Celebrity Rehab Part Deux - Guatemala

Guatemala and the other Central American nations are great to visit for a number of reasons, including scenic beauty and terrific people.

However, celebrity rehabilitation is not something at which the region has excelled.

LiLo tried to make it a go with a visit to Guatemala in early 2010 and her career has not rebounded in any significant way.

John Edwards spent time building homes in El Salvador in December 2009 and I honestly don't know if he ever returned.

Well, Mad Max is now going to give it a shot.

Mel Gibson is leaving for Guatemala tomorrow on a long-planned charity trip, and it looks like he'll be out of the country when the D.A. charges him with misdemeanor domestic violence.

Sources tell TMZ ... the purpose of the trip is associated with the campaign to save the rain forest in the country. Mel made the commitment to go several months ago.

As we have already reported, the D.A. will charge Mel with domestic violence, and a spokesperson for the office says the decision will likely come this week -- while District Attorney Steve Cooley is on vacation.

So it looks like Mel will not be in the U.S. when he's charged.

I feel out of my league with this one. These stories are more in line with Dan Drezner's expertise.

Or maybe John Orman, a friend and former professor at Fairfield University. He co-authored Celebrity Politics and would probably have something witty to say. Unfortunately, John left us too early. He's better known for running against Joe Lieberman for the 2006 Democratic Senate nomination.