Even for the Obama administration its Honduras “policy” has become totally incoherent. First we were treated to a tour de force of diplomatic double-talk from the president:

America cannot and should not seek to impose any system of government on any other country, nor would we presume to choose which party or individual should run a country…. And we haven’t always done what we should have on that front.Even as we meet here today, America supports now the restoration of the democratically elected president of Honduras, even though he has strongly opposed American policies.

Got that — not taking sides except ever-so obviously in favor of the guy whose role model is Hugo Chavez.

But then we decided to stop all that . . .  what is it called? . . .  ah, yes, “meddling.” So we passed the baton to President Óscar Arias of Costa Rica to mediate. Hillary Clinton explains the new approach is to let them all work it out among themselves:

While Secretary Clinton reiterated the United States’ condemnation of Mr. Zelaya’s ouster, she stopped short of calling for his reinstatement, a departure from statements by President Obama earlier Tuesday and from the position taken by much of the international community.
When asked whether the United States viewed Mr. Zelaya’s return as central to the restoration of democratic order, she said that she did not want to “prejudge” the talks before they began.
“There are many different issues that will have to be discussed and resolved,” Mrs. Clinton said. “But I think it’s fair to let the parties themselves, with President Arias’s assistance, sort out all of these issues.”

Goodness knows what provoked them to stop the foot-stomping. Perhaps someone found a copy of the Honduran constitution. Or maybe they got nervous about building up another Hugo Chavez. But they have taught our foes and friends a key lesson: the president doesn’t always mean what he says and if you don’t like his first answer just wait awhile; he may change his tune.