Ex-dictator Noriega to be released Sept. 9

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"It's official and final: Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega, held in Miami-Dade on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering, will be released from prison on Sept. 9 after completing his sentence.

The news was revealed to El Nuevo Herald by Noriega's attorney, Frank Rubino. The release order appears on the official Web page of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

''There is no turning back. The order is obligatory and nobody can stop it,'' Rubino said.

According to Rubino, Noriega, who is ''in very good health,'' will return to Panama as soon as possible. He is 72 years old.

''He wants to go home. He has no intention of remaining here,'' Rubino said."

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16528980.htm

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Noriega was completely fucked over by the Bush family.

It should be interesting to see what he has to say in retirement.

[3waygeek]

26. Just like the rest of us n/t

[Matariki]

32. sure they had 16 years to lobotomize him in that FLORIDA jail

[clixtox]

2. An Illegal kidnapping, together with war crimes...

and the murder of thousands of completely innocent Panamanians. Mass murder and destruction to capture a inconvenient creation of the CIA. I am sure that Manuel's autobiography will be interesting reading, if he somehow lives long enough to tell his story... It would surely be a best seller, he must know where "a lot of bodies are buried."

I wonder where in the world he would/could be safe? Cuba? Venezuela? I doubt the answer is Panama...

[1932]

12. There already is a biography, and it is very interesting reading.

America's Prisoner:: The Memoirs of Manuel Noriega by Peter Eisner

IIRC, Eisner wrote and introductory and concluding chapter, and then let Noriega make his case in the middle of the book.

It's fascinating. Noriega is cagey about a few subjects, but it makes a very strong case that the trial was a sham and that the invastion was completely illegal.

http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Prisoner-Memoirs-Manuel-Noriega/dp/0679432272/sr=8-1/qid=1169648307/ref=sr_1_1/002-7593254-8792836?ie=UTF8&s=books

[Say_What]

27. Why are the last paragraphs always the best??

From one of the reviews:

In my view, recent events in Iraq, Venezuela, Colombia and elsewhere makes it more important than ever for Americans to gain greater perspective on the consequences of U.S. foreign policy. To that end, "America's Prisoner" is a superbly readable, provocative and informative book that deserves a wide audience. I highly recommend it to all.

http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Prisoner-Memoirs-Manuel-Noriega/dp/0679432272/sr=8-1/qid=1169648307/ref=sr_1_1/002-7593254-8792836?ie=UTF8&s=books

[pitohui]

3. no kidding, didn't know he was eligible for any parole

i wonder if he will ever tell his story, a book deal or a movie could be quite interesting if you ask me

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. He wasn't known for being the quiet type

before the US imprisioned him. I hope he has a lot to say when he gets out.

[onenote]

31. not parole. served sentence

[catzies]

5. Ruh roh! Think the BFEE will let him live?

I think he might be Wellstoned...

[Say_What]

6. Another one of the US's Friendly Dictators....

<clips>

GENERAL MANUEL NORIEGA
Chief of Defense Forces, Panama
The U.S. command post for covert Latin American operations is located in the Canal Zone where a series of figurehead presidents, some backed by General Manual Noriega, have involved Panama in U.S. intelligence operations. Noriega first met with then CIA Director George Bush in 1976 while Noriega was collecting $100 thousand a year as a CIA asset.Their friendly relationship persisted even after Noriegas' drug dealing was revealed by a 1975 DEA investigation. During the Reagan era, Noriega collaborated with Oliver North on covert actions against Nicaragua, training contras and providing a trans-shipment point for CIA supported operations that flew weapons to the contras and cocaine into the U.S.

Eventually Noriega refused to participate in further anti-Sandinista actions. In 1987, a Miami grand jury indicted him for drug-tradicking and the CIA tried to destabilize his regime. Noriega wamed Bush that he had information which could change the course of the 1988 U.S. elections and the CIA backed off, but when Noriega "annulled" Panama's 1989 elections, citing CIA interference, Bush renewed attempts to unseat his one-time ally. Critics called Bush's failure to support an abortive 1989 coup "indecisive," but his response to that criticism, the December 1989 invasion of Panama, led to world condemnation. Noriega eventually surrendered to face U.S. drug charges, but under the guise of apprehending one drug dealer, the invasion led to over 1,000 Panamanian deaths and installed a regime with similar close links to drugs, plus a willingness to alter Panama Canal treaties to suit U.S. interests.

http://home.iprimus.com.au/korob/fdtcards/CentralAmerica.html

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. I use to work for a company in Miami

that manufactured jewelry. They were more then happy to help launder Noreiga's cash in exchange for gold. I wonder if ol' Mannie still has all that gold stashed away somewhere?

[Say_What]

9. I was wondering the same...

and that comment about an *apartment-like* cell? Maybe like Mancuso in Colombia, someone saw to it that Poppy's favorite dictator was taken care of while he was doing time. My guess he's got plenty of cash/gold/whatever stashed somewhere.

:bounce:

[SoCalDem]

10. Noriega was one of my father's "students" at the SOA

when we were stationed in Panama. (I found out years later, "what my father did for a living".)

[Barrett808]

17. Wow. What a painful revelation that must have been. n/t

[Say_What]

28. Must have been hard for you... on the other hand he could probably write one hell of a book n/t

[mopinko]

14. yup, went to prison for doing what the cia paid him to do.

cia=drug traffickers.

[daleo]

8. I wouldn't bet on him living long

The BFEE will want to silence him quick-like.

[Vidar]

23. Aome sort of unsolved prison shanking or "natural" death before

September.

[seafan]

11. Poppy undoubtedly thinks this wouldn't be prudent.......

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16528980.htm">Ex-dictator Noriega to be released Sept. 9

January 23, 2007

Regarding Noriega's return to Panama, there is no unanimity.

In March 2006, a close friend of Noriega told the Panamanian daily La Prensa that the former ruler will not return to the country.

According to Mario Rognoni -- minister of commerce from 1988 to 1989, who stays in constant telephone communication with the former dictator -- ``the last thing the U.S. wants is for Noriega to become a problem for (Washington) and Panama.''

[laylah]

13. I wonder if

Poppy Bush is going to throw a "Welcome Home" bash for his friend?

Jenn

[Judi Lynn]

15. Don't know if any part of this report is true, since it's from Fox, but here's a new one:

Noriega to Fight Panama Conviction After September Prison Release

Last Edited: Wednesday, 24 Jan 2007, 11:30 AM EST
Created: Wednesday, 24 Jan 2007, 11:30 AM EST
01/24/2007 --

Former dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega hopes to immediately board a plane for Panama when he is released from prison on Sept. 9, and he plans to fight his conviction back home in the slayings of two political opponents, his attorney said.

Noriega's eight-year rule over Panama ended after the United States invaded Panama on Dec. 20, 1989, to force him from power. He is being held in the Federal Correctional Institution in Miami on drug trafficking and money laundering charges.
(snip)

Rubino said his client plans to waive any deportation hearings and try to board a plane back to Panama the day he is released from prison.

"He wants to go back to Panama and he wants to enjoy his grandchildren in quiet retirement," Rubino said.

Noriega has received two 20-year sentences in Panama for the 1985 decapitation of dissident leader Hugo Spadafora and the 1989 slaying of Maj. Moises Giroldi, who tried to overthrow him. Rubino said Noriega will fight the charges.

"When he goes back to Panama, that case will be able to be reopened. Then he'll be able to adequately defend himself on that case," Rubino said.
(snip/)

http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=2160441&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.4.1

[pagam]

19. I just returned from Panama yesterday

Noriega most likely will not be held accountable for the death of Hugo Spadafora. The party in power is his old party the PRD, the one created by Torrjos. The current president is Torrijos' Out of wedlock son Martin. They are not thrill with the idea of noriega being released, or that he may return to Panama. But, I seriously doubt they will put him in jail.

[PeaceProgProsp]

24. However, Torijos's son was good friends with Spadafora, no?

Didn't he go off and fight with Spadafora at some point?

[Xithras]

22. Noriega also has unanserwed murder charges against him.

Aside from that case, he's facing other charges in Panama as well. Whether there's any political will there to prosecute him is another story, but the Panamanian government indicted him long ago, under the impression that they'd be prosecuting him once the US released him.

[struggle4progress]

30. Freed Noriega faces speedy return to a prison cell

JACQUI GODDARD IN MIAMI

... Yet the US looked the other way, retaining him on the CIA payroll to the tune of £51,000 a year in return for favours that spanned two decades and four US presidencies.

He allowed Washington to channel funds, and reportedly weapons, through him to pro-American forces in Nicaragua and El Salvador; assisted the US in finding safe refuge for the exiled Shah of Iran and let America set up regional eavesdropping posts on his territory ...

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=127792007

I'm guessin a lotta cocaine fundin the Nicaraguan contras went through Panama durin the Noriega years, and when the Repubs pressured him to renegotiate the Panama Canal deal, he balked and threatened to squeal: "Poppy Bush and Noriega" was a theme from the non-BFEE Repubs early in the 1988 Repub primary but died down as soon as Poppy had his ducks in order. At that point, though, the BFEE had decided Noriega (who was, of course, merely another a CIA thug tryin to stand up to his handlers) was goin down ...

[donsu]

16. wonder what condition his mind is in?

will have chips in his body?

I'm surprised they are letting him go! thus suspicious

[Taverner]

18. The one man who could substantiate the CIA "Dark Alliance"

Too bad the journalist who wrote it was "suicided" by the Bush Family

[damntexdem]

20. He's just lucky his name isn't "Saddam."

And that it was daddy in the WH back when.

Nowadays, we like to hang our worn-out puppets.

[Hieronymus]

21. Wise of his attorney to say that Noriega is ..

"in very good health". This will be on the record if anything unforseen happens to him.

[Doctor_J]

25. You think the Bush Crime Family gave his desk away?

Most of the criminals they employ, like Negroponte and Gates, seem to keep turning up. Maybe Manny can get his old gig back.

[sofa king]

29. Gee, I wonder who got him out?