[Citizen of the United States]

I frankly fail to see how you could interpret my comment as being defensive of General Noriega. I detest the General, and I similarly have contempt for the Central Intelligence Agency for having helped to install him in power in the first place -- and I have contempt for George Herbert Walker Bush, who, as Director of Central Intelligence, gave General Noriega a pay raise.

"A job well done"? The CIA and Citizen Bush created a mess in Panamá, and then used grossly excessive force in Operation JUST CAUSE to clean it up. I see nothing in the entire affair that could be described as "a job well done". JUST CAUSE wouldn't have been needed had not poor decisions been made in dealing with Panamá in the first place.

[skeeter]

How do you feel about Jimmy Carter?

[shiva]

Last time I looked Panamá was still there. Bye! Don't let the door hit your culo.

[gaspar]

Can you name a Panamanian president who has held office since 1950 that was not on the CIA payroll, a crook, and absolutely imprvious to the wretched poverty that exists in Panama? One need nothing more that a simple investigation of the Panamanian banking system to discern it is one of the most corrupt in the world, floating in a sea of narc money. Panama is a kleptocracy, and you know it.