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Manuel Antonio Noriega, the brash former dictator of Panama and sometime ally of the United States whose ties to drug trafficking led to his ouster in 1989 in what was then the largest American military action since the Vietnam War, has died. He was 83. President Juan Carlos Varela of Panama announced Mr. Noriega’s death on Twitter early Tuesday morning.

Will Obamacare be the New Panama Canal for Conservatives? Contact: Bob Sturm, 703-392-7676 ext 1144; after 5 PM eastern, 703-307-8176MANASSAS, Va., Oct. 1, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- Following is the statement of conservative author and direct mail pioneer Richard A. Viguerie. "The establishment media and Washington's permanent political class continue to try to sell the idea that taking the fight over defunding Obamacare to the point that it has caused a partial government shutdown is a losing proposition for Republicans because 17 years ago the polls showed that the public held the GOP more responsible than Democrats for such inconveniences as the closure of...

A French court has granted a request by Panama to send Manuel Noriega back home, where he is wanted for crimes committed during his 1983-1989 rule. The former Panamanian military leader is currently serving a prison sentence in France for money laundering. Prior to that, he spent 20 years in prison in the US after being convicted there of drug-trafficking charges. Noriega is likely to return before the end of the year to Panama, where courts have already convicted him in absentia.

Detainees or POWs? Ancient distinctions. By Mackubin Thomas Owens is professor of strategy and force planning at the Naval War College in Newport. His views do no necessarily reflect those of any agency of the U.S. government. January 24, 2002 8:55 a.m. as President Bush's decision launch a "war against terrorism" in response to September 11 now hoisted the United States on its own petard? That would seem to be the case as international organizations and even officials of allied countries such as Great Britain have intensified criticism of the United States concerning its treatment of captured al Qaeda and ...

(English-language translation) MIAMI - Panamanian General Manuel Antonio Noriega appealed yesterday to the United States Supreme Court as a last legal recourse to avoid his extradition to France after an appeals court ruled that he may be sent to Paris, where he faces money-laundering charges. Seventy-three-year-old Noriega, who is serving a prison sentence in Miami for allowing cocaine shipments from the defunct Medellín Colombian drug cartel to Panama, went to the nation's highest court to argue that, being a prisoner of war, he must be sent back to Panama in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

MIAMI: Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, to be released from a U.S. prison in September, was due in court Monday for a hearing on an extradition request from France, which wants him to be tried there. Noriega, 72, is to leave a Miami prison Sept. 9 after serving 15 years for drug trafficking and racketeering. He wants to fly immediately to Panama to fight a conviction in the slayings of two political opponents, his lawyers have said. But American prosecutors are pushing for his extradition to France, where Noriega was convicted in absentia in 1999 on money-laundering charges. He was...

CHICAGO -- Supporters of two Chicago activists sentenced to prison for disobeying a judge's order while protesting at a Georgia Army base came out to give the pair a send-off. Supporters gathered at Montrose Beach on Tuesday as two activists, Ron Durham and Liz Deligio, prepared to go to prison to serve three-month jail terms, NBC5's Mary Ann Ahern reported. Durham and Deligio were sentenced for their part in protesting at the School for the Americas in Fort Benning, Ga. A judge's order had prohibited protestors from walking on to the Army base. Activists Receive Send-Off "They want to intimidate...

<p>Six years ago, the national drama revolved around a heavily investigated leader, his allegedly partisan prosecutor, and the media's fervent desire to save the leader from the prosecutor by hailing the leader as essential to the country and demeaning the prosecutor as a sleazy menace. That was then, and this is now. The current legal situation surrounding Rush Limbaugh does not involve lying under oath, abusing public office, and inappropriate adultery with the much younger help. But now that he has admitted his dreadful addiction to prescription pain-killers and made the painful steps of recovery, Mr. Limbaugh faces a sleazy and reportedly duplicitous Democratic prosecutor in Palm Beach County: Barry Krischer. Where on Earth are the press corps who so despised the alleged use of the prosecutor's office for political gain six years ago? In the May issue of the American Spectator, Sam Dealey, a reporter for The Hill newspaper, lays out the whole Limbaugh story, including the scandalous or questionable tactics of the Limbaugh-haters. Start with former housemaid Wilma Cline and her crooked husband David, who became Mr. Limbaugh's drug suppliers. David Cline skipped bond on a cocaine-trafficking charge for seven years, and then served five years in prison. He was arrested again in 2000 for drug and fraud convictions that earned 18 months probation, which was no doubt violated by feeding Rush's regrettable addiction. Do you remember all those network news reports breathlessly relaying the Clines' story last fall? Where are they now? The Clines sold their story to the National Enquirer for $250,000. Mr. Dealey reports the Clines tried to blackmail Rush, demanding $4 million to keep their mouths shut. Remember all the splashy news magazine stories last fall? Where are they now? Unlike Bill Clinton, Rush Limbaugh never tried to dismiss the story as nothing but lies for cash. But the press that so passionately underlined the tabloid payoff for Gennifer Flowers in 1992 made no attempt to scrutinize Mr. Limbaugh's accusers about low character or outsized greediness. Then there's Barry Krischer, the Florida state attorney for Palm Beach County. Mr. Krischer initially suggested there would be no prosecution of Mr. Limbaugh, since the usual pattern was to target the drug sellers, not the users. But once liberals around the country smelled the political potential of legal trouble for Rush — perhaps leading to a crumbling of his massive radio popularity and an easier road to the White House for the Democrats — waves of pressure rolled over Mr. Krischer, and he floated out with the partisan tide. In December, Mr. Limbaugh's defense lawyer Roy Black was shocked to hear from a Palm Beach Post reporter that he had been told Rush intended to plead guilty to a third-degree felony, an utterly false story. Mr. Krischer's spokesman Michael Edmondson told the Post reporter not to call Mr. Black for comment, but he did. Mr. Black quickly demanded Mr. Krischer start an ethics inquiry into Mr. Edmondson's tactics, which Mr. Krischer has refused to consider. Mr. Krischer apparently thinks little of the ethical codes of law and order. In January, the Fort Lauderdale-based Sun-Sentinel newspaper formally requested records from the Limbaugh case. Without contacting Mr. Black or Mr. Limbaugh, the Krischer team released confidential memos, claiming their moves were endorsed by the state attorney general's office and the Florida Bar. Both groups angrily deny they had approved the controversial tactic. Even with all these sleazy moves, Mr. Dealey reports Barry Krischer is a lock to be re-elected to his legal post, such a sure thing in his liberal county that the local Republican Party won't even field a candidate against him. Since that's the case, Mr. Krischer can pursue Rush without any political consequences — except maybe the passionate backing of the Carvilles, Begalas and Clinton-lovers across the fruited plain if he wanted to seek higher office. The same national media that leaped all over this story at the beginning have yet to tell the comprehensive story, one that includes prosecutorial abuse and medical-privacy issues that have even inspired the Florida chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union to side with Mr. Limbaugh. Where are the salivating watchdogs of Ken Starr now? Where is Keith Olbermann trying to find facial resemblances with infamous Nazi thugs? Aaron Brown publicly proclaimed he could not remove "the permanent smirk that seems to be attached to my face" over Rush's problems last fall. Is the CNN anchor ready to wipe if off his face now? Love is never having to say you're sorry. So, too, it seems, is hate.</p>

Limbaugh's pill use not extraordinary, lawyer says BY DANIEL de VISE ddevise@herald.com Rush Limbaugh's attorney mounted an offensive Monday, accusing Palm Beach County prosecutors of smear tactics and likening his client to any ordinary American with chronic pain. ''This nation is full of people who take medication every day and will do so for the rest of their lives,'' said Roy Black, speaking in a news conference in Miami. Discussing the prescription-drug abuse allegations in unprecedented detail, Black reasoned that the quantity of medicine Limbaugh is accused of ingesting -- 1,800 pills in 210 days -- works out to roughly...

PUNK'D: Ashton Kutcher victim suit headed to trial JANUARY 23--Plea negotiations between Rush Limbaugh and Florida prosecutors stalled last month when government officials insisted that the radio host cop to a felony, rejecting a defense suggestion that Limbaugh simply enter a pretrial diversion program and "continue to receive treatment for his addiction." In an exchange of letters (copies of which you'll find below), Roy Black, Limbaugh's attorney, and prosecutor James Martz offered starkly different versions of the punishment Limbaugh, 53, should receive were he to admit that he engaged in "doctor shopping" to score prescription painkillers and other drugs. In...

Palm Beach County prosecutors rejected an overture last month from Rush Limbaugh's attorneys that would have allowed the conservative commentator to enter drug rehabilitation rather than face criminal charges for prescription drug abuse. Prosecutors say they think they have evidence that Limbaugh committed at least 10 felonies by illegally obtaining overlapping drug prescriptions, according to documents released to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Thursday.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Prosecutors rejected a proposed deal offered by Rush Limbaugh's attorney that would have seen the radio commentator enter a court-sponsored drug intervention program rather than face charges, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported today. Palm Beach County prosecutors wanted Limbaugh to plead guilty to one felony charge of "doctor shopping," a third-degree felony. Limbaugh would have received three years' probation, undergone a drug treatment program and been subject to random drug testing, according to records obtained by the newspaper through a public records request. Limbaugh has not been arrested and no charges have been filed. In...

"Scarborough Country" Thursday, 1-15-04, 10:00 to 10:30pm EDT. Transcribed by me from my personal audiotape: Host: Joe Scarborough: "[Garbled] Rush Limbaugh's attorney, Roy Black, joins us for his first primetime interview on Rush's legal battle. Roy is also an NBC analyst. Thanks for being here, Roy." Guest: Attorney, Roy Black: "That's my pleasure, Joe." Scarborough: "I want to begin, now we've heard over the last couple of months that Rush Limbaugh was involved in a drug ring, he was involved in laundering money, he's been doctor shopping, buying boxes of pills from his maid in a parking lot, and on...

If you missed the interview last night with Roy Black, attorney for Rush Limbaugh, go to Rush's website and listen. Mr.Black mentions that the State Attorney has continued to harass Rush due to volumns of email and letters they have received from "concerned" citizens who want something done about Rush! There is no there there. They are being urged to continue to try and find something to pin on Rush through the urging of the DNC! If you are so inclined, call, write, fax or email the office and let them know how you feel about the railroad job of...

Rush Limbaugh's longtime drug supplier Wilma Cline has angrily denied his lawyer's claim that she and her husband tried to blackmail the conservative talk show host. Wilma, Rush's former housekeeper, spoke out as a judge in West Palm Beach, Fla., dealt Limbaugh, 53, a major blow by ruling that his medical records could be examined by prosecutors as part of an "ongoing criminal investigation." It was the second setback for Limbaugh in 24 hours: Earlier a spokeswoman for his radio network revealed that behind the scenes his attorneys were trying to work out a plea bargain on charges of "doctor...

Here is the transcript of a segment of Geralso's show Saturday night, transcribed by me from my videotape: At Large with Geraldo Rivera - Fox News Channel - Saturday 8:35-40 PM. Subject: Rush Limbaugh / Palm Beach County, Fl. "Doctor Shopping" Case. Host: Geraldo Rivera Guest commentators: Susan Estrich, USC Professor, and Fox News political analyst. Ann Coulter, Constitutional Attorney, and author of the books, "Slander" and "Treason". Garaldo: "Palm Beach prosecutors investigating Rush Limbaugh's drug use have, ah, almost never -- almost NEVER, filed the "doctor shopping" charge that they're using now against the famed radio personality - the...