I recently traveled to Honduras as part of a GOP congressionaldelegation observing efforts to ensure an open, free and fair election therethis November. 

When leftist President Manuel Zelaya sought an amendment to the constitution,which strictly limits the president to a four-year term, it caused greatconcern. Were Honduras to fall into dictatorial hands, the consequences wouldhave been wide ranging and dangerous.

In June, Zelaya was forced into exile and subsequently removed as president bya ruling of the Honduran Supreme Court and vote of the National Congress ofHonduras. In fact, the U.S. Law Library of Congress reviewed the case and saidZelaya's removal from office was within Honduras' constitution. Yet,the U.S. State Department took a contrary and frankly surprisingposition by siding with the exiled would-be dictator Zelaya, refusing torecognize the interim government headed by interim President RobertoMicheletti, cutting off nearly $43 million in democracy building aid andwithholding support for the November elections.

To be sure, Central America is a tenuous region and the Obama administrationmust carefully maintain the support of our allies. Moreover, Micheletti hasmade some very notable tactical errors, including forcibly making Zelaya leaveHonduras and then temporarily restricting the freedom of the press. 

These are serious mistakes, but they don't make the case for democraticelections any less warranted.

There remains a solution that will satisfy American interests, providestability to a region in short supply of it and, most important, give Honduranswhat they deserve -- fair elections. Even if the State Department will notrecognize Micheletti's interim government, it should support election monitorsto observe the upcoming Honduran elections.

Neither Zelaya nor Micheletti are on the ballot, nor should they be. Michelettilost his presidential primary and has made no efforts to alter his situation.Zelaya is term-limited and his time as president has come and gone. 

The silverlining will be the election of a new, legitimate leader in Honduraswho will provide a counterbalance to Chavez's dictatorial regime. 

To read the op-ed on the Chicago Tribune's website, click here.