Recent Event Highlights: Noriega manipulated many puppet presidents but never became president himeself. He continued this role until his arrest by the US in January 3, 1990., Following his promotion to general and commander of the National Guard, the guard was combined with the navy and air force into the Panama Defense Forces (which also included the national police)., Torrijos died in a mysterious plane crash allowing the rule of Panama to be open., He became the head of G-2, Panama's military intelligence command, Noriega was the second most powerful man in Panama., He became useful to U.S. intelligence and, at the behest of the Nixon administration, went to Havana to obtain the release of crewmen of two American freighters seized by Fidel Castro's government., Torrijos was out of the country, a trio of rebellious officers tried to seize power, but Torrijos flew into David., and 1 more...
Created by micahhasenburg on Mar 4, 2010
Last updated: 03/11/10 at 04:43 PM
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The airport had no facilities for night landing, but Noriega lined up motorcars alongside the runway and Torrijos made it safely down. With Noriega's troops at his service, Torrijos retook the capital.
Noriega's troops seized radio and telephone stations in David, the provincial capital, and thus severed communications with the capital. Torrijos emerged from the coup as the strongman.
Noriega accepted a scholarship to attend the Peruvian Military Academy. He graduated in 1962 with a degree in engineering

