The Authentic Journalism Renaissance Reports from Honduras

Congratulations!  I've suspected you were on your way since your first day of driving last week...

Looking forward to your reports.

I suspected that was where you were going. Off to make a donation now.

That's what I did when I read "your correspondent is now reporting from Honduran territory".

Thanks to all who are bringing this story to us.

Al, I kept thinking you were surely on your way to Honduras. I am so glad to hear that you have arrived safely!

Question for anyone about monthly donations: I want to set up a monthly donation, but I need the money to come out on the 5th of each month.  Is there an opportunity somewhere to select the donation date, or do I just wait until the 5th to set up the donation?

Be safe.

Al, I am excited that you went into Honduras, but also worried. Keep safe! A donation is on the way.

what Tien Le said.

Rock on, Al G!

Some people quit reading after the first few lines. Some people look quickly for a synopsis or resumé (my English gets faulty when I am tired.)??

What stands out for me, at this point, is the importance of sending strong signals to "Pennsylvania Avenue and the surrounding neighborhood" up there. That message must inform them that their actions have not been as determined or effective as they would like for the rest of us to believe. 

Our "strong message" is to let them know that if there is to be a bluff-then the bluff will be "called" over bull-horns, loud-speakers, e-mails, and complaints....and protest...

The present situation will not pass away-it will pop up constantly to haunt those of whom we expected better things.

If the United States is hesitant about participating in a realistic manner to unseat the golpistas, then the United States will simply find itself still more  (and more) isolated as a (major) part of the problem.

 Honduras is a small country but a big issue where the Americas and the planet are concerned. Have our friends in Washington forgotten that people tend to avoid doing business with those who prove themselves (time and again)  untrustworthy?

Please keep it up, I will be making a donation shortly - a small one due to my current budget, but anything to help spread the truth.

Unfortunately I have little faith in the US government, there's too many insiders that share interests with the coup government.

Al, glad you made it safely there.

Are you hearing any of this in Honduras?  Thanks

The head of Honduras’s de facto government, Roberto Micheletti, has expressed support for a compromise that would allow the ousted president of his country to return to power, according to officials in the de facto government and diplomats from the region.

The officials said Mr. Micheletti warned President Arias that he had not been able to persuade other parts of the Honduran government, or the leaders of the Honduran business community, to go along with the proposal. So he asked Mr. Arias to consider sending a prominent international political figure to help him stem the fierce opposition.

Mr. Micheletti confirmed Wednesday night in a statement that he had asked Mr. Arias to send an international envoy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/world/americas/30honduras.html

As a Honduran that has deeply despised and reviled the political culture that is found in Tegucigalpa, it is with great pleasure that the world gets to witness the utter cynicism and contempt with which these buffoons run the country. It has been a long time coming for their collective masks to fall off. Every single one drapes themselves with the banner of "the greater good," and worse yet, "el pueblo," but it is times like these that their true colours come out. Saavedra is more preocuppied with demonstrating that there are ways to out manuever well deserved sanctions, rather than addressing the reasons why these sanctions were placed. What priorities this cabron has!

Saavedra's line of thought is a perfect abbreviation of Micheletti and those who surround him: We will try to fool the world, even though it watches,  we will cling to our obstinate ignorance, even though it murders.

I am in Tegucigalpa if you need aid, Al.

Worth noting, from yesterday's State Department briefing:

Question: Are we having any dealings with the Honduran Embassy here in Washington, DC?

Answer: Charge Rodolfo Pastor, appointed by President Zelaya, is the current head of mission at the Honduran Embassy in Washington. We are dealing with him and other diplomats representing the Zelaya government.

Question: Are we considering revoking their visas and sending them back?

Answer: The Zelaya government has indicated it will terminate Honduran Embassy diplomats and staff who support the de facto regime. Once they submit the proper notification of termination on these individuals, the United States will take steps to terminate their status.

Now, the question I'd like an answer to is ... if the coup regime has been deemed illegal by the President, and representatives of that regime, after having their diplomatic visas revoked, either fail to leave the country or try to enter the country [using "tourist" visas], then how would the Department of Homeland Security deal with that, given the current high focus on terrorism counter-intelligence. 

Might not there be cause to prevent entry, or to at least launch an investigation, should individuals from an illegal regime enter the U.S., or fail to leave the U.S., after revocation of their diplomatic visas, even if their existing tourism visas remain in effect?

Not that such a thing is in play, but it seems the situation might create enough probable cause to at least justify surveillance [since the diplomatic cloak has been lifted] of those individuals for law enforcement purposes — and who knows what might be discovered in such a scenario. You know the old saw: it pays to keep your friends close but your enemies closer — especially in the transition phase.

Sometimes, you can cut your nose off to spite your face. I'm not yet convinced José Alfredo Saavedra quite understands the pond he's dipping his bravado into at this point.

Now that would assume a coordinated, less-than-public, strategy in play between DHS, State and the White House. That's not out of the question, but it's not by any means a foregone conclusion — just a law enforcement angle.

And even it it's not the case, it might be nice to make a-holes like Alfredo Saavedra think twice about how smart they really are in the bigger picture.

Plus, absent broader law enforcement efforts, there's always a bureaucratic caveat:

A visa allows a foreign citizen coming from abroad, to travel to the United States port-of entry and request permission to enter the U.S.  Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States. 

Ricardo, the former Chilean Prez.

Thank you, Al... and this is exactly why I stretch my budget to donate each month to donate.

@Nancy Mickenbecker -- I'm trying to figure out the same thing. I thought I could set up automatic donation through PayPal, but unless I'm missing something, it's not possible. Maybe someone else has figured it out?

Yes, monthly subscriptions can be made at The Fund for Authentic Journalism website.

Unfortunately, there is no way to schedule a payment for a certain day other than by waiting until that day to begin one of the plans linked to above. After that it will continue for 12 months and then cancelled unless the donor proactively renews the pledge.

Donors can choose to opt out at any point during those 12 months.

Al-

thanks for keeping it real!

Here is a quick read from Greg Grandin that might be of interest:

http://www.counterpunch.org/grandin07302009.html

Nell, you were writting about november elections and First Lady options in Al´s previous post.

Analizing the events prior to the coup, Zelayas opposition had founded their arguments against the non-bindding referendum around several ideas; one of them was that the only way to reach a constituent assembly is thru a coup d'état. So, the signing of Arias' Plan with the complete acceptance of Zelaya´s return would indeed imply that a coup d'état took place.

Carlos H. Reyes has been saying lately that the first act he´ll make in the event he is elected President is invoking a constituent assembly.

Zelaya's opposition knew that door was unlocked for constituent assembly before the coup, but after if they opened the door completely.

This is why I believe Honduras Right Wing is so against Zelaya´s return.

This is worth a read from the UK site 21st Century Socialism

http://21stcenturysocialism.com/article/honduras_the_hooded_face_of_dict...

thank you... I'm feeling a little like "duh... how did i miss that?"

I keep you in my thoughts and prayers Al.  You are a gem.  Please be careful and be safe.

I don't have much but I'm proud to donate a few bucks to you.