The Noriega remix: US narcotrafficking charges against Maduro are a reprise of the Panama playbook

RT
Thu, 26 Mar 2020 19:20 UTC

© Reuters/Manaure Quintero/Alberto Lowe

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro • Former Panamanian president Manuel Noriega

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.

From the charges - conspiring with Colombian guerrillas to "flood the US with cocaine" - to the point man on both initiatives - current special representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams (branded a "war criminal" by critics) - the two cases are nearly twins. In addition to drug-running, Noriega also helped the US by supporting the Contras in Nicaragua, history that has suddenly become relevant again after the Trump administration quietly sanctioned Nicaragua's government earlier this month.

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

Few who understood the history were thrilled with the idea of pulling a Noriega on Maduro, however. CIA-supported Noriega had actually trafficked cocaine for years before he was charged, and many believed the invasion of Panama had been orchestrated to prevent him from opening his mouth about his relationship with the agency.

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.

Others were more disgusted with the timing of the indictments. "They can't stop coup-ing even during an outbreak!" one shocked user tweeted.

But some seemed to think invading Panama to snatch up Noriega had been a splendid little war, and pushed for the same in Venezuela.

Attorney General William Barr actually affirmed the Noriega comparison as he attempted to dispel the idea that the US had crossed some rubicon by criminally charging a foreign head of state. "We do not recognize Maduro as the president of Venezuela," he reminded reporters after announcing the indictments.

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."

Comment: The US is showing its desperation. Nothing has worked this far to dislodge Maduro and neither will this nefarious trajectory.

Washington's decision to indict Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on drug charges is "a new form of coup d'etat," as well as a move to win over hispanic voters in Florida, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza has claimed. [He] said that the indictments show the "desperation" of the "Washington elite," and their "obsession" with the Latin American country. According to Arreaza, the drug charges are simply "a new form of coup d'etat."

Arreaza added on Thursday that he believes the Justice Department's real aim with the latest indictments is to reap "electoral returns" for Trump in the state of Florida. Southern Florida has the highest population of Venezuelans in the United States, at more than 100,000. The state is also home to more than a million Cuban-Americans, many of whom fled their home country during the rule of Fidel Castro, and hold an unfavorable view of Maduro, an ally of Cuba.

Maduro himself has not yet responded to the charges, but his supporters in the region have condemned Washington for the move. Former Bolivian President Evo Morales - himself removed from power in a coup last year - called the indictments an attempt to "intimidate the legal and legitimate government of Venezuela," with the goal of getting American hands on the country's vast oil reserves.

Former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa was more colloquial in his condemnation. "Trump really is nuts, or just looking to distract attention from his lousy handling of the health crisis," the ex-leader tweeted.

See also: US indicts Maduro on 'narco-terrorism' charges