>>>>>I think Panama is an excellent example to show what Nick is saying, as there would be no Panama if it were not for the US interests for a strategic location.
>>>>
>>>>So you are saying that it wasn't a selfless act. Give me an example of a selfless act. Are there truly any?
>>>
>>>I do not see your point, mine was that the US interfered with the affairs of another sovereign country for its own benefit
>>
>>Any my point is that anytime any country gets involved with another country, it is not selfless.
>
>Actually, what the US did in Panama was an excellent precedent. Now any country can arrest any other country's president.


ooooohhhhhhhh sore spot for me. :o) Been there, done that one. That situation is entirely unique. First, he declared war on the U.S. I'll agree that arresting him was very strange and I still don't see how that was 'lega' in any court or international system. I get the protecting U.S. citizens there (there were over 35,000 living and working there), and ensuring and protecting the integrity of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties (we had to do that), but the drug charges? I will never get that... He was crazy in the latter days - probably drug induced - declaring a state of war, using cocaine, evidence of occult rites, losing control of his police forces and troops (lots of evidence of that)...

I worked one on one with many police officers and ex-Deni folks and they all thought he had lost his mind during those months leading up to the invasion of Panama. His behavior certainly made it look that way.

Don't forget (I forgot to mention it) that all those born in the canal zone were U.S. citizens...

But you may have a point on another thread - if the U.S. hadn't supported Panama in becoming its own country, it would still belong to Columbia and everything would be so much better for those living there.... In that case, the independence suited both those who were fighting for it and the U.S. (for the canal). But definitely what may be called not altruistic at all....