Manuel Noriega
Military Dictator of Panama
Biography
- Noriega was born on February 11, 1938 in Panama City.
- He attended Peru's Military School of Chorrios.
- When he returned to Panama he took courses at the School of the Americas, then located in the U.S. canal zone and run by the U.S. Army.
- He became a protégé of Captain Omar Torrijos.
- He was a key facet of the coup d'état that overthrew the administration of President Arnulfo Arias.
- Noriega as head of intelligence rooted out any dissent; he took his job so seriously that he was soon the most hated man in the country.
- When Torrijos died in a plane crash in 1981, Noriega was his successor as leader of the Panamanian Army.
- By 1984, he was the leader of the country, despite another president being elected. He skewed the results in this election once he found out the opposition's candidate was winning by a great margin.
- He replaced reformist programs with a corrupt and repressive regime and used the military to run the country.
- Accused by the United States, who used to be an ally of Noriega, of drug trafficking and money laundering. As a result, the U.S. stopped giving military and economic aid in addition to putting sanctions on the country.
- He was tried in federal grand juries in Miami and Tampa and was indicted for violating drug and racketeering laws. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison and finished his term in 2007.
Tyrants and Dictators 1/3 - Manuel Noriega
Dictatorial Qualities of Manuel Noriega (watch from 3:30 to 12:20)
Manuel's dictatorial qualities began at a young age. Before every baseball game he would stand up on a chair and give a speech, then when he was finished everyone would clap and they would start to play the game. He wanted to change the world even at a young age. His original dream in high school was to either become a psychiatrist of the President, which led him to have an interest in left wing politics. While in high school he took socialist lessons in school. He started hanging out with Captain Torrijos and they connected very easily because the both shared the same dreams. His character changed for the worst when he joined the national guard which was very corrupt.
Relentless Man
Intelligence Officer
Military Dictator of Panama
Convicted on drug trafficking charges
Born on February 11, 1938
Became a protégé
Brought down the Administration
Recognized as being clever but unscrupulous
[In charge of] rooting out dissent
Most hated man in the country
Dismantled the reformist programs
[Replaced] them with his own corrupt… regime
Utilized the armed forces to run the country
Activities became more outrageous
[Accused] of drug trafficking and money laundering
Able to survive two subsequent coup attempts
Indicted… on charges of violating drug and racketeering laws
Sentenced… to 40 years in prison
Finished... his term in... 2007 (Manuel Noriega)
Essential Question
In what ways did Noriega's actions affect the whole western hemisphere?