Tag: Panama

Michael Yon – Secrets of the Darién Gap

Shawn Ryan, former Navy Seal, interviews Michael Yon.
Michael Yon touches on many subjects in this interview. It is long but, well worth you time to listen to.

__________________________________________

Michael Yon is a Former Green Beret, Author, Photographer, and War Correspondent. After serving in the U.S. Army Special Forces, Yon retired his rifle in favor of a camera. He began his journalism career in December of 2004 in Iraq, covering some of the World’s most complex conflicts and war zones. His writing and photography lead him to over 100 countries during his 20 year career. Most recently, he’s been in South America covering an unknown path for illegal immigration into the United States: The Darién Gap. The Darién Gap is a region that connects the Southernmost part of Panama and Northern Colombia. This area has become the preferred way of travel for hundreds of thousands of migrants since the late 2000’s. The Darién Gap is largely unregulated and only maintained by a faltering assortment of NGOs and smugglers. In this episode, Yon breaks down how the region functions in illegal immigration and the growing threat it poses to U.S Sovereignty.

As an Amazon Associate I Earn from Qualifying Purchases
Click to visit the TBP Store for Great TBP Merchandise

Panama rolls out new residency options

Guest Post by Simon Black

If the idea of packing up and leaving has crossed your mind lately, you certainly aren’t alone.

With so many people across the globe staring at a new wave of COVID lockdowns, higher taxes, more chaos in their cities, etc., heading out for greener pastures is a really attractive proposition, especially now that so many people are able to work from home.

Even if you’re not ready to make a move just yet, you might be concerned about the direction of your home country. And in that case, you certainly want to at least start considering your options.

Continue reading “Panama rolls out new residency options”

Panama is still an obvious escape hatch

Guest Post by Simon Black

At the turn of the 20th century, the United States had recently become the largest economy in the world… and it was showing.

The US had just vanquished Spain in the Spanish-American War, resulting in a vast new American colonial empire, stretching from the Philippines to Puerto Rico.

And it was just the beginning of American dominance overseas.

Continue reading “Panama is still an obvious escape hatch”

THIS DAY IN HISTORY – The U.S. invades Panama – 1989

Via History.com

The United States invades Panama in an attempt to overthrow military dictator Manuel Noriega, who had been indicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges and was accused of suppressing democracy in Panama and endangering U.S. nationals. Noriega’s Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) were promptly crushed, forcing the dictator to seek asylum with the Vatican anuncio in Panama City, where he surrendered on January 3, 1990.

Continue reading “THIS DAY IN HISTORY – The U.S. invades Panama – 1989”

“Our Man in Panama” is Dead

Guest Post by Mark Nestmann

Manuel Noriega, former dictator of Panama, died May 29 at age 83.

Americans under the age of 40 have little memory of Noriega because he spent the last 27 years of his life in prison. But his legacy can’t be ignored. It set the stage for two wars in Iraq, one in Afghanistan, and US military involvement in at least six other Middle Eastern countries.

Born poor in Panama City in 1934, Noriega worked his way up through the ranks of the military and even graduated from the infamous School of the Americas, a US military training facility that specializes in training Latin Americans for leadership roles in their respective countries.

Noriega eventually became chief of military intelligence for the government of General Omar Torrijos, another graduate of the School of the Americas, who took power in a 1968 coup. By that time, Noriega was already considered a valuable asset to the CIA. In 1971, the agency placed Noriega on its payroll.

Continue reading ““Our Man in Panama” is Dead”

THIS DAY IN HISTORY – Noriega surrenders to U.S. – 1990

Via History.com

On this day in 1990, Panama’s General Manuel Antonio Noriega, after holing up for 10 days at the Vatican embassy in Panama City, surrenders to U.S. military troops to face charges of drug trafficking. Noriega was flown to Miami the following day and crowds of citizens on the streets of Panama City rejoiced. On July 10, 1992, the former dictator was convicted of drug trafficking, money laundering and racketeering and sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Noriega, who was born in Panama in 1938, was a loyal soldier to General Omar Torrijos, who seized power in a 1968 coup. Under Torrijos, Noriega headed up the notorious G-2 intelligence service, which harassed and terrorized people who criticized the Torrijos regime. Noriega also became a C.I.A. operative, while at the same time getting rich smuggling drugs.

Continue reading “THIS DAY IN HISTORY – Noriega surrenders to U.S. – 1990”