Christmas Greeting To You All
Would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your’s a Merry Christmas. I hope that this time of year finds you hail and hearty. I also hope that most of you will be able to share the festivities with family and friends.
I am putting together a new music video I have titled ‘Faces of Our Future’. I think some of these images from the video aptly convey my holiday wishes. (Click on thumbnails for full size pics.)
'Faces of Our Future' coming soon!
Christmas Scenes from Panama
Click to enlarge
Operation ‘Just Cause’
On 20 December 1989, 22 years ago, U.S. troops invaded Panama in an operation called "Just Cause", to capture one man, Manuel Antonio Noriega, then the de facto ruler. The images of that date show the destruction and fire, and a town that was subject to the military might of a first world power. The residents of the neighborhood of El Chorrillo, the area that was destroyed more than any other point in Panama, since then and still today they say they are "prohibited to forget" - referring to wounds that never quite heal, while others are still wondering where are their missing relatives.
Panamanians refer to the day of remembrance each year on the anniversary as 'Never Forget' Day. Some portion of Panamanians are championing the idea that it is the fact that the U.S. invaded that should not be forgotten. Many others, as well as many historians feel that there other more critical facts that should not be forgotten. For starters, Noriega had been given every chance to just 'fold his tent' and go off in exhile some place, and chose not to.
The primary objectives of Operation Just Cause were;
•Safeguarding the lives of U.S. citizens in Panama. Noriega had declared that a state of war existed between the United States and Panama and he also threatened the lives of the approximately 35,000 US citizens living there. There had been numerous clashes between U.S. and Panamanian forces; one US Marine had been killed a few days earlier and several incidents of harassment of US citizens had taken place.
•Defending democracy and human rights in Panama. In 1988 the Panamanian people voted and elected Guillermo Endara as their president. Noriega simply annulled the results of that election and remained in power. The invasion did, in fact, restore democracy to Panama and ended the 21 year military dictatorship.
•Combating drug trafficking. Panama had become a center for drug money laundering and a transit point for drug trafficking to the United States and Europe. And what's worse, the drugs were being trafficked by none other than Manual Antonio Noriega himself. De facto military dictator, and a country being run by a drug trafficker, money launderer, and murderer. Yeah, time to put a stop to that crap.
•Protecting the integrity of the Torrijos–Carter Treaties. Members of Congress and others in the U.S. political establishment claimed that Noriega threatened the neutrality of the Panama Canal and that the United States had the right under the treaties to intervene militarily to protect the Panama canal. Prior to the invasion Noriega had declared war on the United States. He was clearly a threat to the Panama Canal as well.
Another Earthquake
Nonetheless these quakes are, to say the least, disquieting and convince me even more that we are working up to a doozy! On Wednesday (Dec 21st) we experienced another mild earthquake ( 4.6 on the Richter) at about 11:30 in the morning. This is the second on in the last week, and the sixth in the last couple of months. Even though the epicenter was only about 67 miles SE miles from David (out in the Pacific), it was only mildly felt here.
My Book – ‘Angels in Panama’
My book is still available at a reasonable price paperback from the publisher.
A great Christmas gift – available for instant download. The book is also now (finally!) available in e-book form as well from both Amazon (for the Kindle) and Barnes & Noble (the Nook) for $15.95 (I don't set the prices!).
The links below are for the various formats of my book. I have also included a link to my website where you can read excerpts of ‘Angels in Panama’ if you want.
Paperback from Publisher $9.95
Till Next Time. Pura Vida
From ‘Faces of Our Future’. Click on thumbnail for full view.
Recent Comments