America's Prisoner:: The Memoirs of Manuel Noriega

by Manuel Noriega

Book Overview

Important messages sometimes come from unlikely messengers. Manuel Noriega may be a demon in the eyes of most Americans, but he has a unique and alarming view of the reasons behind the U.S. invasion... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679432272
• ISBN13: 9780679432272
• Release Date: March 1997
• Publisher: Random House (NY)
• Length: 293 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.7"

Customer Reviews

Noriega, just another Bush discard...

After reading this book, I come away with a deep sense of sorrow for my fellow Americans. Clearly Manuel Noriega is no saint. However, compared to Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush and their henchmen, Manuel Noriega smells like a rose in comparison. I have worked with Latin Americans long enough to know that honor and respect are very important to these people. Noriega clearly was a man of honor and respect among his fellow rulers in Latin America. The history of Panama is that of a client state of the United States. Manuel Noriega just was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush were intent on murdering Salvadorans and Nicaraguans to re-establish colonial rule in these countries. Ollie North, their boy, was convicted of obstruction of justice in pursuit of their mission (defying the US Congress' ban on support for the Contras). Manuel Noriega was caught between a rock and a hard place. Being a Latin American he was loyal to his fellow Latin Americans who opposed US rule by fiat. As a client of the United States, Noriega did everything he could to make the US rulers happy. However, in the end, he denied US permission for their covert operations in Nicaragua and El Salvador. This led to his downfall. He chose loyalty to his fellow Latin Americans over being bought off and disposed of by the United States. I'm sure Noriega withheld a great deal in this book. However, the conclusion I draw is that Noriega chose to stand and defend his position rather than accept the $2 million offer by Eliot Abrams (yes the same Eliot Abrams that urged us that there were WMDs in Iraq) to leave Panama quietly and then be murdered in some dark alley. If anything Manuel Noriega is a political survivor and not a scumbag in the league of Saddam Hussein or Pap Doc Duvalier. I, for one, would welcome an appeal of his case to the World Criminal Court in the Hague.

Lessons about U.S. imperialism

"The Memoirs of Manuel Noriega: America's Prisoner" by Manuel Noriega with commentary and analysis by Peter Eisner is an important story. It holds lessons about U.S. imperialism and the demonization of its supposed enemies -- lessons that, unfortunately, appear to have been largely overlooked by the American public. Indeed, the template for the exercise of U.S. power by the elder Bush against Noriega in Panama as described in this book seems to have been knowingly employed by the younger Bush against Saddam in Iraq. Given the demonization of Noriega in the U.S. media, one may be surprised but nonetheless impressed with Noriega's personal values as they are expressed in this book. Noriega's support of policies that began with the Torrijos administration on raising living standards among the nation's poor seems to be sincere; no doubt this is connected with his Catholic faith and his familiarity with the Bible, which is quoted in several places in the book. Noriega also writes fondly about his career in the Panamanian military and the honor, discipline and professionalism associated with this career and the duties he performed on behalf of his country. Overall, while Noriega does not appear to be a saint he does seem to be a healthy, balanced and moral person.I think that Noriega's contention that he became a marked man due to his insistence on Panamanian soveriegnty is credible. To his credit, Noriega never bought into Cold War ideology, choosing instead to provide safe haven for political refugees of all stripes and to open up channels of communication with Fidel Castro and others. Yet despite years of friendly relations with the U.S. and cooperation with the CIA, his decision to open talks with the Japanese about a new canal combined with his refusal to cooperate with Ollie North's illegal "contra" war in Nicaragua proved to be too much for the White House. If Noriega ever did commit a crime that could possibly justify a full-scale invasion, it is also true that the drug conviction against him is highly suspect. The chapters that discuss the dirty dealings with Colombian drug cartels in securing the conviction is very disturbing. On the other hand, the fact that drug shipments increased in the absence of Noriega provides credence to the author's contention that the Panamanian Defense Forces cooperated in the war on drugs during Noriega's tenure.Last but certainly not least, the horrible consequences of the war on the innocent Panamanian people are discussed. Clearly, it was unneccesary to use such overwhelming force against a peaceful country in the midst of its Christmas celebrations. Noriega's blistering comments about the leading protagonists of the war -- including Colin Powell and George Bush Sr. -- may cause consternation among some Americans; but on balance the General's narrative is remarkably restrained. Indeed, the book is a cautionary tale of powerlessness and how a small nation and its leaders have few options available once regime

Proud Panamanian

I loved reading the Memoirs of Manuel Noriega. Many passages inthe book brought tears to my eyes. Manuel Noriega related factualaccounts about the political and social conditions that existed in Panama before Omar Torrijos became President. Similar stories were told to me by my parents and grandparents. I have no doubt in my mind that he was framed. Unfortunately, many North Americans will believe the propaganda they read and listen to from the corporate controlled mainstream media, and their crooked politician leaders. I think this book is an important document that eloquently illistrates the ever-present struggle for political, social and economic self-determination in Latin America.

Noriega redeems himself - a incredibly good book

It is a revelation. Noriega is a intelligent, sensitive human being. A true patriot to his country who was blackjacked by our government when he tried to develop a independent course for his country. Before reading his book I was completely taken in by US propaganda and thought he was a real scumbutt deserving his fate.

Finally Noriega speaks out without interuption!bashing

I was very happy to read Noriega's account and can now fully understand why he did not testify in his own defense at his farce of a trial. & lt;P & gt; I did not live in Panama during Noriega's tenure as Commander-in Chief of the Defense Forces, but I did visit the country several times, and learned that there are two definite types of Panamanians: those of color who speak mainly spanish, and those who are nearly white skinned and speak perfect english. Noreiga's supporters were mostly of the poor and middle classes, and the rich whites saw him as a threat to their greedy lifestyles. & lt;P & gt;I did live in the US during the Reagan-Bush regimes, and observed constant Noriega bashing, Defense Force taunting, and at no time did I ever see reason enough for the US to invade Panama with overwhelming force and destruction, violating international law, capturing their leader, and now hold him Prisoner of War. & lt;P & gt; This book shows how Noriega was once a friend and intelligence diplomat fo