On Honduras

Taking your assumptions on Honduras, Iran and the oil situation at face value, I'm not sure there is a direct line from Honduras and Chavez to oil dependency. Agreement with Chavez doesn't necessarily mean that we have the same goals. The rule of law and support of democracy may not be the road Chavez is taking. Support of democracy isn't the same as keeping our options open for our need for future oil sources. This country does need a great big program in research of future energy sources. Dependency on fossil fuel is a national security risk and we can break the cycle if there's a political will. Our personal choices do make a difference.

Clearly the rule of law and support of democracy is not the road Chavez is taking, which is very much the point. And, support for democracy is not the same at all as keeping our options open for future oil sources, which is again, very much the point. The similarity in goals between ourselves and Chavez has nothing at all to do with democracy, and everything to do with a symbiotic economic relationship. The point I am trying to make, however unclearly I made it, is that we sacrifice opportunity to uphold and encourage democracy and rule of law at the alter of oil. There seems to be no other good reason for the inconsistencies we see in the reaction of the international community, and particularly the US, to recent democratic upheaval. What I am saying, as plainly as possible, is that we ally ourselves with dictators in order to uphold our economic interests. Perhaps drawing a line from oil dependency to our support of Chavez is unreasonable. If so, what exactly is a reasonable reason for that support??

Sounds to me like Obama is engaging in business as usual. We do whatever is in the best interest of the government. Not the people, not in the interest of freedom or liberty or democracy, but what will make the current administration look good and get reelected. Sad to see this, especially on the 4th of July. We have forgotten our principles.