“Is it true that the Chinese control both ends of the canal both economically and militarily?”
No. It’s another huge myth.
“But I saw the conditions at Fort Sherman and Fort Clayton and the word ravaged springs to mind.”
Ft Sherman always looked ravaged. It was in the boonies (jungle).
I was working at Ft. Clayton in 1986, and that statement is simply not correct. Whatever it looked like then, it looked like that before and after. It had nothing to do with the transition. Military installations always look and are depressing.
Well that for sure is durn true! I remember a popular myth held about Fort Riley, KS that the last order given by General CUSTER as he departed for the Little Big Horn was: "Don't change a THING until I get back!" That order was followed to the letter....