The recent creation of a civilian minister of defense historically changes the political panorama considerably. We consider the choice of Edgardo Dumas Rodríguez as an excellent choice. He is an unbiased and well-respected individual who gained notoriety when he won a lawsuit against the city of Puerto Cortés during the Callejas administration for collecting a toll during Holy Week.

In typical Honduras.com insider style, we happen to have been good friends with his son for many years. We consider that junior's outstanding image of integrity and honesty brilliantly reflects the father's creation. The elder Dumas is also a member of the board of directors of the news media that is partially owned by President Flores, which means that he has the president's complete trust, backing and accessibility for this delicate mission that has been entrusted to him.

The new Vice Minister of Defense is the former general Roberto Lázarus Lozano, who also was the chief of state within the top echelon of the armed forces. This is very significant since it means that he has the respect and backing of the armed forces personnel as an insider who worked his way up the ranks over the years. He therefore complements the new civilian minister well by providing credibility and leadership within the institution.

The new Vice Minister has already squashed some internal grumbling within the ranks, by supporting the recent promotion of Rodolfo Interiano Portillo to one of the key positions in the armed forces and in essence bypassing other officials with more longevity within the institution. A mutinous rebellion was brewing, but swift counter actions implemented by the armed forces leadership have quashed it. It is our opinion that other challenges will continue to arise during this transitional phase in which the armed forces is learning how to adjust to civilian leadership and that the new Vice Minister will play a key role in their resolution.

We have already pointed out previously that we wholeheartedly support the appointment of Interiano Portillo. We have also closely observed his stellar rise in the ranks with special interest ever since I published the story about him concerning returning money to its rightful owner who was scammed via an illegal bribe by a police officer. Interiano Portillo personally and very discreetly returned the money and apologized for the incident. We have since then seen many socially responsible actions implemented by this individual and applaud the fact that he is one of the key persons steering the course of the armed forces.

We recently received a poignant letter from one of our readers who questioned whether the recent actions implemented by the government with regards to the armed forces will really stick, or if the armed forces will balk. It is our opinion that the "river waters will soon settle back down into the riverbed". This basically means that once the initial storm blows over, we believe that life will return to normal within Honduran society and the armed forces will successfully be incorporated into the new democracy and will be controlled by the civilian president.

The bottom line associated with all of these recent changes is that the armed forces is finally becoming a tool wielded to support democratic change within the country, rather than continue to be an obstacle as it was in the past. The armed forces will serve the nation rather than govern it. In local Honduran lingo, "the tiger has been de-clawed and its tail amputated".

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