Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan (estimated to cost $5.3 billion) to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2014-15.
From the CIA World Fact Book.
Recommended
- I make ZERO bones about the fact that I think the NYT is doing more harm to our democracy than any other news organization, and I include Fox News on that list. You, dear reader, who I would have to assume is a left-leaning voter that frequents...222 comments 467 Recs
- — — I made the decision to listen to the SCOTUS hearing yesterday. I had lots of emotions in reaction to it, but the overriding one had to do with a sense of dread. Followed by a nagging thought: “Is there any common sense left on the bench that Trump...234 comments 671 Recs
- Heavy downpours in Kenya paralyzed Nairobi for over three days. The Intertropical Convergence Zone is a planetary scale band of heavy rains that encircles Earth near the equator. It is where northeast trade winds and Southeast trade winds collide....11 comments 126 Recs
- Ukraine sets fire to a Ministry of Defense helicopter in Moscow. Whoa. That’s close. The Russian who fell off before they hit the mine is thanking his lucky stars. Housekeeping is going to be pissed at the mess. Russian soldier discovers an effective...50 comments 284 Recs
- Mr. Sauer (Attorney for Petitioner, Donald J. Trump: I wish to pose a different hypothetical to you now concerning this issue of immunity. If the current President, Joe Biden, determined that the Supreme Court has become such a corrupt institution that...59 comments 134 Recs
- I’ve decided to compose a comedy of manners/courtroom thriller about our topsy-turvy times. My working title: The Drowsy Rapist. Perhaps The Chilly Rapist. The Drowsy, Chil- no, that’s too much. ANYWAY, there’s this rapist, who commits bunches and...11 comments 64 Recs
- Day 4 of the Trump criminal trial saw three different witnesses take the stand. -The judge rescheduled Trump’s contempt hearing from next Wednesday to Thursday. Still no ruling on the previously pending contempt motion. -Testimony continued with more...27 comments 229 Recs
- Late Night Snark: I’ll See You In Court Edition "There were several heated exchanges between Trump's trial lawyers and the judge in the hearing about whether or not he violated the judge's gag order. Judge Merchan told Trump lead attorney Todd Blanche...176 comments 162 Recs
- All our fears to the contrary, Trump actually has little real chance of winning the upcoming election. The key is demographics. There are, of course, a number of factors that influence which voters vote for which candidates, and these factors can...195 comments 226 Recs
- If the Supreme Court thinks former presidents have, or do not have, some or absolute immunity against criminal prosecution, why not just say so now? Why would it take months? Do they have something better to do? Are there other priorities on their...319 comments 657 Recs
- Many Americans are confused by the spectacle they heard (we couldn’t “witness” it because Republicans on the Supreme Court won’t allow their proceedings to be televised) yesterday as an attorney for Donald Trump, at least three different times in...138 comments 347 Recs
- Kristi Noem is the Governor of South Dakota. A leading candidate for Trump VP. And a woman who takes pleasure in killing things. To promote her candidacy, she will publish her obligatory autobiography, “No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with...463 comments 311 Recs
Recent Diaries
- Welcome to the Overnight News Digest with a crew consisting of founder Magnifico, regular editors side pocket, maggiejean, Chitown Kev, eeff, Magnifico, annetteboardman, Besame, jck, and JeremyBloom. Alumni editors include (but not limited to)...2 comments 3 Recs
- Russian forces reportedly conducted limited strikes against Ukrainian railway and industrial infrastructure on April 26. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Russian forces struck a train transporting Western weapons and military...2 comments 11 Recs
- Please read and follow instructions before opening. Or consult your physician. �This is a late-night gathering for non-serious palaver, enter at your own risk. Frivolity and silliness are highly ...4 comments 3 Recs
- In this video, we’re breaking down the Supreme Court’s gender bias in the Idaho abortion case. Let’s discuss the implications of this decision. Supreme Court’s Gender Deafness. Watch Politics Done Right T.V. here. Podcasts (Video — Audio) In a recent...3 comments 6 Recs
- I’ve decided to compose a comedy of manners/courtroom thriller about our topsy-turvy times. My working title: The Drowsy Rapist. Perhaps The Chilly Rapist. The Drowsy, Chil- no, that’s too much. ANYWAY, there’s this rapist, who commits bunches and...11 comments 64 Recs
- Here at Top Comments we welcome longtime as well as brand new Daily Kos readers to join us at 10pm Eastern. We strive to nourish community by rounding up some of the site's best, funniest, most ...3 comments 14 Recs
- in honor of Arbor Day, poetry of trees. A Tree Design Arna Bontemps (1902-1973) A tree is more than a shadow Blurred against the sky,36 comments 25 Recs
- Hi beer fans, happy Friday! I got no beer news, time to post this and go cook dinner. I bought the Sierra Nevada sampler again. I’m having Tropical Little Thing now and Dank will be next. What ...33 comments 11 Recs
- The princeling is apparently complaining, multiple times, that the courtroom he has to sit in is "freezing", suggesting it might be on purpose. Trump’s administration allowed hundreds of human beings to reside for God only knows how many months in a...6 comments 16 Recs
- Jennifer Rubin has been a favorite of mine for a while now. In her latest video she said that Politico suggested that NY Times pushed President Biden’s age because President Biden was not giving them an interview. When I searched online for this...11 comments 18 Recs
- This diary was inspired by strawbale’s recent Peeps diary,� PWB Kitties Love Bats . �63 comments 29 Recs
- Heavy downpours in Kenya paralyzed Nairobi for over three days. The Intertropical Convergence Zone is a planetary scale band of heavy rains that encircles Earth near the equator. It is where northeast trade winds and Southeast trade winds collide....11 comments 126 Recs
- If Trump picks Noem they’ll have the sociopathic animal hater vote sewn up.10 comments 19 Recs
- Late Night Snark: I’ll See You In Court Edition "There were several heated exchanges between Trump's trial lawyers and the judge in the hearing about whether or not he violated the judge's gag order. Judge Merchan told Trump lead attorney Todd Blanche...176 comments 162 Recs
- And have a message to the protesting university students. This version is 30 seconds with no advertisements. But this is maybe a day old now. So perhaps these kids are no longer with us. I hope they are still alive.7 comments 18 Recs
- Earth Day 2024 Theme Planet vs Plastics. Tackling Marine Debris. Marine Biology-Facts The focus is on working to eliminate plastic usage "for the sake of human and planetary health" and to decrease plastic production by 60 percent by 2040. Videos /...6 comments 5 Recs
- The word occult comes from the Latin occultus (clandestine, hidden, secret), referring to "knowledge of the hidden" 🌑 🦋 🦋 Scientists push new paradigm of animal consciousness, saying even insects may be sentient Far more animals...65 comments 28 Recs
- Nicole Shanahan Nicole Shanahan has it all - looks, poise, youth, and $billions. She may be quite smart too, but I can't see it. With all the good things she could do with her enormous wealth, she has chosen to invest it in Michael Kennedy's ultra...4 comments 5 Recs
- Mr. Sauer (Attorney for Petitioner, Donald J. Trump: I wish to pose a different hypothetical to you now concerning this issue of immunity. If the current President, Joe Biden, determined that the Supreme Court has become such a corrupt institution that...59 comments 134 Recs
- The students are protesting for Disinvestment from the Israeli regime. It was right when we did it in the ‘80s against South Africa. It is right to do it against Israel now! Bernie Sanders (who is Jewish) hit the nail right on the head. NEWS: Sanders...112 comments 83 Recs