“US officials in Central America failed to address this drug issue for fear of jeopardizing the war efforts against Nicaragua… and senior US policymakers were not immune to the idea that drug money was a perfect solution to the Contras’ funding problems.”
US Senator John Kerry
January 19 2021 — On January 19 1991, the US Federal Government finally admitted that the Central Intelligence Agency had paid General Manuel Antonio Noriega during his three decade long relationship with the United States. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY
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“Noriega was a thug. But for many years, he was America’s thug – until he turned on his mentors.”
Simon Tisdall– Why Manuel Noriega became America’s most wanted
Of course, geopolitical and intelligence experts had suspected for years that general Noriega was on the payroll of the CIA. But the confirmation was quite welcome.
Still, the US Government would not explain what general Noriega did in exchange for the payments from the CIA.
To this day, all details about these payments remain classified.
Former aides to general Noriega and government documents have disclosed that he assisted the US military and the CIA with their operations in Latin America.
In the Iran-contra affair, documents disclosed that General Noriega offered to conduct sabotage raids inside Nicaragua in support of the Reagan Administration’s efforts to oust the Sandinista government.
The jury in Noriega’s trial never heard about his contacts with Oliver North, John Poindexter, CIA chief William Casey and other key figures in the Ronald Reagan and Bush administrations who connived in the supply of arms to Nicaragua’s Contra rebels paid for with Medellín cartel drug cash.
“Noriega formed the hemisphere’s first narco-kleptocracy. He is the best example in recent U.S. foreign policy of how a foreign leader is able to manipulate the United States to the detriment of our own interests.”
U.S. Senate subcommittee report
Manuel Noriega, Dictator Ousted By U.S. In Panama, Dies At 83 | The New York Times
“Removing Manuel Noriega, the dictator of Panama, from power in 1989 not only entailed what was then the largest American military action since Vietnam, but also set the stage for future actions by the United States. ” NYT
REFERENCES
U.S. Admits Payments to Noriega — NYT (Jan 19 1991)
CAMPAIGN ’88 : Former CIA Chief Says Bush Rehired Noriega — Los Angeles Times (Oct. 1 1988)
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On This Day — U.S. Admits CIA Payments to Noriega (January 19 1991)
On This Day — U.S. Admits CIA Payments to Noriega (January 19 1991) [2020]
Twenty Years Ago — U.S. Admits CIA Payments to Noriega (January 19 1991)
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