Well documented and historically accurate. An excellent resource for mola enthusiasts. The only drawback, as with other Dover pubs., is that there are no color photographs. Recommend that you purchase a partner books with color photos to go along with this excellent & authentic book.

I was introduced to this story in my high school German class. Oh wie schoen ist Panama tells the story of two friends: a little tiger and a little bear. The two find a raft that is from Panama and decide that Panama is the land of their dreams. Tiger and Baer set off for Panama, meeting many other animals along the way.

This is a great story, especially for children and students of German. Although the storyline is fairly predictable and simple, the illustrations are adorable, especially the Tiger-Ente (tiger-duck). Anyone who enjoys children's books and knows some elementary German will fall in love with Tiger and Baer (just make sure you have a German-English dictionary handy)!

Manuel Noriega was a manipulative, violent, untrustworthy, power hungry and generally unsavory guy. This book convincingly connects the dots in his rise to power and the relationships he used to his advantage. He appears to be no great nationalist, but an opportunist. For years he served the U.S. well in the War on Drugs while apparently profiting from it. What is the most educational theme of this book is the way in which several different parts of the government were involved in shaping our relations with Panama. The State Dept, DEA, CIA, FBI and NSC all had their interests to promote and protect. The author weaves together many threads, from the Contras and (briefly) BCCI to Colombian drug lords and Panamanian political corruption. There are interesting connections to George Bush, Jesse Helms and Oliver North. The author could have discussed in more depth the importance of taking away control of the canal from Panama in some government circles. The treaty signed by President Carter to hand over administration of the canal zone by 1999? was hotly contested, and it must have been rather convenient to have Noriega indicted for drugs as an excuse to remove him from power---as if invading a sovereign nation to get one man were justified. Overall, kudos to Mr. Dinges for a very detailed and very readable book.

My son is in the Peace Corps in Panama. This book reflected fairly well what it is like to travel in Panama, especially outside of Panama City. However, the warnings concerning travel in the provience of Darien need to be a stronger. American citizens are forbidden to enter there. The section on Colon should also be stronger. It is a VERY dangerous city. The book stresses but to me not strong enough. It should also tell you that it is common for the public buses to be pack to the boundries of being very dangerous and bald tires are the norm. Pick up trucks with metal bench seating in the bed and a steel cage is consider a bus. Also being a woman who is fair skin please use caution when in Panama. The section on travelers checks was not quite right. No one even in Panama City would cash my travelers checks. The book also glosses over the bug and rodent problems. Panama is not a safe country for a single woman to travel in outside of Panama City. And it should have stressed the need to be fluent in Spanish. If you are not you are in deep trouble. The hotel it recommended in Chitre was a real dump and unsafe. However if you need a book on traveling in Panama this is the best one I have found. My son felt it was very good, except for the warnings of safety. He keep the book there to use while he travels through out the country. Also it did not tell you enough of being over charged by everyone in that country if you are white. From the grocery cashiers, to the bus drivers, to the resturants. Also it mentioned that tipping was 10% of the bill. It should have told you if you tip more it is considered an insult. Overall if you are going to Panama and will be visiting the interior take this book, you will need it.

This book draws a wonderful and accurate picture of South America, in particular Ecuador, as seen through the eyes of a Westerner. Especially for anyone who has back-packed in these areas in the seventies and eighties, the country comes alive and one finds oneself transported back there through the author's straightforward style, gentle humour and empathy with the people and landscape. The story of the making of Panama hats, from growing the straw through to retailing the product in quality outlets throughout the States is fascinating. The life styles, understanding and expectations of the various people in the chain are portrayed in a way that captures the imagination and surrounds the reader with their reality. At the same time, one's awareness is drawn in a gentle manner and without accusation, to the situation of the "plebs" of third world countries, exploited by and dependent on the West. A satisfying book to read, very interesting and an enjoyable way to learn some of the history of the area.

Professor Steve Ropp, Director, International Studies Program, University of Wyoming, wrote the following about this book in January 1994:

"I found The Panamanian Problem interesting and particularly insightful with regard to the political reasons behind the breakdown of negotiations with General Noriega in May of 1988."

This book recommended a dive shop in Grand Cayman for Scuba diving, because it was so reasonable. The book said it was $60 for a 2-tank dive. In reality, the shop charges $85 for a 2-tank dive, and the rental equipment was another $50 - outrageous!! I showed the dive shop the book, and they said they can't remember when their price was that low.

For overall advice or history on a port of call, this book was ok. If you want current information, look elsewhere.

This book is an absolute must for cruise passengers. It details every port from the perspective of the cruise guest, rather than the regular hotel-bound island visitors. If you want to do your own thing rather than buying shore excursions from the ship, this book will make that possible. Ship personnel are notorious for knowing little or nothing about what to do in port, other than take their expensive tours; you can take matters into your own hands with this detailed guide. I highly recommend it!

This book is of interest because it tells another side of the story of Panama in the 80's. There's a lot of interesting information here. But while I find it almost unavoidable to conclude that American intervention in Panama was guided as much by political expediency and diplomatic incompetence as it was by noble ideals, that doesn't imply Noriega was clean. Sure, Bush, Cheney, Oliver North, Eliot Abrams, etc. were all crooked politicians. But Noriega's portrayal as himself as simply a Panamanian patriot who was destroyed by the USA for standing up to them doesn't hold water. Many controversial aspects of Noriega's reign are not mentioned (Noriega's superstition or alcohol abuse), glossed over (Spadafora killing) or implausibly denied (the fate of the Giroldi coup plotters). He very seldom admits mistakes and even then only half-heartedly ("We should have just cancelled the elections outright instead of waiting until the results were in to anull them") and never shows a trace of regret. The subject of democracy seldom comes up; all opposition to Noriega is characterized simply as the white power elite ("rabiblancos") and their status as pawns of the USA.

In short, the book is disappointing as it appears Noriega has not used his time in jail for serious, thoughtful introspection and analysis. It's not a truthful confession, or even an intersting autobiography; it's basically a defensive essay on the American invasion of 1989. Still it's worth reading as no doubt some of his accusations against the "wimp" Bush bear examination.

I have to admit the book is rather enjoyable to read, incredibly interesting and hard to put down. Noriega comes across as very charismatic, but thats how Eisner intended to write him up. While one might see that there was some erroneous CIA propaganda in the whole Panamanian-Noriega Affair, it isn't nearly as prevalent as Noriega would have you believe. The CIA's timing is suspect, but what better time to air out the bad laundry of a drug-dealing dictator than when you want to bring him down. Moreover, Manuel Noreiga and Eisner are no less apt to making propaganda of their own. The Panamanian demagogue would have you believe he is wholly a victim of the evil American imperial capitalists. Eisner more or less tries to portray poor Noriega as the hapless and 'innocent' victim of American imperialism. Noriega, the pox-marked dictator, derided as "Pineapple Face" by his detractors, may never have amassed the massive fortune alleged by the CIA... but he was on the take so to speak. He has always been for sale to the highest bidder whether the Medellin drug cartel or the CIA. Since his early days as a CIA spy, he was selling out intel on his fellow students at a Peruvian Military Academy in the 1950's. Noriega mastered the art of double-dealing... and can fairly be described as a double-agent, if not a "triple" or "quadruple" agent. He was taking payoffs from drug dealers (as most politicians in the region do) and this isn't just CIA propaganda. He essentially crossed Bush one time to many... making one too many overtures to the Sandinistas and the Soviets. Bush Senior pulled the Potomac two-step on Noriega and Noriega reaped the whirlwind for having asked for a divorce. Regardless of what you think about the Panamanian intervention in 1989, Noriega isn't the "patron saint of Panama" that he'd have you believe he is. Nonetheless, I find his biography too be very intriguing.

If you care about Central American politics, you might like "A Twillight Struggle" by Robert Kagan.

Manuel Noriega, with Peter Eisner, wrote his memoirs. He presents strong and well structured arguments regarding his personal involvement with the U.S. government, his role as head of the former Pananamaian Defense Forces (PDF), Central America, and just to name a few highlights. Many Americans, no doubt, succumb to the persuasive power of what I call "gentle propaganda." This is the process of making a lie credible and making what is credible a lie. It is twisted in half truths, outright lies, or from total imagination.

Noriega's 30 years service to the U.S. is a big deal. He strongly believes he has been betrayed by the U.S. Why would he deny this? Because he is sitting in one of our jails. And, naturally, just as people would believe most, if not all, of what they read in the daily newspapers, people are "self deceived" into believing what they want to believe.

No, I don't champion Noriega. I am on the side of justice and in search of the truth. What I have found have been lies twisted with some "degree" of truth. The problem with this twisted formula is that the truth cannot and should not be twisted in any shape or form. Therefore, one must draw, intelligently, what is the truth from what is a lie. Panama, in a sense, became a nation-state of the U.S. to serve U.S. interests not only in Panama but throughout the region. This relationship dates back to when Panama wanted to secede from Colombia. Panama joined, not Colombia, but Gran Granada (Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela)and after inter-party conflicts, the liberal party at the time sought complete independence from Colombia. The U.S. ignored Panama's plea's for nation-statehood, until it saw the canal and its geopolitical importance.

The United States involvement in Panama goes back to the Monroe Doctrine (1823) and several treaties that followed with regards to the construction of an isthmian canal in which the U.S. would be sole owners. The U.S. also engineered a revolution between Panama and Colombia in order to take sides (Panama) and get a foothood in the region. Also, there have been over 20 interventions against Panama by the U.S.; this dates back to not only the Monroe Doctrine but to an extensive history of gunboat diplomacy against Panama.

Noriega may have been involved in drug trafficking, we may never really know for sure how much is the truth. The US military propaganda machinery toppled Noriega, destroyed the PDF, killed thousands of Panamanians and others, lied to U.S. citizens and the international community of what really happended on this dreadful day in Panama. In closing I will only say this: Noriega has arguments that are credible enough to warrant further research for the truth. He may have been involved in crimes, such as murder or drug trafficking, something we may "never prove." ...

Noriega, without question, is a Panamanian nationalist. He is proud to be Panamanian, just like we are proud to be Americans.

Also, what in the world was a power like the U.S. thinking when it invaded such a small and defenseless country like Panama?
The truth, in part, is that Noriega started to flex in "inflexiblity" towards U.S. policy in Panama. The military bases were a big foreign policy issue, so was the Panama canal, and, also pressing was the U.S. role in the region and the rest of Latin America.

Let us look deep within our consciences and search for the truth, we may end up scaring ourselves with what we may find.

This book is a false report on what went on in Panama. The author's obvious reverence to the men in green obviously indicates his ignorance of the murder that occured during the invasion.

As a veteran of Operation Just Cause (4/325 Parachute Infantry Regiment 82nd Airborne) I found the detail of the planning and execution fascinating. McConnell did an excellent job of providing the right amount of technical information while still telling the personal stories behind this very successful operation. I found the parts of the operation in which I was involved to be accurately portrayed. I felt the only part that was missing was the sheer excitement from the Panamanian people being delivered from Noriega's dictatorial rule. On Christmas Day, the Panamanian people in the neighboorhood we were patrolling delivered Christmas dinner to our company and each citizen stopped to thank us for our help. This is an excellent account and a well written book!

This book must be in the arsenals of every warrior in the U.S. military today, for it describes better than any other book how to fight a modern battle correctly. Operation Just Cause was a triumph that resulted in Panamania dictator Manuel Noriega being captured and the PDF disarmed with as minimum as blood shed possible. the secret was to use fast-moving Airborne not slow-moving seaborne forces to simultaneously converge on the enemy's centers of gravity and collapse them with light tracked armored fighting vehicles like the superb M551 Sheridan light tank (parachute airdropped and airlanded by USAF fixed-wing aircraft) and M113 APC could give shielded infantry with firepower superiority at the point of contact. This is why we had such few casualties compared to the October 3, 1993 raid in Somalia described so eloquently in Blackhawk Down! Compare the two battles. If we had wanted to capture Aidid like we did Noriega we should have had light AFVs supporting our 3-D maneuver inserted infantry.

Malcolm McConnell's book is so full of important details like how Army AH-64 Apache helicopters fly in ahead and destroyed Panamania anti-aircraft guns for the Rangers to parachute jump at 500 feet lightly opposed. How the 3/73d BN of the 82d Airborne took its M551 Sheridan light tanks from the drop zone and clandestine locations to take down the enemy's main center of gravity--La Comandancia by storm. He also doesn't shy away from the woes the SEALs had at Punta Paitilla airport where they were caught unshielded by enemy fire.

McConnell's book is THE STANDARD which all other books on Just Cause will be judged---let us hope Hollywood picks up this book and uses it as a basis for an accurate movie depiction.

Airborne!

A man in the Army writes home to his wife, constantly telling her to write to him. He is very self-involved and constantly begs her to tell him how much she loves him with no real feeling for the fact that she is home pregnant with his child. He pays little attention to where he is and spends his free time with prostitutes and complaining about others making too much noise. Gives very little information about much except himself.

I am sorry to say I didn't like this book. I couldn't wait to get it because my boyfriend also was in the service in the 50s and we wrote to each other every day. I enjoyed the first part of the book and all of the "interpretations" given by Carole (his wife), but Chris himself was (even for a young man/boy in the 1950s) egocentric to the point of being boorish. I don't remember exactly when Atlas Shrugged was written, but Chris (the author of these letters) sure had Ayn Rand's philosophy of selfishness. Imagine a man telling his wife he slept with prostitutes because his "sexual urge was just like my urge to eat or to scratch an itch" and he HAD to satisfy it . . . expecting her to believe that, YET telling her if she slept with anyone else he would kill himself. Ugh. I just didn't like Chris. Also, he wrote in his letters how he was DRIVEN to write . . . but we never find out if he ever WROTE anything of significance again. Very disappointing.

The authors letters are honest. I had to stop and remind myself these letters were written by a very young man. It's not often we are allowed to look into the heart and head of someone so completely honest in his feelings and thoughts. I want to secret the book from others who ask me what it's about, as if the letters were written to me.

I laughed outloud on a bus while reading Chris's conversation with Andy regarding god and hell.

I was not offended because he told his wife everything including his trips to the 3 dollar whore-house. Frankly I would have been more surprised if he hadn't. I believe him when he said it had nothing to do with his feeling or love for his wife Carole. The fact that they are still married and his wife saved his letters tells me all I need to know about the character of Chris Colie.