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Among the most misbegotten blunders of the period leading up to the Second World War was that of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Remembered for disastrous misjudgments during "negotiations" with Adolph Hitler, culminating in his almost comically ironic "Peace in our time" proclamation of September 1938, Chamberlain desperately sought to avoid direct conflict with Germany by appeasing the Nazi regime at any cost. In so doing, he exposed a weakness of personal fortitude and national will that only served to embolden the Reich.

No less despicable was that, as a result of Chamberlain's frantic negotiations, the nation of Czechoslovakia was sacrificed into the gaping jaws of the Nazis. Under the courageous leadership of Edvard Benes, Czechoslovakia had initially been willing to unilaterally face down the Reich, and in so doing, may well have prompted the humiliation and collapse of Hitler's regime. In deference to the Fuhrer however, England, France, and Poland put enormous pressure upon the Czechs, ostensibly to repatriate the Sudetenland, a border region that was heavily populated with Germans.

Ultimately, the entire Sudetenland controversy was revealed as a ruse by Hitler to justify his takeover of the heavily industrialized Czechoslovakia. Consequently, Chamberlain ensured that Europe would indeed be immersed in war, but with a much more militarily fortified Germany. The horror and bloodshed of World War II, which might have been totally avoided or at least minimized by a united allied opposition to the Nazis, was instead guaranteed. Chamberlain's flawed strategy of appeasement proved to be the surest catalyst for eventual confrontation and carnage.

This tragic episode of Western history should provide innumerable lessons for all who followed. Negotiating with tyrants will inevitably fail. Appeasement will ensure a strengthened and emboldened opponent.

The abundance of historical parallels between pre-war Europe and modern day South America may give cause to wonder why, in seemingly similar circumstances, Barack Obama is embarking on such a destructive and futile course. Present circumstances in and around Venezuela clearly bear a grim resemblance to the German military build-up preceding the onset of hostilities in Europe.

Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's power crazed ruler has made no effort at hiding his agenda of forcible conversion and eventual takeover of surrounding nations. In the midst of this growing Marxist shadow, the people of Honduras have chosen to remain sovereign and free, asserting the primacy of their nation's constitution over the grandiose visions of Chavez. To this end they took the drastic action of ousting President Manuel Zelaya who, following in the footsteps of Chavez, sought to emplace himself as president for life.

A sovereign Honduras, returned to the justice and the stability of its constitution, would provide a beacon of hope for oppressed peoples of the region who increasingly fall under the grip of Chavez. As such, he cannot allow the action to stand. So he has enlisted the aid of fellow Marxists Fidel Castro and Daniel Ortega to intimidate the current Honduran leadership into acquiescence. And in their midst proudly stands America's appeaser in chief, Barack Obama.

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