What political consequences look like

Submitted by gjohnsit on Sun, 03/13/2022 - 4:47pm

That guy in shackles? He was president of a country a few months ago.
He was also considered a key U.S. ally in the "War on Drugs".

Nonetheless, consecutive US governments, and President Donald Trump most recently, have looked the other way. Shortly after Tony's drug-trafficking conviction last year, Trump praised Hernández for "working with the United States very closely" and for his help "stopping drugs at a level that has never happened."

So then somehow Hernández managed to lose a rigged election, and then
this happened.

The arrest of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández and the images that followed — a leader shackled and paraded before the cameras like a common criminal — were a stunning reversal for a man who for years seemed impervious to growing allegations of corruption.
While president from 2014 until last month, he had the support of U.S. officials waging the war on drugs and some diplomats who did not see a better option. But less than three weeks out of office, his utility exhausted, the U.S. government moved for his extradition and the chance to make him an example in a region wracked by corruption.

Hernández arrived at the Supreme Court of Justice in Tegucigalpa Wednesday morning for his initial court appearance. About 150 supporters from his National Party awaited him, chanting "You're not alone!"

He was arrested Tuesday at the request of the U.S. government on charges of drug trafficking, using weapons for drug trafficking and conspiracy to use weapons in drug trafficking.

His supporters were right. He wasn't
alone.

The former head of Honduras’ National Police now facing extradition to the United States on drug trafficking and weapons charges was a long-feared figure, as well as an ally of the U.S. government in its war on drugs.
Juan Carlos Bonilla Valladares, better known as “El Tigre” or “The Tiger,” grew up in Honduras’ military before embarking on a long career in its National Police force that culminated in a stint as its commander.

He was plagued by allegations of human rights violations, including operating death squads and being a hired killer for drug traffickers seeking to rub out the competition.

I just thought people might like to see consequences for misdeeds by political leaders, since we don't have them in America.

Tags:

Honduras

drug trafficking

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Comments

Submitted by humphrey on Sun, 03/13/2022 - 5:11pm

As if the US wasn't aware of what was going on.

You are an ally until you are not. When you are useful the US has a blind eye but it doesn't last forever. Ask Manuel Antonio Noriega or Jeanine Áñez how things worked out.

Submitted by usefewersyllables on Mon, 03/14/2022 - 1:39pm

The USG throws away

@humphrey

allies as easily as it throws away used toilet paper- and in much the same way.

—

Twice bitten, permanently shy.

Submitted by gjohnsit on Sun, 03/13/2022 - 5:19pm

Goldman Sachs profiting off war

loophole

Goldman Sachs, the giant New York investment bank, is cashing in on the war in Ukraine by selling Russian debt to U.S. hedge funds — and using a legal loophole in the Biden administration’s sanctions to do it.
As the Western world scrambles to defend Ukraine by locking down Russian money, the company is acting as a broker between Moscow’s creditors and U.S. investors, pitching clients on the opportunity to take advantage of Russia’s war-crippled economy by buying its debt securities low now and selling them high later, according to four financial world sources familiar with the strategy.

An investor who declined a Goldman trader’s offer to add Russian debt to his hedge fund’s portfolio — because of the war — said the trader suggested he could “just put it in your personal account” to avoid scrutiny.

That does not violate the U.S. sanctions regime, but it is very different from the public face Goldman is putting on its relationship with Russia. In an emailed statement, Goldman is telling the public that it is “winding down” its business in Russia, portraying its actions as supportive of America’s effort to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin.