[Peace-discuss] State Department Recommends Aid Cutoff to Honduras

[Robert Naiman]

After two months, the State Department is poised to formally declare
what was obvious to most of the world: on June 28, Honduras
experienced a military coup.

State Department staff have recommended to Secretary of State Clinton
that the ouster of Honduran President Zelaya be formally declared a
"military coup," which could cut off as much as $150 million in U.S.
funding, Reuters reports.
...
No doubt Republicans in Congress who have supported the coup regime in
Honduras will now complain loudly when Secretary Clinton makes her
formal determination - assuming that she follows the recommendation of
her staff.

In anticipation of right-wing Republican complaints, it is important
to note two key facts.

First, in making this determination, the State Department is simply
following the law. The Foreign Assistance Act requires a cutoff of
U.S. aid "to the government of any country whose duly elected head of
government is deposed by military coup or decree." That's what
happened on June 28 - about that central fact there has been no
serious dispute. Even the top legal advisor of the Honduran military
conceded that the Honduran military broke Honduran law when it removed
President Zelaya from office - and from Honduras.

Second, in making this determination - and cutting off aid - the State
Department is simply following past practice. As the Center for
Economic and Policy Research documented in a recent report, when there
were coups in Mauritania and Madagascar, Millennium Challenge
Corporation money was cut off within days.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/state-department-recommen_b_270873.html

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/8/27/204831/083

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/312

--
Robert Naiman
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org

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