European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 21, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday december 21, 1989 the stars and stripes Paga 3 Thatcher cites courageous decision Sov efs denounce . Intervention London a the soviet Union on wednes Day swiftly condemned the . Military assault to seize panamanian Leader Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega while British prime minister Margaret Thatcher praised it As a courageous  someone has to uphold democracy Thatcher said. However soviet foreign ministry spokesman Vadim p. Perfeliev said these actions a violation of the . Charter and generally recognized rules of state relations should be condemned by the International Community. The United slates must immediately Stop its armed intervention in  the contrast in reactions was echoed As news flashed around the world that president Bush had or dered troops to capture Noriega who was indicted on cocaine trafficking charges in the United states in1988. Among other Western allies. Dutch foreign min ister Han Van Den Brock said he sympathized partly because . Troops had been endangered recently in the Panama canal zone. Lalin american nations expressed concern Over the . Action and seven of them agreed to hold an Emer gency meeting in Bogota. Columbia to discuss the crisis. Foreign ministers of Argentina Brazil Mexico. Uruguay Peru Venezuela and Columbia were to meet wednesday night. The group usually represents Latina Erica s stands on economic and political matters. In the past the group has condemned Noriega s regime but it has also consistently rejected any direct . Intervention in Panama. Venezuela which has Long opposed Noriega condemned the . Attack but recognized that the action was necessary. Nicaragua also condemned the attack put its army on Alert and called for a meeting of the . Security Council. Canada expressed regret about the use of Force bythe United slates in Panama but was sympathetic to the american action under the circumstances. A statement from external affairs minister Joe Clark also said that intervention by Force is a danger Ous precedent adding that Canada notes that the United states relied on Force As a last resort after fail ing to resolve the situation in Panama peacefully. Foreign minister Francisco Fernandez Ordonez of Spain said he deeply lamented the . Action. He said the Spanish government which always has Bee opposed to foreign military intervention expresses its Hope that the panamanian people can decide their future in  foreign minister Taro Nakayama of Japan said he hoped the confrontation would end soon. In Moscow the official news Agency Tass said . Action whatever its motivation has provoked a feeling of serious concern in the soviet  state run radio Moscow accused the United slates of invading Panama in what in called an act of Daggres  Yugoslavia also said the . Action was unacceptable. Thatcher spoke to reporters on the Steps of her 10 Downing St. Office after Bush telephoned at 7  time to Tell her the military assault was under Way. They spoke for 10 minutes. I said we would fully support him in the action he was taking to bring an end to this Rule of  Thatcher said. "1 believe he was right to do so. I be Lieve this is what friends Are for to give support at this time. It was a courageous  Thatcher called on other world leaders to declare support for Bush saying. Every action has a risk and it is important that it be successful. Gen. Noriega is wanted on drugs allegations in the United states. We arc fighting terror and the Battle against drugs As Well. The Rule of democracy should  Britain s opposition labor party criticized the . Action saying it had nothing to do with democracy in Panama and everything to do with protecting the american interests in the canal  White House statement on seize Noriega Mission Washington a Here is the text of the statement Early wednesday by White House press Secretary Marlin Kitz Waler announcing that president Bush had ordered american troops in Panama to seize dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega the president has directed . Forces to execute at i . This morning pre planned missions in Panama to protect american lives restore the democratic process preserve the integrity of the Panama canal treaties and apprehend Manuel Noriega the situation in Panama under Gen. Noriega has reached a crisis. Democratic elections have been thwarted american lives have been endangered. The integrity of the Panama canal treaties is at risk. Gen. Noriega is under indictment for drug related charges and the president has made every Effort peacefully to re solve the situation through negotiations under the auspices of the organization of american Stales and latin american leaders. Gen. Noriega has rejected All of these efforts. Last Friday Noriega declared a slate of War with the United states. The next Day inc psf panamanian defense forces Surat to death an unarmed Ameri can Serviceman wounded another seized and beat another Serviceman and sexually threatened his wife. Under these circumstances the presi Dent decided he must act to prevent fur ther violence. Our troops will use Only the Force necessary to achieve the objectives and will be withdrawn As quickly As possible. At approximately Midnight tonight the democratically elected leaders of Panama president Endara and vice presidents Calderon and Ford were sworn in and assumed their rightful positions. They Welcome and support our action Sand have stated their intention to Institute a democratic government immediately. The United states has recognized that government and will restore Normal relations and will cooperate to rebuild a free and prosperous Panama. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney watches As Gen. Colin Powell gives a briefing to reporters wednesday at the Pentagon on the military operation in Panama. The Man of Panama Rose rapidly to ruthless ruler Panama City a Gen. Manue Lantonio Noriega who once called his opponents bullets kisses has been shrewd and ruthless survivor who revealed in Power and in thumbing his nose at what he called the colossus of the  at about 1 . Wednesday us. Forces Bent on toppling the military strongman engaged panamanian troops less than a week after his rubber stamp Assembly named him head of state and declared a state of War with the United slates. Noriega had eliminated political opposition nullified the May 7 elections when they were going against him and a Cal idly defied the United states which indicted him on drug trafficking charges in february 1988. Noriega who comes from Al Chorn Llo. The Panama City District where defense forces Headquarters arc located has sur Vived and coca cd a mystique thai won him the nickname the Man the English word his initials spell. Noriega wrapped himself in National ism saying it was part of the historic mis Sion of his generation to take control of the Panama canal. Under an Accord with inc United states Panama is to take Over the canal by the year 2000 Noriega claimed his enemies were plot Ting to abrogate inc canal pad. On ocl. 3, elements of the 15, xxx Man defense forces he commanded rebelled and claimed they had deposed him. But troops Loyal to him suppressed the rebel lion and he personally accepted the rebels surrender. During his last crisis in May after the opposition swamped his candidate in the annulled presidential elections Noriega was seen standing alone before the Tomb of his Patron. Gen. Omar Torrijos. The epitaph on the Tomb is "1 Don t want to enter heaven. I just want to enter the canal  Torrijos who seized Power in a 1968 coup signed inc 1977 Accord with former president Carter to turn Over the canal. Torrijos died in a plane crash in 1981. And Noriega became commander of the de sense forces in 1983, giving him do Facto control of is government. Noriega was raised by Foster parents adjoined the defense forces in 1962. His As cent began when he caught the attention of Torrijos then an ambitious Young officer. In his climb to the top he dealt with everyone from the Cia to colombian co Caine canals. Less than a year alter Torrijos took Power he made Noriega Ihen an obscure major chief of intelligence with the rank of lieutenant colonel. La was like having the keys to the City. Noriega immediately began compiling Dos Siers on everyone who counted in Panama. The Job also gave him close Contact with . Intelligence agencies and he formed powerful alliances. After Noriega became the defense forces commander he acquired a Fleet of expensive cars and a Home in an exclusive neighbourhood. Rumours about his personal life were plentiful but there were few facts. Even his age was disputed. The general has said he is51, but the Date in his High school yearbook would make him 54. Ii is married and has a daughter who lives i the dominican Republic. Noriega exercised Power Wilh ruthless Assurance. Lie closed newspapers for months Al a time and presidents served at his pleasure. Rumours of opposition inside the de sense forces were met with purges and reorganizations. Kisses was now he de scribed the bullets fired in an attempted coup in March 1988. The United states Long his ally began to distance itself after the headless body Ozone of his opponents Hugo Spadafora was found in a . Mailbag in Costa Vicain 1985. A full break came in february 1988, when two Federal grand juries in Florida indicted Noriega on drug trafficking and Money laundering charges. The Domestic opposition began to intensify its Campaign against Noriega and Washington imposed crippling economic sanctions. Noriega did t Budge