THE RESUMÉ OF MANUEL NORIEGA,
THE MOST FAMOUS GRADUATE OF THE SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS
(1) Noriega, considered "outstanding" at the SOA, is on the CIA payroll (to the tune of up to $100,000 a year) from the mid-�60s to the mid-�80s.
(2) His drug trafficking, though known, is no obstacle to his chumminess with George Bush (CIA director and "Vice" President) during the �70s and early �80s.
(3) His true crime is being an independent leader of Panama, just before the US is obliged to return the stolen Panama Canal Zone on January 1st, 1990.
(4) So after publicly demonizing his longtime friend and employee, Bush slaughters thousands of Panamanians and installs a puppet government, in the nick of time, on December 20th, 1989.
(5) Let�s not call any more presidents "wimps", ok? It just pisses �em off.
The gory details�
50s-60s Spy for US, informing on colleagues in his socialist party, and on leftist students at his Peruvian military academy. � New York Times, 9/28/88
1967 Finishes courses at SOA including Infantry Officer, Combat Intelligence Officer, Military Intelligence (Counter-Intelligence Officer Course), and Jungle Operations. An instructor calls him "outstanding." � John Dinges, Our Man in Panama, 1991
1971 US has "hard evidence" of his heavy involvement in drug trafficking, "sufficient for indictment". Nixon sets in motion initial plans for his assassination. � Frontline (PBS), 1/30/90
1970-76 Meanwhile, Noriega is in the pay of the CIA and the Pentagon, reportedly receiving more than $100,000 per year. � Newsweek, 1/15/90
1976 CIA Director George Bush gives him a VIP tour of CIA headquarters in Washington; he resides with Bush's Deputy Director. � Dinges
1977 Carter officials reportedly remove him from the US payroll. � New York Times, 10/2/88
1979 Gives haven to the overthrown Shah of Iran, brutal US-installed dictator.
1981 Becomes part of a ruling military junta after 13-year dictator and SOA graduate General Omar Torrijos dies in a plane crash, later blamed on Noriega and the CIA by other junta members.
Reagan/Bush officials put him back on the US payroll, again reportedly at more than $100,000 per year. � San Francisco Chronicle, 6/11/87
1981-83 Extensive drug trafficking and money laundering involving the Medellin, Colombia cocaine cartel. � Dinges
8/83 Seizes command of the National Guard (to be renamed "Panama Defense Forces"). He is the effective chief of state.
11/83 Washington visits with White House, State Department and Pentagon, including CIA Director William Casey. � Newsweek, 1/15/90
1983-86 The US loves him for: spying on Fidel Castro and Daniel Ortega; allowing the United States to set up listening posts in Panama, with which they monitor sensitive communications in all of Central America and beyond; aiding the American warfare against the rebels in El Salvador and the government of Nicaragua (facilitating the flow of money and arms to the contras, allowing the US to base spy planes in Panama in clear violation of the canal treaties, giving the US permission to train contras in Panama, and spying in support of American sabotage inside of Nicaragua). � Newsweek, 1/15/90
More:
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~lormand/poli/soa/panama.htm