“US officials in Central America failed to address this drug issue for fear of jeopardising the war efforts against Nicaragua… and senior US policymakers were not immune to the idea that drug money was a perfect solution to the Contras’ funding problems.” US Senator John Kerry

January 19 2019 — On January 19 1991, the US Federal Government finally admitted that the Central Intelligence Agency had paid General Manuel Antonio Noriega during his relationship of more than 31 years with the United States. Better late than never! Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

Of course, geopolitical and intelligence experts had suspected for years that general Noriega was on the payroll of the CIA. But the confirmation was quite welcome.

Still, the US Government would not explain what general Noriega did in exchange for the payments from the CIA. To this day, all details about these payments remain classified.

Former aides to general Noriega and government documents have disclosed that he assisted the US military and the CIA with their operations in Latin America.

In the Iran-contra affair, documents disclosed that General Noriega offered to conduct sabotage raids inside Nicaragua in support of the Reagan Administration’s efforts to oust the Sandinista government.

Manuel Noriega, Dictator Ousted By U.S. In Panama, Dies At 83 | The New York Times

Removing Manuel Noriega, the dictator of Panama, from power in 1989 not only entailed what was then the largest American military action since Vietnam, but also set the stage for future actions by the United States. (NYT)

REFERENCES

U.S. Admits Payments to Noriega — NYT (Jan 19 1991)

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On This Day — U.S. Admits CIA Payments to Noriega (January 19 1991)