Both countries have suffered bitterly in past decades: from the Latin American debt disaster of the 1980s, from ugly military rule in Honduras, in Nicaragua from the far uglier Somoza dictatorship and then the economics of the Sandinists who overthrew it, plus an American-inspired guerrilla war against them.

ECONOMIST: After Mitch

Ninety-four members of Congress signed a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Monday, proposing a cutoff to all military and police aid until the issue of human rights violations in Honduras are addressed.

CNN: U.S. legislators threaten aid cut to Honduras over deaths

Back in 1984, the U.S. wanted to help the poor Central American nation of Honduras, where democracy had only just replaced a military dictatorship, by allowing duty-free exports of socks whose toes were seamed there.

NPR: Alabama Town Questions an Economy of Socks