Panama Nominee Tied to G.I.’s Death

[Judi Lynn]

Source: NY Times/Reuters

Panama Nominee Tied to G.I.’s Death

By REUTERS
Published: August 30, 2007

PANAMA, Aug. 29 (Reuters) — The governing party has nominated a lawmaker who was indicted for the drive-by killing of an American soldier in the 1990s as its candidate to head Congress, in a vote likely to upset Washington.

The Revolutionary Democratic Party backed the lawmaker, Pedro Miguel González, on Tuesday night, making him almost certain to win the post in a vote Saturday.

Mr. González, 42, was indicted in the United States on charges that he shot dead Sgt. Zak A. Hernandez of the Army in June 1992, a day before a visit by President George Bush. At a tense time after the 1989 American invasion and capture of the Panamanian leader, Manuel Antonio Noriega, The sergeant was killed when the Humvee he was driving was ambushed north of Panama City.

Mr. González said he was at a demonstration to protest the Bush visit at the time of the shooting, and he was acquitted at a 1997 trial in Panama. Washington says the trial was marred by jury rigging, witness intimidation and government harassment.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/world/americas/30panama.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin

[Judi Lynn]

1. Longer, more useful version of the very same story!

Lawmaker accused of U.S. killing eyes top Panama job
Wed Aug 29, 2007 6:47PM EDT

By Andrew Beatty

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panama's ruling party has nominated a lawmaker who was indicted for the murder of a U.S. soldier in the 1990s as its candidate to head the National Assembly in a vote likely to upset Washington.

The Revolutionary Democratic Party backed Pedro Miguel Gonzalez on Tuesday night to lead the country's parliament, making him almost certain to win the job at a September 1 vote.

Gonzalez, 42, was indicted in the United States on charges that he shot dead U.S. Army Sgt. Zak Hernandez in June 1992, a day before a visit by former President George Bush.

At a tense time following the 1989 U.S. invasion and capture of Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega, the Puerto Rican soldier was killed when the Humvee he was driving was ambushed north of Panama City.

Gonzalez said he was at a demonstration miles away to protest the Bush visit at the time of the shooting, and he was acquitted at a 1997 trial in Panama.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN2934917420070829

[Eugene]

2. Man wanted by U.S. takes top job in Panama Congress

Source: Reuters

Man wanted by U.S. takes top job in Panama Congress
Sat Sep 1, 2007 7:25PM EDT

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panama's lawmakers on Saturday
elected as head of the National Assembly a man wanted by
the United States in the murder of a U.S. soldier, a move
Washington said was deeply disappointing.

Legislator Pedro Miguel Gonzalez, 42, has been indicted in
the United States on charges he shot and killed U.S. Army
Sgt. Zak Hernandez in June 1992, a day before a visit by
then-President George Bush.

Gonzalez was nominated by Panama's ruling Revolutionary
Democratic Party, which has a majority in the legislature.
Before the vote, he received applause as he entered the
assembly chamber, where he was described by colleagues
as "distinguished" and a "great patriot."

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN0130751520070901

[IndianaGreen]

3. Having the US accuse someone of murder is like passing speeding tickets at the Indianapolis 500

The US invasion of Panama was a violation of international law. Our glorious Air Farce firebombed an entire neighborhood. Hundreds died.

How many GIs have been given a slap in the wrist for killing Iraqi civilians? So, why would we demand justice from someone else when we have denied justice to others?

[roody]

5. Thousands were murdered by the U.S.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Yes, you're right. We were told something far different.

When our own media got around to going there, they didn't interview the people who suffered the losses, they talked to Americans who did NOT suffer the losses.

The bombings, shootings, strafings from planes happened in the POOR, darker-complected people's neighborhoods. There are FIFTEEN MASS GRAVES.

If you have the time, take a look at this video I found this afternoon:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-446387292666223710&q=Panama+%2B+invasion&total=88&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

I have a feeling nothing in it will be a suprise to you as you are already well informed, but I can assure you, most people have NO idea what happened, and for a reason. There was a news blackout here.

Interesting remark by Larry Birns, with the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, in the film. He said that they claimed, upon going in and going through the things on Noriega's desk, that they found voodoo equipment, cocaine, and pornographic pictures. He said the same desk story had appeared in Chile, when they went in and rifled through the material on Salvador Allende's desk and claimed they found voodoo materials, cocaine, and red pajamas.

Same, old, violent, murderous story of trying to slaughter people and steal their government, and their own ability to choose their own leaders. The burden of this bloody viciousness always is bourn by the poor. They just don't shoot up the neighborhoods of the oligarchs when they try to steal entire countries.

There won't be oligarchs bulldozed into piles, and set on fire, or emptied into pits as they were in Panama.

By the way, the U.S. military seized control of all the hospitals, and didn't let the doctors and staff speak with journalists. There was no recording of who and how many got killed, and how they were killed. It was a one big mystery, just like Iraq.

They also would NOT let any U.S. reporters speak to the ordinary citizens. They went about cheerfully interviewing Americans in Panama, and were more than glad to report their fragmented version of the catastrophe in a way which revealed it was really no big deal.

[roody]

9. Panama City today is a sea of McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts,

etc. Though it is a beautiful place full of beautiful people.

[Judi Lynn]

6. After seeing your and roody's remarks, I found this 3:22 minute YouTube,

which points people to a longer documentary. I REALLY want to see THAT one!

For anyone who's interested, please spend 3:22 minutes here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMij_K7Rd_g

It mentions that the Panana invasion was illegal, and that the U.S. media provided complete P.R. servicing for the elder _Bush, and we were left TOTALLY IN THE DARK.

You will see it was announced in the very same sneaky terms used by the younger _Bush regarding Iraq.

Thanks for bringing it up. It's surely a subject most of us need to learn about THE RIGHT WAY, by finding out the FACTS for the first time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Guess what! The Panama Deception, one hour 31 minutes is available at Google video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-446387292666223710&q=Panama+%2B+invasion&total=88&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

[Vidar]

4. Glad to know things have really improved down there since we overthrew our

own stooge, Noriega.

[burrowowl]

8. The U$ o A has never

done the reconstruction it said it would after testing out the stealth bomber excetera during the invasion, which seems illegal as hell to me!
And Noriega is now a free man. Makes you wonder.