-Caveat Lector- http://www.nandotimes.com/politics/story/0,1068,91799-145419-1019573-0,00.ht ml ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Our Century, Nando's in-depth look at the 20th century Former U.S. senator says Noriega threatened to blow up Panama Canal Copyright © 1999 Nando Media Copyright © 1999 Associated Press By MARK STEVENSON MEXICO CITY (September 11, 1999 12:05 a.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - Former Panamanian ruler Gen. Manuel Noriega threatened to blow up the Panama Canal in 1978 if the U.S. Senate attempted to amend an agreement to hand it over, former Sen. Howard Baker Jr. said Friday. Baker recalled how Noriega made the threat in a meeting with him during a trip Baker made to Panama City in 1978, while serving as the Republican leader in the Senate. The Senate was preparing to approve the treaty to give full control of the canal and the Canal Zone to Panama by the end of 1999. "We were talking about possible amendments, and I told him it is by no means certain that the Senate is going to approve this," Baker said in a telephone interview from Panama City, where he gave a speech to a conference sponsored by the Arlington-based Freedom Forum. "I asked him `what are your plans if they don't ratify?" "He grumbled around a little and then said, `We'll blow it up'," Baker recalled. Asked if he thought Noriega was just posturing, Baker said, "I don't think so." The treaty passed the Senate without modifications that year. Noriega was arrested in the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama. Baker said he did not believe the threat influenced the U.S. decision to launch the invasion, in which about 600 Panamanians and 23 U.S. soldiers were killed. A U.S. federal court in Miami convicted Noriega in 1992 on money laundering and drug trafficking charges and sentenced him to 40 years in jail. A judge reduced the sentence last March and could be eligible for release by 2007. However, a French court convicted him in absentia in July on money laundering charges and sentenced him and his wife Felicidad to 10 years in jail Panama has also asked the United States to extradite former Noriega so that he can serve time there for the deaths of soldiers who attempted a 1989 coup. -------------------------------------------------- If the choice is Al Gore or George W., there is really no choice at all. The first will take you to hell in the fast lane, the other will take you there in the slow lane. Either way, your destination is the same -- you're still on the highway to hell. Bard DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
