European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 17, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 columns Leon Daniel the stars and stripes getting rid of Noriega up to Panama not . Credit president Bush for mane vering boldly and deftly to oust Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega the indicted dope dealer who hoisted the Panama Nian election. There was considerable risk in the president s week end Call for panamanians to dump their dictator. Bush calculated the risk and considered that it was reasonable to accept it before he spoke out. The president s verbal blast served to further isolate Noriega who is facing increasing opposition at Home and abroad. Bush s Call for Noriega s overthrow followed his decision to deploy additional . Troops to Panama to protect americans there. The president s rhetoric will be More useful in top pling Noriega than the gis would be. Using american forces to topple Noriega is a scheme so harebrained it deserves no consideration. It would undermine . Relations with most of latin America and could prompt retaliatory sabotage flocks on the Panama canal. Bush made it Clear that the Job of ousting Noriega properly belongs to panamanians. But in suggesting that the panamanian defense forces should Tilp oust Noriega Bush risked appear ing to Promise them help he May not be willing or Able to deliver. If panamanian soldiers were to need help after mov ing to topple Noriega Congress might not want to provide it. Bush told the panamanian soldiers in effect that if they ousted Noriega the defense forces could expect Good relations with the United slates. But it is at least conceivable that a military coup could result in leadership just As onerous As Noriega s. Reason will be Well served if the organization of american states comes out with a Strong statement denouncing fraud in this month s presidential election. Such a position by the Oas would increasingly Iso late Noriega who by now must at least be considering the possibility of exile. Bush said Venezuela and other countries have been asked to consider taking him. The president s latest verbal assault on Noriega will Richard Herzfelder sweeping Victory be welcomed by americans who watched on television the vicious beating of opposition candidates by the dictator s thugs. Some of those candidates made the rounds of Panama City s churches sunday drawing cheers from congregations and support from leaders in the clergy. Catholic Bishops called on authorities in the name of god and the National conscience to respect the results of the annulled elections. The opposition employing new tactics in the face of has called for increasing government oppression general strike starting wednesday. The strike coincides with a meeting of the Oas called to look into the disputed election. But the Oas can t restore democracy to Panama. And it is not prop Erly the task of the United states to topple this partic ular dictator. The task of getting rid of Noriega belongs to panamanians. President Bush is right to encourage them to get on with the Job. United press International Noriega lost More than votes in this election Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega has survived . Sanctions drug indict ments and years of opposition demonstrations. The question of the hour has become can he survive his own mis takes " Noriega permitted an election and lost it and even worse showed weakness by failing to successfully steal it. He also gave strength and a sense of Unity to his enemies by ordering or Al lowing a tire Iron beating attack on opposition candidates before the eyes of the world. With All that Noriega still has sources of support both in the country and apparently in the panamanian defense forces  of which has Given him de Facto control of the country. The general genuinely thought his forces would win the election or at least come close enough so that a Little fraud would t be noticed. He did t have a clue that his Man might lose said for Mer president Jimmy Carter an International observer who talked to the general before the May 6 election. A win would have Given Noriega s regime credibility both internationally and internally. It would have ice him thumb his nose at the world,1 said a Western analyst. One . Official said Carter served particularly useful role because he accepted the process As fair until the last moment. And the spectacle of a former . President known for rectitude declaring in the end that he personally had seen officials counting counterfeit vote tallies destroyed the election s credibility. Clusters of panamanians watched in fascination whenever the press Confer ence was replayed on . Armed forces television. Nevertheless the official count proceeded showing Noriega candidate car los Duluc leading 2-1 despite opposition counts and respected exit polls that showed a 3-1 win for opposition Candi Date Guillermo Endara. By wednesday apparently the Divide Between fiction and reality be came top great to Bear and the election was nullified. The opposition had a shocking majority said Cesar Quintura an Independent lawyer. The opposition demonstrated against the election that monday but As so often in the past thousands of demonstrators scattered like frightened Quail before a few dozen police. Such scenes raised questions about the opposition s fortitude but there was no question about what happened wednes Day. The opposition candidates including the Pacific bespectacled and terrified Endara were beaten bloody before Tele vision cameras by lire Iron and pipe wielding thugs. Noriega showed his desperation said first vice presidential candidate Ricardo Arias Calderon one of the victims. The result was a Hurricane of International disapproval isolating the Panama Nian government at a moment when it most needed help in a confrontation with the United states. President Bush sent additional Ameri can troops to . Bases near the Panama canal but the panamanian govern ment s efforts to rally opinion against them had Little effect and probably won t unless the United slates actually inter Venes. The opposition is discussing calling for a one Day work stoppage this wednesday. They have offered to negotiate with Noriega but Only if he agrees to depart. Still one of the opposition s problems has been its tendency to look North for a solution a tendency it has not entirely lost. The psf soldiers would throw Down their guns the moment . Heli copters flew Over the Barracks said one opposition supporter. That s unlikely unless . Citizens arc in danger. The government coalition has shown a tense outward Unity but some of the nine parties got virtually no Voles and feel they were fatally damaged by their connection to Noriega. Noriega has never been one for Mak ing Public speeches but his silence Dur ing a National crisis has been remarkable and has encouraged speculation he is dealing with trouble in the officer corps. Noriega s support always has Bee based on the lower Side of Panama s racial and class Divide a Divide that some still feel strongly. We kicked the oligarchy out in 1968 and we Don t want them Back said Eric acc a Noriega supporter. The defense forces have been recruited largely from the lower class and no Riega has remarked that if the Rabi Blan cos which translates loosely to White Butts paid More attention there would be a different commander  nevertheless the size of the opposition vote suggests support at All lev Els. Regime opponents claim that at some polls where hundreds of soldiers voted the government received fewer than 100 votes. They could t even keep the votes they bought said an opposition  Only constitutional option is an other election before sept. I when acting president Manuel Solis Palma s term is  possibilities that no Riega might favor include a provisional Junta and extending Solis Palma s  on an elemental level Noriega has lost his biggest  else he was he was Panama s strongman and the opposition was seen As weak. He will have trouble get Ting what he wants unless he can restore his position. Editor s note Richard in ileum it on a rows Drotor Tor Central America. The opinions expressed in the columns and cartoons on this Page represent those of the authors and Are in no Way to be considered As representing the views of the stars and stripes or the United states government