Manuel Noriega

Manuel Noriega was a Panamanian politician and military officer who served as the dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989. He was a key figure in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and received training at the School of the Americas in Fort Benning, Georgia, alongside other notable figures such as Hugo Banzer and Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri. Noriega's life was marked by his involvement with the United States and his eventual downfall, which was facilitated by the United States invasion of Panama. He was also associated with notable figures like Fidel Castro, Daniel Ortega, and Augusto Pinochet.

● Early Life and Education

Manuel Noriega was born in Panama City, Panama, to a poor family and was raised by his mother, Miguelita Noriega, after his father, Ricardo Noriega, abandoned them. He attended the Instituto Nacional de Panama and later received a scholarship to study at the Chorrillos Military School in Lima, Peru, where he graduated in 1957. Noriega's early life and education were influenced by his relationships with notable figures such as Omar Torrijos, who would later become a key figure in his rise to power. He also developed connections with the United States Army and received training at the United States Army School of the Americas in Fort Benning, Georgia, alongside other notable military leaders like Efraín Ríos Montt and Humberto Ortega.

● Military Career

Noriega's military career began in the Panamanian Army, where he quickly rose through the ranks due to his connections with Omar Torrijos and his own abilities as a military strategist. He became the chief of military intelligence in 1970 and played a key role in the 1970s in suppressing opposition to the Torrijos regime. Noriega's relationships with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other United States agencies, such as the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), were crucial in his rise to power. He worked closely with CIA operatives like Duane Clarridge and Alan D. Fiers Jr., and received support from United States politicians such as Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

● Rule of Panama

After the death of Omar Torrijos in 1981, Noriega became the de facto ruler of Panama and consolidated his power through a series of coups and elections. He was officially appointed as the head of the Panamanian Defense Forces in 1983 and became the dictator of Panama. Noriega's rule was marked by his relationships with Cuba and Nicaragua, and he received support from Fidel Castro and Daniel Ortega. He also developed connections with Colombian narcoterrorists like Pablo Escobar and Carlos Lehder Rivas, and allowed Panama to be used as a money laundering hub for Medellín cartel activities.

● United States Invasion and Capture

The United States invasion of Panama in 1989, also known as Operation Just Cause, was a major turning point in Noriega's life. The invasion was authorized by United States President George H.W. Bush and involved a large-scale military operation by the United States Armed Forces. Noriega was captured on January 3, 1990, after taking refuge in the Vatican Apostolic Nunciature in Panama City. He was then extradited to the United States to face trial for narcotics trafficking and racketeering charges. The invasion was supported by United States politicians like Dick Cheney and Jesse Helms, and was opposed by United Nations leaders like Javier Pérez de Cuéllar and Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

● Trial and Imprisonment

Noriega's trial began in 1991 and lasted for several months. He was found guilty of narcotics trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Noriega's imprisonment was marked by his attempts to appeal his sentence and his efforts to secure a pardon or extradition to Panama. He was eventually extradited to France in 2010, where he was tried and convicted of money laundering charges related to his activities with the Medellín cartel. Noriega's trial and imprisonment were influenced by his relationships with notable figures like Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada and Hugo Chávez.

● Later Life and Death

Noriega was released from prison in France in 2011 and returned to Panama, where he was arrested and charged with murder and corruption. He died on May 29, 2017, at the age of 83, while serving a prison sentence in Panama City. Noriega's legacy is complex and controversial, with some viewing him as a dictator and others seeing him as a nationalist who fought against United States influence in Panama. His life and career were marked by his relationships with notable figures like Fidel Castro, Daniel Ortega, and Augusto Pinochet, and his involvement in major events like the United States invasion of Panama and the Iran-Contra affair. Category:Panamanian politicians