This is the tenth time this century that US imperialism has invaded or occupied Panamanian territory. All this interference has not changed by one jot the poverty and injustice suffered by the population. Thus, Bush's claim that he is going to re-establish democracy in Panama is ridiculous. The terrible consequences of every US intervention in Latin America for the continent's inhabitants are well-known. Misery, hunger and corruption. The argument that the invasion is part of a struggle against corruption is 28 ing people that imperialism has trid to also ludicrous, since it is precisely by buyavoid from the start every attempt at civil resistance, offering a fistful of dollars to those who surrender their arms or give information on the whereabouts of Noriega's associates.
More than 300 Panamanian soldiers were killed, and some 500 civilians have been assassinated by the occupying troops without fear of punishment. George Bush is directly responsible for these crimes. He is also responsible for the material damage, already estimated at more than US$3 billion. He is responsible for the violence against the Nicaraguan Embassy and hundreds of defenseless civilians. Finally he is responsible for the arrest and detention of more than 5,000 Panamanians who have been transferred at gunpoint into secret prisons, without anyone knowing what is happening to them. Among them are many Panamanian social activists and revolutionary militants. Noriega learnt methods from
US
There is not much more to say about the situation of the ex-dictator Manuel Noriega, His role as a CIA informer at least since 1976 — at precisely the time when Bush was responsible for that organization - is well-known, as is his part in supplying arms to the Nicaraguan Contras. Noriega is a product of the antiinsurgency schools in the US. It was there that he learned most of his methods for controlling the population.
US imperialism used all the latest military techniques, notably the new Stealth bomber, in its invasion, as well as the rapid deployment strategies developed by the Pentagon to reinforce the military doctrine known under the title "Low intensity operations". This was exemplified by the participation of the 82nd Airborne Division and the "special task forces". All this shows that the imperialists do not intend to limit their aggression to Panama.
As soon as the invasion started, the Yankee occupation forces undertook to transport Guillermo Endara to one of their 11 military bases on Panamanian soil. It was under these conditions that Endara, a candidate in the elections last May — which were marked by massive overt fraud and which Noriega annulled — took office as president.
The circumstances of its birth define the servile character of the new ruler towards his imperialist patron. A few days after, Endara made a public declaration against the governments of Nicaragua and Cuba, threatening to break diplomatic relations if they did not immediately recognize his
International Viewpoint #177 • January 29, 1990