European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 25, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday january 25, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 3 Cisneros Calls Noriega a Coward dictator never fought1 after invasion he says Panama City. Panama a the ground forces commander in the . Invasion of Panama said tuesday that Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega s re action to the military operation was the typical act of a he never fought rallied his forces or did anything worthy of a military Man after the dec. 20 invasion. Maj. Cisneros said of the ousted dicta Tor. Noriega took Refuge in the Vatican embassy on dec. 24. Under pressure from the embassy he surrendered to . Forces on Jan. 3 and was flown to Miami where he awaits trial on drug trafficking charges. Cisneros also told the associated press that the invasion was necessary because it was evident no diplomatic solution could emerge and there was a real threat to . Interests Cisneros is commander of he . Army South the ground forces of . Southern come . Headquarters for Central and South America. Other sources speaking on condition of anonymity said the Bush administration decided on military action shortly after the oct. 3 failed coup against no Riega. At least 10 officers involved in the uprising were executed some reportedly by an enraged Noriega. After oct. 3, we saw a Complete de generation of the panamanian defense forces Cisneros said. Indiscipline built up. There were also the dignity battalions that consisted mostly of pub Lic employees forced to join but had a hard Core of criminals recruited by no the dignity battalions were paramilitary groups trained to act As Shock troops. Rumor had it Noriega s Reliance on them and his arming of them in creased As his control diminished Over the defense forces. Cisneros said after oct. 3, a threat . Interests Here to our country to our families became very real. The culminating Point came when the . Officer was shut and a . Marine lieutenant was killed at a panamanian checkpoint on dec. 16.the Bush administration demanded an explanation and Panama accused the United states of provocations. It was Clear at that Point that this thing was not going to be solved through negotiations with these people. We had to do something Cisneros said. The United states had applied eco nomic and political pressure trying to of St Noriega since february 1988, when he was indicted on Federal drug Traffick ing charges in two Florida courts. Noriega denied the charges. On dec. 20, Cisneros soldiers nor Mally charged with defending the canal rolled out of fort Clayton for the inva Sion in a combined operation with paratroopers from the 82nd airborne div. The invasion had been rehearsed. . Forces Here had been enlarged since May 1989 and had engaged in repeated a Nevers As part of their training for the defense of the Panama canal. Cisneros said Noriega and his aides thought the americans would not invade because of world opinion. He said Noriega s main concern was to hide. A Noriega bodyguard told the dictator on the morning of the invasion that he . Maj. Gen. Marc Cisneros holds a poster of former panamanian dictator Gen. Manuel Noriega made after Noriega s surrender to . Troops in Panama. Was going out to seek another hiding place the . General reported. Noriega begged him do not aban Don me " Cisneros said. It was then the bodyguard decided that it was fruit less to stay with Noriega a waste of Lime. Me did not want More damage for his country. He found a . Soldier who spoke no Spanish and it look a Long time for him to come to me to Tell me where no Riega by the time . Troops arrived. No Riega was gone. Cisneros born in Brownsville. Texas Speaks Spanish and has spent nearly three years in Panama. He said the . Military was deeply involved in establishing a Demil Ilari de panamanian Force to Leach the police Force about human rights about the Constitution about police new president Guillermo Tyndara said monday in Costa Rica that his govern ment w ill not have an army. Costa Rica has been the Only latin american coun try without an army and Endara me with officials to discuss its system of civil and Rural guards. Use of alcohol favorite . Drug continues to drop Washington a alcohol consumption is at its lowest level in two decades in the United states but it still is More widely used than any other drug including tobacco a government report said tuesday. The report said a steady decline in alcohol consumption since 1981 May be the result of increased Public awareness about the risks of alcohol use As Well As the aging of the population. Consumption is lower among people Over 60. Another reason the report suggested is increasing concern about health and fitness which also has contributed to the decrease in smoking said the report by the department of health and human services. The 400-Page document the seventh special report to the . Congress on alcohol and health says that per capita consumption was 2.54 Gallons of pure Alco hol in 1987, the lowest level since 1970. The formula used for the calculation takes into account the relative differences in alcohol Content of Beer wine and spirits. Consumption of spirits was estimated at 0.83 Gal Lons of pure alcohol per capita in 1987, the lowest level since 1958. Beer and wine consumption remained about the same in 1987 As in the previous year. The report also cites a . Household Survey of people Over age 12 in 1988 by the National Institute on drug abuse showing that 73.4 percent reported drink ing alcohol in the past year while 36.2 percent reported smoking cigarettes. The report also found that about 10.5 million . Adults show signs of alcoholism and that another 7.2 million suffer from alcohol abuse even though they do not show signs of dependence. Reminders of War the remnants of other wars resided Side by Side with warfare s More modern descendants when the 10th Mountain div s 2nd brigade reeled one of their Supply Camps near an antique plane museum in Seifort Shoffn West Germany. The smaller f-100 and a Luftwaffe Nord Atlas transport appeared to be standing guard As . Soldiers went about their business during reformer manbevers this week
