Aid or Political Pressure?

I'm beginning to wonder- why, exactly do we give 'humanitarian aid' to other countries? Is it to help them or to exert political pressure?

I ask because recently, we stopped sending aid to Honduras. Why? Because they decided they didn't like their president and ousted him.

Wait. Isn't that the wonderful 'democracy' our government so wants to institute the world over? Why aren't they happy? Why aren't they jumping and dancing in the streets?

From the CNN story- "The political crisis stemmed from [Honduran President] Zelaya's plan to hold a referendum that could have changed the constitution and allowed longer term limits. The country's congress had outlawed the vote and the supreme court had ruled it illegal. De facto President Roberto Micheletti and his supporters say Zelaya's removal was a constitutional transfer of power and not a coup."

So... where's the problem? Zelaya was trying to do something they said was illegal. So they decided something had to be done. So they did it- within the bounds of their Constitution, apparently.

From the Honduran Constitution-
"Article 3 .- No one owes obedience to a usurper government or to those who assume public office or employment by force of arms or using means or procedures that violate or are not aware [of] this Constitution and the laws. Acts verified by such authorities are zero. People are entitled to resort to insurrection in defense of constitutional order. "

"Article 4- The alternation in the office of President of the Republic is required. "

"Article 5 .- The government must rest on the principle of participatory democracy which is derived from national integration, which involves participation of all political sectors in public administration in order to ensure and enhance the progress of Honduras based on political stability and the national reconciliation."

"ARTICLE 184 .- Laws may be declared unconstitutional on grounds of form and content. In the Supreme Court of Justice is responsible for understanding [and making] resolution[s] original and exclusive in the matter and shall act with the requirements of the final ruling. "

"ARTICLE 237 .- The presidential term is four years and will start [on the] seventh day of January following the date on which the election was conducted. "

"ARTICLE 304 .- It is for the courts [to] apply laws to specific cases, [and] prosecute and execute judgments. At no time may [the justice] set up courts of exception."

"ARTICLE 306 .- Courts if necessary require the help of the security forces to fulfill their resolutions, if they were refused or [are not] available, citizens will demand it."

"Article 321 .- The servants of the State [have] no powers other than those expressly conferred by law. Any act that [falls] outside the law is null and entails[?] responsibility. "

Anyway...

"'At this moment, we would not be able to support the outcome of the scheduled elections,' the State Department statement said."

Why under God's blue sky is our state department worrying about what happens in another country? What is so special about this Zelaya guy? Why must we lodge our own little protest, tying the hands of Honduras to do what we want?

And why do our government officials absolutely insist in playing world policeman- through foreign aid, of all things!?