Israel Matzav: US continues to hammer an ally

US continues to hammer an ally

There's a pattern here. The Obama White House continues to blame President Bush for everything that goes wrong for it, even though Bush has not been President for more than a year. It continues to treat its critics as enemies regardless of who they are or what their intent is (don't expect Scott Brown to be invited to the White House anytime soon). And it continues to pound allies long after they've given up. No, this isn't about Israel, although it very well could be. It's about Honduras.

The U.S. has formally recognized the November presidential election, and the State Department tells us it also recognizes the congress's second vote to remove Mr. Zelaya. So what's the problem?

It appears that State's pettiness still flows from the refusal of interim president Roberto Micheletti and his cabinet, from June to December, to cave to the U.S. demand that they reinstate Mr. Zelaya. In earlier acts of pique, State stripped the U.S. visas of Mr. Micheletti, his advisers and cabinet officials and even the entire Honduran Supreme Court. Last week it yanked more visas from members of the interim government.

Insofar as Mr. Micheletti is leaving office January 27, the only explanations for this pistol-whipping would appear to be: Don't mess with Uncle Sam's regional agenda, which since April's Summit of the Americas includes overtures to Hugo Chávez, Raúl Castro and Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega.

A day after the latest U.S. slap, Mr. Micheletti said he'll withdraw from public appearances for the remainder of his term. "I am going home to my house, for the peace of the nation and because I do not want to be an obstacle to the new government," he said.

Meanwhile, also under pressure from the U.S., President-elect Lobo said last week he will let Mr. Zelaya go to the Dominican Republic despite legal charges pending against him. The U.S. has been lobbying for a "get out of jail free" card for Mr. Zelaya. Mr. Lobo no doubt wants the foreign aid tap turned back on, so this arrangement benefits both sides. Prediction: Mr. Zelaya will join the Chávez network to make constant trouble for the region's democracies. And his U.S. visa will remain intact.

The Obama administration's treatment of a democratic ally is despicable. I hope the Netanyahu government is watching, because when the 'negotiations' with the 'Palestinians' fall apart, we are likely to get similar treatment.

What could go wrong?

Israel Matzav: US continues to hammer an ally