. The answer to this question should help make clear the role of the world in Honduran internal affairs."

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/07/honduran_sovereignty_who_has_j....

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miamimike says on Jul 2, 2009, 18:38:

azunoman says on Jul 2, 2009, 11:07 (today): flag



I read Uribes comments at the joint news conference with Obama...
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I noticed Uribe sitting with Obama in that recent White House visit, he had kind of a wistful sad look on his face. He probably wishes he would have held back from endorsing McCain/Palin and instead remained silent until the Election was over. He seems like a sharp guy most of the time, I couldn't understand his doing this in Mid summer of 2008 as certainly he had no effect on swinging any Colombian American Votes to McCain. Here in South Florida, Colombian American Votes overwhelmingly went to Obama it was shown post election . It was a bad move considering he threw in with the losing horse ,,,I sincerely doubt he will be getting any invites to Camp David from Obama like those invites he used to get from Bush to relax at the Ranch and camp david,,,Not to forget, he said that, due to the downturn in the US Economy, he(uribe) is gearing for decreased funding via Plan Colombia.

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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miamimike says on Jul 2, 2009, 21:54:

Azunoman---I'd like to see a Link where Obama is 100% on board for the FTA. Just today I read where he stated "Colombia has a ways to go before FTA is approved" concerning Human Rights abuses. Its not only union members who don't want the FTA approved. I'm not a Union Memeber and presently I'm not in favor of the FTA until more of those who murdered the many news reporters, union members(colombian) are not only captured and tried but are actually put behind bars. Until then, Uribe, as a good faith gesture, could repeal the usory level import tariffs slapped on US Products entering Colombia. Uribe does Not need FTA to do this. Remember, between the two countries, its supposed to be Not only Free Trade but Fair Trade as well. To date, its not been fair, as least not for US Companies exporting to Colombia.

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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miamimike says on Jul 2, 2009, 22:02:

On Monday, Uribe again arrives at the White House. But this time he will encounter an administration pushing to expand its alliances in Latin America and increasingly worried about Colombia's dismal human rights record, Colombia experts say.

Obama administration officials declined interview requests to discuss policy toward Colombia, a country that has received nearly $6 billion in mostly military aid since Uribe took office in 2002.

But four people who have met with policymakers in the Obama administration say the United States is concerned about the wiretapping and surveillance of Uribe's critics by an intelligence agency controlled by the presidency and reports that as many as 1,700 civilians have been killed by Colombian army units in what a preliminary United Nations investigation characterized as "cold-blooded, premeditated murder."

Administration officials also believe that democratic institutions are at risk as the Uribe government lobbies for a constitutional amendment to permit him to run for an unprecedented third term next year, said those who have met with aides to President Obama.


"I believe the Obama administration will question President Uribe on his human rights record and democracy," said one of the four people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. "And I don't think they will either mince words or hold back too much."

Analysts say a new, more guarded approach toward Colombia is part of a wider policy designed to repair the tarnished relationships the Bush administration had in Latin America. The strategy hinges on showing that the United States is not solely preoccupied with Colombia, Washington's closest ally in Latin America this decade. Uribe is a conservative, openly pro-American leader in a region marked by leftist presidents.

"The way the Bush administration left it was that Colombia and maybe El Salvador were the only significant friends we had left -- the only two who would work with us on everything, unconditionally," said Adam Isacson, a Colombia analyst at the Center for International Policy in Washington.

"One of the first priorities of the Obama administration was to increase the number of friends, and he's made overtures to Mexico, Chile and Brazil," Isacson added. "To Colombia, that's bad news because they become one of many friends, not the only friend."

Uribe is the third Latin American leader invited to the White House since Obama took office. The first two came from countries Obama has repeatedly praised, Brazil and Chile. Both of those countries have dynamic economies and governments that have initiated programs to deal with poverty. Colombia, too, is considered economically sound. Uribe's government is also popular here for putting rebel groups on the defensive.

But Uribe's seven years in office have also been characterized by scandal.

In the latest to transfix the nation, the attorney general's office is unraveling domestic spying carried out by the Department of Administrative Security, or DAS, against judges, opposition politicians, journalists and human rights workers. Four former DAS directors and more than 30 agents are under investigation, Attorney General Mario Iguarán said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/28/AR2009...

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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miamimike says on Jul 2, 2009, 22:09:

Cont., Page 2

On Capitol Hill, an aide involved in Latin America policy said there is also concern about another scandal of "massive proportions" -- the killing of mostly poor farmers by Colombian army units in several states.

A special U.N. investigator, Philip Alston, called the killings a systematic practice by "significant elements" of the army. In a preliminary report, Alston said the soldiers killed young men and presented them as rebels killed in combat. Dozens of soldiers are under arrest, Alston said, but he worried that prosecutions could be thwarted.


The aide in the U.S. Congress, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly, said key lawmakers have directly raised concerns with Uribe and other Colombian officials. Often, though, the response has been defensive, he said.

"I see this as an indicator that they just don't get it," he said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/28/AR2009....

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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