were prepared to protect their own interests at all costs, even if it meant bribing, corrupting and arming Panamanian officials. In this case, the Panamanian official was the feared and respected General Manuel Antonio Noriega. The idea was, support a military ally, put him on the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) payroll, and in return ask for information. The United States however went to far, and the plan backfired resulting in the invasion of Panama and both its legitimate and clandestine causes.
             As said before, the Isthmus of Panama was discovered in 1501, and since its discovery, it has been through many different political and historical roads. Roads, which at the end, shaped this tiny but important Republic into the vital and economically growing nation that it is today. Panama has not been a democratic republic since the beginning. In fact, it was not until the late 1800's that Panama became a country. After separating from Spain, in 1718 Panama became part of a group of countries known as New Granada, led by the "libertador" Simon Bolivar. Panama then separated from New Granada, and became part of Colombia. The United States, looking out for their best interests, helped Panama gain its independence from Colombia, and in return, they were allowed to build the Panama Canal (Grolier 2000). This marked the beginning of and important bilateral relationship, a relationship based on advantage and dominance. After the building of the Canal, Panama went on to create, with the help of the US, a stable and democratic political environment, which lasted for about 60 years. During the mid 1960's however, General Omar Torrijos, Noriegas mentor, overthrew the Panamanian government in a military coup, and by 1969 he had become Panama's dictator. In 1981, Torrijos died in a plane crash, and Noriega soon gained control of Panama. The United States saw this as a golden opportunity. And as usual, it took the US governm...