Noriega's the Man

To kiss the man who wins success,
And kick the man whose luck is less;
to make of vice beatitude,
And virtue of ingratitude!
--"The Isthmian Way", James Stanley Gilbert (1894)

Stanley's 19th century poem on Panama reads familiar for a 21st century American. Check it out, if you can, and you will understand further the arguments to follow.

Recent news articles indicate that Manuel Noriega is soon to be released from U.S. Federal prison, a little shy of his 1992, 30-year prison sentence--time off for good behavior, you know.

I'll refrain from discussion of Noriega's being a General and leader of a country illegally invaded by U.S. forces and then being denied POW status. The U.S. is presently in the business of institutionalizing such transgressions. And Noriega is old news. But this may be a brainchild: Noriega might just be the answer to GWB's troubles in Iraq.

Noreiga has what it takes to stabilize the Iraqi venture, and posses an impressive resume. Following are the arguments for using General Noriega in the stead of Lieutenant General Patraeus:

He has extensive military schooling, even attending the School of the Americas, now based at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Noriega has extreme experience working covertly and clandestinely with the CIA and U.S. State Department. Noriega has also cooperated closely with the U.S. Department of Defense.

There is an entente between General Noreiga and President Bush, as his his personal ethics include halting a presidential vote count in 1984, which inconveniently was going badly against his side. Instead, he installed his candidate, affectionately known as "Fraudito." (The fact that Noriega is self-promoted from the rank of Colonel to General is a small point.)

In addition, this is a man who understands the requirements of close alliance and dealings with the Bush clan (watch your back, as well as what's in front.) GHW Bush, in his tenure as CIA director, was Noriega's boss, arranging his annual stipend (as noted in the House Foreign Affairs Committee Report: "Narcotics Review in Central America" - U.S. Govt Printing Office, 1988.) Talk about old home days. And, he's already pre-punished. His insertion could make for a well-oiled machine.

In fact, putting Noriega in Malaki's slot would also do wonders for stabilizing the Iraqi venture. This is one man who could wear many hats ably. Creative thinking is in order.