U.S. hides real reasons for invasion of Panama

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U.S. has become an occupying force in Panama, violating its right to self-determination. VOL. 8, No. 1 JANUARY 1990 50 CENTS "In taking possession of a state the conqueror should well reflect as to the harsh measures that may be necessary, and then execute them at a single blow. ... Cruelties should be committed all at once." ("The Prince, " Niccolo Machiavelli)

The U.S. government's Dec. 20 pre-dawn assault on Panama was much more than a bloody trampling upon a small Central American nation's right to self-determination. What spurred U.S. policymakers to take a course of action guaranteed to induce U.S. targets Nicaragua, See page 17.

greater hatred and hostility toward the U.S. government throughout the world cannot be fully explained by the reasons given by its spokespersons.

The Organization of American States, which is not often known to oppose their good neighbor to the North, voted 20 to 1 against the U.S. invasion of Panama, albeit with the mildest formulations. And on Dec. 29, the General Assembly of the United Nations, meeting in emergency session at the request of Cuba and Nicaragua, overwhelmingly condemned the U.S. invasion as a "flagrant violation of international law" and called for a swift withdrawal of U.S. forces.

But far more important is the near-universal hatred by the world's toiling masses for the criminal violation of Panama's sovereignty by the U.S. capitalist government.

Declared motives and objectives At a news conference the day after American airborne gunships, rockets, and over 20,000 troops thundered into Panama, President George Bush was asked by a reporter, "Only a month ago ... you didn't think it would be prudent to launch a largescale military operation. What changed your mind, and particularly why did you opt for the maximum use of force in this situation?"

Bush answered: "I think what changed my mind was ... the death of the marine; the brutalizing, really obscene torture of the Navy lieutenant; and the threat of sexual abuse and the terror inflicted on that Navy lieutenant's wife; the declaration of war by Noriega; [and the need to show that] we could guarantee the safety of Americans there ... and to move with enough force ... to be sure that we minimized the loss of life on both sides and that we took out the P.D.F. [Panamanian Defense Forces]."

Bush went on to restate that "our argument was not with the P.D.F., but with Noriega, and if they would get rid of him and recognize a democratically elected government, we could go back to more normalized relations." (New York Times, Dec. 22)

Following the president's lead, the media repeatedly quoted Bush and other spokespersons who charged that Noriega had "declared war against the United States." This alleged declaration of war was treated as a major justification for the assault on Panama. But nothing could be further from the truth.

This claim is a fabrication that is appar(continued on page 16)

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