The US indictment of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his subordinates on narcotrafficking charges echoes the rationale used to invade Panama and kidnap its leader – and Americans aren’t exactly thrilled with the reprise.
The Justice Department’s indictment of Maduro and four other senior Venezuelan officials on narcotrafficking charges – and the State Department’s offer of up to $15 million as a reward for evidence supporting those charges – reminded so many social media users of the 30-year-old plot to remove then-Panamanian president Manuel Noriega from office that the former CIA asset’s name was trending on Twitter on Thursday.
Pablo Arosemena Marriott ✔@parosemenaMaduro’s indictment marks the second time that the U.S. government has brought criminal charges against a foreign head of state. The last time was in 1989, when federal prosecutors indicted Panamanian Manuel Noriega on drug-trafficking charges and U.S. military forces seized him. https://twitter.com/parosemena/status/1243200138052599813 …
Pablo Arosemena Marriott ✔@parosemenaFeds charge Venezuelan President Maduro, other top officials with narco-terrorism https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article240892976.html …
lnteGritty@lnteGrittyClassic CIA move to justify future coup/kidnapping of Latin-American head of state who annoys them.
AKA “the Noriega”. https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1243186906617335814 …
The New York Times ✔@nytimesBreaking News: President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela was charged in New York with drug trafficking crimes after an investigation by federal authorities.https://nyti.ms/2WJOxd1
Not to mention that the US at the very least “turned a blind eye” to Noriega’s drug activities.Incidentally, that was Elliot Abrams who most helped cover for Noriega. Abrams, who probably came up with this phony charge against Maduro.https://t.co/EEgBUPtK1Y
— Our Hidden History (@OurHiddenHistry) March 26, 2020
socialistische boomer@SocialistBoomerAccusing Nicolas Maduro of drug trafficking is stupid af. These people are just building the the case for war — they’re thinking: 1) WW2 got us out the depression in 1941 2) Americans supported the overthrow of Noriega in 1989 3) the Bolivarian Revolution must be crushed.
Socialism isn’t State subsidy for private corp@MaatMHIWasn’t Noriega running drugs *FOR* the CIA and when it become publicly detrimental to support him they abandon him? The US tries to pretend they were manipulated by military ruler of poor as balls third world country *which the US created* https://www.reuters.com/article/us-panama-noriega-obituary-idUSKBN18Q0NW …
Panama’s Noriega: CIA spy turned drug-running dictator
Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega was for years a useful tool of the United States, until President George H.W. Bush lost patience with his brutal, drug-running rule and sent nearly 28,000…
reuters.com
Robert A. Stansbury@BetoMetroDosNoriega had the goods on CIA drug flights to and from Nicaragua via Panama. Of course, he never got his press conference to tell it…
However, the Justice Department has not produced any evidence that Maduro is guilty – and the massive State Department rewards for evidence suggest that Washington is in dire need of proof in the Venezuelan case – making the “Noriega option” for Venezuela even less morally defensible than the invasion of Panama.
Joshua Goodman ✔@APjoshgoodmanDeja vu? @AGWilliamBarr and Elliott Abrams, the top @StateDept diplomat for Venezuela, in late 80s pushed for ouster and removal of Panama strongman Manuel Noriega to face US drug charges. Maduro often accuses US of plotting an invasion like one that followed Noriega’s indictment
Stephen Oldfield@PhiSteveO
The same forces in the US accusing Maduro, worked with the drug cartels in the 1980’s bringing in cocaine to American inner cities ( Barry and the Boys–one example), while arming contra’s in central America.
These are the same forces wanting to topple Maduro.
‘s other TweetsOthers were more disgusted with the timing of the indictments. “They can’t stop coup-ing even during an outbreak!” one shocked user tweeted.
Heather Habsburg@HeatherHabsburgThey’re really trying to Noriega him in the middle of a pandemic lmfao https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1243187614292815872 …
BNO News ✔@BNONews
BREAKING: Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro charged with drug trafficking crimes in U.S. federal court – NYT
But some seemed to think invading Panama to snatch up Noriega had been a splendid little war, and pushed for the same in Venezuela.
Villi WilsonHmm …
This sounds familiar …
Maybe Maduro should remember what happened to Manuel Noriega in Panama …
‘s other TweetsSgt Daniel L McCaughan@DanMcCaughanLet’s GO GET HIM!
FLASHBACK OPERATION “JUST CAUSE”! We can put him in the same Atlanta cell as Old Pineapple Face!
U.S. Invasion of Panama 1989-1990. Noriega Arrested & Convicted of international racketeering & drug trafficking. #Maduros
Hinting darkly at Washington’s vision for Venezuela’s future, Barr added: “Obviously we indicted Noriega under similar circumstances, we did not recognize Noriega as the president of Panama.”
ALSO ON RT.COM
https://www.rt.com/news/484186-us-reward-arrest-conviction-maduro/
US State Dept offers $15 MILLION REWARD for help arresting Venezuela’s Maduro after indictments
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