Manuel Noriega: Difference between revisions

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'''Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno''' (February 11, 1934 – May 29, 2017) was a Panamanian politician and military officer who was the ''de facto'' ruler of Panama from 1983 to 1989. He had longstanding ties to United States intelligence agencies; however, he was removed from power by the U.S. invasion of Panama.

Generally described as a military dictatorship, Noriega's rule in Panama was marked by repression of the media, an expansion of the military, and the persecution of political opponents, effectively controlling the outcomes of any elections. He was known for his complicated relationship with the U.S., being described as being its ally and nemesis at the same time. He has been called one of the best-known dictators of his time, and compared to authoritarian rulers such as [[Fidel Castro]], [[Muammar Gaddafi]] and [[Augusto Pinochet]].

Generally described as a [[military dictatorship]], Noriega's rule in Panama was marked by repression of the media, an expansion of the military, and the persecution of political opponents, effectively controlling the outcomes of any elections. He was known for his complicated relationship with the U.S., being described as being its ally and nemesis at the same time. He has been called one of the best-known dictators of his time, and compared to authoritarian rulers such as [[Fidel Castro]], [[Muammar Gaddafi]] and [[Augusto Pinochet]].

==Biography==

Noriega was born into a poor family of Colombian extraction. Educated at one of the top high schools in Panama, he was awarded a scholarship to the Chorrillos Military School in Lima. Upon his return to Panama, he was commissioned a sublieutenant in the National Guard and stationed in Colón, where he rose through the ranks and became acquainted with Captain [[Omar Torrijos]]. Noriega participated in the military coup that toppled the government of Arnulfo Arias and paved the way for Torrijos’s rise to power. Noriega was instrumental in defeating a later coup attempt to unseat Torrijos. For his loyalty, Noriega was promoted to lieutenant colonel and was named chief of military intelligence, in which position he established contact with the U.S. intelligence service. His assistance to [[Richard Nixon]]’s administration—helping, for example, to obtain the release of two American freighter crews from Havana—was coloured by persistent reports of his involvement in [[Illegal Drug Trade|drug trafficking]].

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 '''Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno''' (February 11, 1934 – May 29, 2017) was a Panamanian politician and military officer who was the ''de facto'' ruler of Panama from 1983 to 1989. He had longstanding ties to United States intelligence agencies; however, he was removed from power by the U.S. invasion of Panama.
-Generally described as a military dictatorship, Noriega's rule in Panama was marked by repression of the media, an expansion of the military, and the persecution of political opponents, effectively controlling the outcomes of any elections. He was known for his complicated relationship with the U.S., being described as being its ally and nemesis at the same time. He has been called one of the best-known dictators of his time, and compared to authoritarian rulers such as [[Fidel Castro]], [[Muammar Gaddafi]] and [[Augusto Pinochet]].
+Generally described as a [[military dictatorship]], Noriega's rule in Panama was marked by repression of the media, an expansion of the military, and the persecution of political opponents, effectively controlling the outcomes of any elections. He was known for his complicated relationship with the U.S., being described as being its ally and nemesis at the same time. He has been called one of the best-known dictators of his time, and compared to authoritarian rulers such as [[Fidel Castro]], [[Muammar Gaddafi]] and [[Augusto Pinochet]].
 ==Biography==
 Noriega was born into a poor family of Colombian extraction. Educated at one of the top high schools in Panama, he was awarded a scholarship to the Chorrillos Military School in Lima. Upon his return to Panama, he was commissioned a sublieutenant in the National Guard and stationed in Colón, where he rose through the ranks and became acquainted with Captain [[Omar Torrijos]]. Noriega participated in the military coup that toppled the government of Arnulfo Arias and paved the way for Torrijos’s rise to power. Noriega was instrumental in defeating a later coup attempt to unseat Torrijos. For his loyalty, Noriega was promoted to lieutenant colonel and was named chief of military intelligence, in which position he established contact with the U.S. intelligence service. His assistance to [[Richard Nixon]]’s administration—helping, for example, to obtain the release of two American freighter crews from Havana—was coloured by persistent reports of his involvement in [[Illegal Drug Trade|drug trafficking]].