Panama agrees to host two U.S. naval bases

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Focus News

Panama agrees to host two U.S. naval bases
28 September 2009 | 01:24 | FOCUS News Agency

Mexico. Panama will sign before October 2009 a treaty with the United States on the opening of two U.S. naval bases on its territory, a senior Panamanian government official said on Sunday, RIA Novosti reported.

According to Panama's La Prensa newspaper, a preliminary agreement was reached between Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during recent talks in New York.

"The U.S. and Panama will sign before October 30 an agreement on the deployment of two naval bases on the pacific coast of our country to fight international drug-trafficking," said Minister of Government and Justice Jose Raul Mulino."One of the bases will be located in Bahia Pina...450 kilometers <280 miles> east of the capital, Panama City, and another one - in Punta Coca about 350 km <217 miles> west of the capital," Mulino added.

The U.S. government will also allocate additional USD 7 million to Panama this year for the fight against organized crime and illicit drug trade.



Read more: http://www.focus-fen.net/?id=n195616

[Zorro]

1. Sounds like good ports to run drug interdiction operations from

[Old Hob]

9. sounds like good ports to find booze and hookers.

[formercia]

13. It doesn't do any good to put them off limits

When I was there, the Guardia Nacional posted armed guards at the doors to keep the Shore Patrol out. Any Taxi driver will gladly show you the town.

[Old Hob]

14. If I were single, I'd be there.

When I was active duty military, Panama was my first choice duty station; unfortunately, it had just been shut down shortly before my swearing in. I was pissed!

[Submariner]

2. On August 15th 2014, the 100th anniversary of the Canal

the new expanded Panama Canal will be opened and will be wide and deep enough for the U.S. super-carriers to transit for the first time. With the big drop off in shipping traffic from Asia

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1212013/Revealed-The-ghost-fleet-recession-anchored-just-east-Singapore.html#ixzz0S5eoFRPd

Panama welcomes the millions we will now pump into their economy.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. I hope we will see an emergence of Zonians.

This is fantastic news. Hopefully, the lessons of the past will make the relationship more win-win.

[Umbral]

11. At least it will make it handy to ship oil to China. nt

[amandabeech]

12. Those bases will also make it easier to stop that oil from going to China

if we get into it with them over resources or Taiwan.

[Peace Patriot]

4. Shit. nt

[rabs]

7. Seven in Colombia, now two in Panama

Not too far from Venezuelan and Ecuadoran oil fields.

[ShortnFiery]

8. More "goodies" to be snatched for the benefit of USA's hungry Oil Corporations.

:(

[L. Coyote]

5. The US needs lots more global military bases, and trillions more for defense

:sarcasm: to help our economy go down the crapper even further, and increase our indebtedness to the money lenders!!

[2Design]

6. we don't have money for health care - but more swank embassies and other military

empire building - enough - they built huge buildings in iraq while leaving neighborhoods in ruins - I am tired of my tax money being spent on the military empire building

[roody]

10. What he or she said.

[David__77]

15. Is this legal under Panama's constitution?

If not, hopefully someone will prevent this from happening.

[dipsydoodle]

16. Prensa Latina link

Panama, Sep 28 (Prensa Latina) An international cooperation agreement to establish two naval bases in Panama is currently focusing the attention of the national society, which is waiting to know the participants in that initiative.

Government and Justice Minister Jose Raul Mulino said the country would implement the mentioned agreement before October 30, to establish the bases in Darien and Veraguas provinces, although he did not mention the countries involved in the initiative.

>

Faced with this situation, the Panamanian National Front for Economic and Social Rights Defense (FRENADESO) denounced that the Republic's President Ricardo Martinelli is seeking the US military bases' return to the country.

In this reference, FRENADESO warned that "living again in shame or the ignominy of ceding their sovereignty to an imperialist power," could be ever accepted under any pretext.

http://www.prensa-latina.cu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=120906&Itemid=1

[CynicalObserver]

18. but they cede much of Darien to FARC, and this group says nothing

"In this reference, FRENADESO warned that "living again in shame or the ignominy of ceding their sovereignty to an imperialist power," could be ever accepted under any pretext."

[rabs]

17. Panama denies report on bases (sort of)

(Unexplained is what "an important decision" and "a line of protection" could be.)

-------------------------


Vice President and Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Varela of Panama

Varela denies installation of U.S. naval bases in Panama

With regards to the potential signing of a security agreement between Panama and the United States (U.S.) to combat drug-trafficking in the region, Vice-President and Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Varela denied the claim made last Saturday by Minister of Interior and Justice José Raúl Mulino, that U.S. naval bases would be installed in Panama.

Varela announced on RPC Radio yesterday that Mulino's statement "is totally false," adding that all the government has done thus far is make an important decision to protect the areas of Jaqué, in Darién and Punta Coca, in Veraguas against future narcotics trafficking. He said that Mulino would provide further details on this topic at a later date.

The Vice-President confirmed that what the government seeks to do is intensify the fight against drug trafficking in the region by establishing a "line of protection", but clarified that this effort would be executed by members of the Panamanian public forces.

http://www.prensa.com/