Manuel Zelaya, the democratically-elected president of Honduras, was ousted from his palace by the military. According to his political opponents, his removal was for attempting to change the Honduran constitution to extend his time in office. The military coup was condemned by many countries in the region.

What is interesting about it is the attitude of Hugo Chavez. He has been one of the most controversial leaders of Venezuela. He’s seen by his detractors as a dictator and has a culture of rigging the elections in his country as well. Hugo Chavez is threatening the military junta in Honduras to restore the democratically-elected president or face a military invasion.

For the first time the US and Venezuela are on the same side. But, Hugo Chavez is certainly not in a position to give lessons of democracy to his neighbors. As the Massai of Kenya say, “Do not sweep someone else’s home while yours is dirty.”