Panama agrees to host two U.S. naval bases

[Judi Lynn]

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.

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

[Downwinder]

1. Obviously there is no validity in the old saw,

once bitten twice shy.

[EFerrari]

5. It makes you wonder how "the offer" was put to them. n/t

[Downwinder]

2. I find it interesting that the two supporters of the Honduran

coupe regime are both getting new US military installations. Shall we expect an imminent announcement from the non-supplier of teargas?

[Bacchus39]

3. which two supporters of the coup are getting US military installations?

I am not aware of any supporters of the interim goverment from Latin America whatever their feelings about Zelaya.

[Downwinder]

4. You asked,

President Martinelli of Panama thinks holding the November 29 election in Honduras would be a “departure” from the current situation and, therefore, says he will support the outcome as long as the election is transparent.

http://hondurasoye.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/panama-ready-for-honduran-regime-elections-obama-chanels-ros-lehtinen/

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe is sympathetic to the de facto government of Honduras, the country's Foreign Minister said Wednesday. Minister Carlos Lopez Contreras met with Uribe in secret Monday.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/5112-uribe-is-sympathetic-to-micheletti-government-honduras-foreign-minister.html

[EFerrari]

6. The last time Garcia held a massacre, he got a fat check the same week

to arm his goons.

Let's see if the pattern holds.