Yesterday I asked if anyone remembers Panama. Today I ask which politician is to be believed more. Or perhaps if no or few media sources are to be trusted.
Again, I admit that NewsRoom Panama is often short on details. But generally they pan out. They reported yesterday that the agreement between Panama and the United States included US troops at the following four places.
- The Teniente Octavio Rodríguez Air Base of the National Aeronaval Service located in Panama Pacific;
- The Vasco Núñez de Balboa naval base;
- The naval base Captain of Frigate DEM. Noel A. Rodríguez;
- The Cristóbal Colón Naval Air Base.
Today they report that Hegseth has a different interpretaion. NewsRoom Panama says that Hegseth told Pretendsident 49% that “US troops would be deployed at three former military bases – Fort Sherman, Rodman Naval Base and Howard Air Force Base – as part of a deal signed with Panama’s Ministry of Public Security…” And that US military ships would get first and free passage through the Canal.
What ever. Many US military ships are too big and if the Atlantic and Pacific fleets are ever needed to combine, the Canal is probably the least of concern. But I do live close to two of those three named by Hegseth.
But just to increase the confusion, let me add yet another politician.
“Ricardo Lombana, the leader of the opposition (Here in Panama) ‘Another Way Movement’, called the memorandum of understanding reached between the US and Panamanian governments days earlier “an invasion without firing a shot””. And “…the opposition believes the US has re-established its military presence in the country. “No matter what you want to call it, what we’ve read in this memo is the establishment of military bases,” said Lombana, the opposition leader.” In more poetic form, Lombana says it is “Camouflaged Invasion”.
My Panamanian friends are still speaking to me. So there is that. And they are well informed. But I am not sure that will remain the case in the event of a less than camouflaged invasion. But I am also not sure who to believe less or more. President Mulino has only been in office since last July and he won with only 34% of the vote. It appears that 77% of the electorate voted. Lombana came in with around 25%. Is any or all of this merely pissing contests between politicians? Hard to tell. But I do wonder if Panama is screwed.
