Introduction
On the night of April 9, 1989, Kurt Muse, the man behind La Voz de la Libertad, would finally be arrested while trying to clear immigration at Panama City’s Omar Torrijos International Airport. It would take nearly two and a half days and the cancelation of all Panamanian visas to the United States by the State Department for the Panamanian Defense Force to finally present Kurt Muse to the world; as a spy for the United States government.1 Kurt founded La Voz de la Libertad, and used it to promote the over threw of Noriega. Once news of his arrest was discovered, the other key players in La Voz de la Libertad and their families knew what had to be done. A member transmitted “shopette” and soon twenty-six Panamanians were asking for asylum at the gates of Fort Clayton.2 Kurt was the only American actively involved in La Voz de La Libertad and would not incriminate his Panamanian coconspirators. It would take nearly nine months for Operation Acid Gambit to come to fruition, and Kurt finally be liberated from his jail cell by Delta Force.
History
Why would the Panamanian Defense Force arrest someone who was not only an American citizen but also a Department of Defense dependent; then hold him for nine months in Carcel Modelo, one of Panamas most notorious prisons? Kurt Muse was born in the United States of America but spent most of his life in Panama City, Panama; where he ended up working in the family printing business. Kurt loved Panama and her people very deeply; he could not stand to see what Manuel Noriega was doing to the country. During the summer and fall of 1987 Panama was in a state of disarray, the economy was suffering, protests and strikes were rampant.
Up until October 11, 1987, Kurt and his cocon...
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...hese organizations do not know exact details of the operation.
However, it is evident that the implementation of these specialized aviation units has enabled Delta Force to execute its missions with much more accuracy. America’s ability to reach out and touch someone has come a long way since the failed mission of Operation Eagle Claw. Ignoring the political side of things, it is very comforting to know that such a precision instrument exists. “You guys are the meanest and ugliest fuckers I’ve met in my life. But I love you. You guys saved my life and I’m eternally, eternally grateful…So long, guys.” (Kurt Muse)
Works Cited
Flanagan, Edward. BATTLE FOR PANAMA. McLean, VA: Brassey’s (US) Inc. 1993.
Muse , Kurt, and John Gilstrap. SIX MINUTES TO FREEDOM. New York: Kensington Publishing Corp. 2006.
Waller, Douglas. THE COMMANDOS. New York: Simon & Schuster. 1994.
The Civil Reserve Air Fleet is a partnership between the Department of Defense and commercial airlines where the airlines contractually commit a portion of their aircraft and crews to be used by the Department in the event of any level of military conflict. These aircraft can be “called up” and required to respond quickly to provide airlift support to the Department of Defense. There are minimum required levels of participation in order for the airlines to be eligible, and in turn they receive peace time business including passenger and cargo movement approximately in proportion to their commitment level. The program is divided into three segments which include varying amounts and sizes of aircraft that serve specific purposes. There are also three levels of activation depending on the severity of the conflict, which also require different amounts and sizes of aircraft. This program has been in place for nearly 53 years, and has become an essential partnership required for an effective United States military. The following pages are an investigation various aspects of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet such as its purpose, history, and effectiveness.
Thesis. Air War College, 1987. http://www.airwar.edu//a>. Maxwell, Alabama: United States Air Force, 1987. DTIC Online -.
Manuel Noriega, the former dictator of the Central American country of Panama, rose to power through the art of destruction deception and detail. Manuel Noriega was able to profit and flourish as Panama’s new leader because of the Cold War environment. Due to the Cold War, its geographical positioning, and financial liberties, Noriega was able to manipulate all parties involved while making him very wealthy, powerful, a political asset, and finally a threat to the United States National Security.
America had begun to indulge in the unilateral environment afforded to it during the Cold War. As the Soviet Union began to collapse in the 1980s, the United States was on its way to becoming a solo super power. This acquisition of complete power would inevitably lead the country into new problems, including those foreign and domestic. One of the main issues that came around in the 1980s for the Unites States was the Iran-Contra Affair, which involved the Reagan Administration. With the United States readily inserting influence across the globe, the Iran-Contra Affair proved how foreign intervention can lead to scandal and disgrace in the modern world. Along with detrimental scandals, the Iran-Contra Affair showed how America’s imperialistic behavior in South America was beginning to catch up. In order to remain a dominant influence in South America, the United States had no choice but to topple governments that did not align with American ideology. Using guerillas like the Contras insinuates America’s cornerstone of doing what is necessary in order to satisfy foreign interest.
Prados, John. Safe for Democracy The Secret Wars of the CIA. Chicago, IL: Ivan R Dee, Publisher, 2006.
For instance, Yvonne M. Conde in addition to the interviews conduction with the Pedro Pan children, offered freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to the United States department, service naturalization, immigration besides the CIA to enable retrieval of the operation Pedro pan’s governing documents. However, the Conde’s request to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was denied through the way of ambiguity. Conde stated that “not denying nor confirming” the existence of any related documents, I was denied access based on the national security, my appeal was denied and was advised that the legal action is the available course (1999, Pp. xiii-xiv). In conducting a research on Conde’s book “The Lost Apple: Operation Pedro Pan, Cuban children in the U.S, and the promise of a better future”, Maria de Los Angeles Torres, a Pedro Pan child was exclusively involved in a lawsuit against the Central Intelligence Agency to access her transport files to the U.S. Nevertheless, Torres was not successful in obtaining the information through her lawsuit. But, her experience illustrates the cold war research continued problem and its government secrecy
Within five weeks, the operation to topple Arbenz quickly fizzled when representatives loyal to the president uncovered the plot and took steps to solidify their power. Works Cited Immerman, R. H. Guatemala as Cold War History. i>Political Science Quarterly/i>, 629. Retrieved May 4, 2014, from https://learn.uconn.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-762624-dt-content-rid-2584240_1/courses/1143-UCONN-LAMS-1190W-SECZ81-24116/guatemala%20cold%20war%281%29.pdf. Burns, E. B., & Charlip, J. A. (2007).
...y records from August of 1982 connected the General to Operation Sofia. These documents detailed a series of counterinsurgency sweeps though Guatemalan regions to kill the enemy guerillas and destroy their bases with extreme force.
A decade later, in 1985, the Colombian Supreme Court was studying the constitutionality of Colombia’s extradition treaty with the United States. It was besieged by left-wing Colombian guerrillas from the 19th of April Movement (M-19) and half the court’s judges were murdered. Escobar was thought to have been responsible for this action, but this was never proven. The 1989 bombing of a Bogota security building was attributed to Escobar. A number of American intelligence reports claimed that Escobar‘s cartel was planning to kill President Bush Sr. with a bomb on his visit to Cartegena in 1989, which did not transpire.
...s the world to execute the Air Force mission at a moment’s notice. Being part of the 389th Fighter Squadron allows me to be able to conduct a variety of missions (close air support, defensive counter air, air interdiction) allowing me to contribute directly to the Air Force mission. My service to the Air Force adds directly to generation of air power and the execution of global strike and precision engagement anywhere at any time.
...ed to the success of America’s foreign policy. I’m proud to be a part of that. Similarly, our squadron’s nuclear airlift mission allows the Air Force to support U.S. strategic arms policy by providing transport for the most sensitive of cargo. The relocation of nuclear weapons, which could destroy whole cities if they fell into the wrong hands, is an awesome responsibility. Our safe execution of that mission allows arms reduction treaties, such as that signed between the U.S. and Russia in April 2010, to be effective instruments of America’s national policy.
With the Army gearing its forces towards an expeditionary force, it is important to remember what Technical Escort Units bring to the fight. They can operate in a small group with such expertise that they truly are a force multiplier. These units will continue to evolve and provide this nations Army with unmatched CBRN capabilities. They will continue to be the longest active surviving CBRN unit in the nation.
Ginsberg, Allen. “Howl” The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Paul Lauter and Richard Yarborough. 6th ed. Vol. E. Boston: Wadsworth Cencage Learning, 2010. 2582-2590. Print.
Tice, Brian P. (1991). Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – The Force Multiplier of the 1990s. Airpower Journal.