08TEGUCIGALPA459 2008-05-15 20:08 PRESIDENT JOSE MANUEL ZELAYA ROSALES: PERSONAL REFLECTIONS OF AMBASSADOR FORD REF: OFFICIAL BIOS ON FILE In a 2008 embassy cable recently made public by WikiLeaks, former US Ambassador Charles A. Ford described Honduras' then President Manuel Zelaya as "a rebellious teenager" with ties to organized crime. According to Ford, the Honduran president was well aware of his country's dependence on the United States and would "make clear that anyone interested in becoming president of the country needs first to get the blessing of the American Ambassador." Ford writes: "It is clear...that on one level he resents very much this perceived dependency yet accepts it exists and looks to me to define for him the rules of the game. He becomes frustrated at times when he believes I am not carrying out this responsibility." Ford makes clear that Zelaya is "not a friend" because of nationalist views that hold the United States responsible for Honduran poverty and dependence. Ford expresses frustration that Zelaya was "absolutely closed to listening to [the US]" on ambassadorial appointments to the OAS and the UN. The condescending tone of Ford's assessment strips bare official American attitudes towards Honduras. Ford seems to suggest that Honduras' political and economic dependence can be manipulated to further US interests, he writes "Despite [Zelaya's] feelings towards us, he does respect the role the US Embassy is still perceived to play in Honduran ...