A GENERAL'S SECRET LIFE?

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000201480001-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 17, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 23, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/01/17: CIA-RDP90-00965R000201480001-9
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7
A General's
Secret Life?
Scandal in Panama
F or a man accused of so many dark
deeds, Panamanian strongman Gen.
Manuel Antonio Noriega was in a
jaunty mood last week. He cut short a visit
to Washington amid U.S. press reports that
he has been involved for years in drug traf-
ficking, mone laundering and arms deal-
ing, as we as intelligence gathering 1or
Cuba, and that he may have ordered the
murder of a political opponent In Panama
City he got together for drinks with top
officials at the presidential palace. He wore
a casual sport jacket and regaled his sup-
porters with jokes late into the night. He
accused the Americans and the opposition
of plotting against Panama. "There are two
kinds of gringos," Noriega said. "There are
the gringos we all know, and then there
are the gringeros. Those are the Panama-
nians who crawl for the gringos."
Washington has suspected Noriega of
drug trafficking and money laundering for
years. But according to The New York
NEWSWEEK
23 June 1986
'There are two kinds of gringos': Noriega
Times and NBC News, U.S. intelligence
agencies now have evidence that he has
continued those activities as head of Pana-
ma's National Defense Force. The intelli-
gence reports also implicated him in the
killing of Hugo Spadafora, an outspoken
dissident whose decapitated body was
found in Costa Rica last fall. Noriega has
denied any involvement in the murder.
Noriega's supporters accused Washing-
ton of a "malicious plot" to topple their
leader and of trying to undermine the trea-
ty-negotiated by Jimmy Carter-giving
Panama control of the Panama Canal in
the year 2000. "The way they describe No-
riega, he's the Rambo of Latin America
"
,
said one Foreign Ministry source
"That is
.
an image I would think the gringos would
be pleased with."
Noriega's opponents could not under-
stand why the U.S. government and
ress
p
had taken so long to close in on the Pana-
manian leader. "We've been saying these
things for a long time," said Miguel Anto-
nio Bernal, a prominent opposition figure.
"
'
It
s truly sad that the U.S. government
has played godfather to so much immoral-
ity. We have violence here that is in many
ways worse than in Guatemala or El Salva-
dor. It is subtle, but it is institutionalized
"
.
Vital outpost: The Reagan administration
has begun to distance itself from Noriega
and his regime. U.S. Ambassador Arthur
Davis has pressed the Panamanian govern-
ment to solve the Spadafora murder case
and has warned that a worsening pattern
of human-rights abuses, corruption and
drug trafficking could jeopardize further
aid to Panama. But the administration is
reluctant to move too hastily. Panama is a
vital outpost not only because of the canal.
It also serves as headquarters for the U.S.
Southern Command and as a listening post
for much of Latin America. For the time
being, Washington may have to make do
with Noriega's heavy-handed rule.
ANGLSDEMING(Clth Liz BALMASEDAMPanama _J)
and WashiaRton bureau reports
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/01/17: CIA-RDP90-00965R000201480001-9