Psychological Warfare in Panama: Noriega, Ex-Intelligence Officer, Is Said to Be Master of Craft
PANAMA CITYÛÓPsychological warfare, a leftward drift by the government and reports of growing Cuban involvement here are combining to further muddle PanamaÛªs Dolitical and economic crisis.</br></br>Gen. Manuel Antonio NoriegaÛªs battle to stay in power, despite U.S. economic pressure aimed at ousting him, includes psychological operations that the former intelligence officer is believed to direct, possibly with some Cuban advice.</br></br>ÛÏNoriega is like a gutter fighter, and there is no more to him than that,Û said a former top government official and political ally. Referring to psychological warfare, however, he conceded: "At that grim area of human activity, the guy seems to be brilliant.Û</br></br>Sometimes, though, it is difficult to know where these ÛÏpsy opsÛ end and reality begins. And many things that happen in Panama seem to make no sense either way.</br></br>"I call Panama the twilight zone,Û said Luis Martins, a spokesman of an opposition political party. ÛÏIt defies logic. Two and two donÛªt add up to four in Panama.Û