|
Last Minute Drive to Keep U.S. Forces in
Panama
Hearings are Called, but Unbalanced Witness
List is Evidence of a Whitewash
October 21, 1999
Congress was warned twenty years ago that American
security interests would be placed in jeopardy if we gave away the
Panama Canal. Those warnings have come back to haunt Congress and now
there is a mad scramble to plug the hole before the December 31, 1999
deadline.
The evidence is chilling. Corrupt Panamanian politicians pocketed
Communist Chinese money for leases on the two crucial ports on each end
of the Canal (which sources say the bidding process was fixed), U.S.
military bases are up for sale, drug trafficking will escalate under the
less-policed area, and the possibility exists that Chinese missiles
(built from stolen U.S. documents) can now be placed in Panama within
range of U.S. cities. This is just the beginning of the list! And yet
Bill Clinton, beneficiary to questionable campaign funds from Chinese
sources, continues to insist that there is no danger in relinquishing
U.S. control of the Canal.
The situation is grim indeed. But not hopeless.
Finally Congress seems to be awakening from its Clinton-induced
slumber. Majority Leader Trent Lott has sounded the alarm and has
demanded hearings to investigate the events surrounding the release of
the Panama Canal. Hearings have been scheduled to begin Friday, October
21 at 9:30 a.m. Unfortunately, according to the Virginia Taxpayers
Association, Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner is said to have
rigged the hearing so as to minimize the threat that the Chinese
People’s Liberation Army will take over the Canal. Five witnesses will
be called to testify that Chinese control of the ports of the Canal
poses no threat to the U.S. Only one speaker, former Defense Secretary
Caspar Weinberger, will have an opportunity to address concerns over the
Chinese military aims for the Canal.
It is imperative that these hearings are allowed to address and
investigate all questionable affairs involving the Panama Canal. It is
of dire importance that the United States Congress and the American
public be alerted to the grave situation that has escalated to the
Panama Canal crisis.
We have only two months before we lose possession of the Panama
Canal—a canal that was born of great American treasure and blood. The
U.S. military must be allowed to remain stationed in the Canal region to
protect our lives and our interests. It is now up to us to create
the pressure needed to persuade Chairman Warner to hold fair and
complete hearings, allowing all necessary evidence to be
presented. This is no time to allow a whitewash of the Red Chinese.
Congress must learn the truth about the peril that threatens the Panama
Canal.
ACTION TO TAKE
Call Sen. John Warner (202) 224-3871, Chairman of the Senate
Armed Services Committee, and Sen. Trent Lott (202) 224-3135 and
demand that the hearings allow testimony from such experts as Adm.
Thomas H. Moorer (Ret.), former chairman of the Joint Chiefs and Capt.
G. Russell Evans, USCG (Ret.). They know first hand of the growing
Chinese military presence in Panama and the corrupt bidding process of
key ports controlling the Canal. There must be an immediate call to
negotiate a new treaty which would ensure a dominant U.S. military
presence at the Canal.
Take
Action! Sign our petition to congress
|
