U.S. moves toward formal cut off of aid to Honduras
Reuters
August 27, 2009
WASHINGTON, Aug 27 (Reuters) – U.S. State Department staff have recommended that the ouster of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya be declared a “military coup,” a U.S. official said on Thursday, a step that could cut off as much as $150 million in U.S. funding to the impoverished Central American nation.
The official, who spoke on condition he not be named, said State Department staff had made such a recommendation to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has yet to make a decision on the matter although one was likely soon.
Washington has already suspended about $18 million aid to Honduras following the June 28 coup and this would be formally cut if the determination is made because of a U.S. law barring aid “to the government of any country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree.”
The official said that $215 million in grant funding from the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation to Honduras would also have to end should Clinton make the determination that a military coup took place.
Reuters article continues here.
And an update here, via Hugh Hewitt’s TownHall.com blog:
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Continuing To Get It Wrong On Honduras
Posted by: Jude
Meanwhile, likely Boo-Berry eaters at State are telling Clinton to tell Obama to cut off all official aid to Honduras. It’s a “military coup” because Obama couldn’t get the Hondurans to let back in the guy Chavez is supporting.
