Noriega's ability to hang on in the face of fierce opposition from the U.S. stems mainly from his tactic of buying or winning the support of a handful of key officers within the military. He has convinced some leaders of the 17,000- strong Panama Defense Forces of two dubious propositions: first, that the country's political opposition will eviscerate the PDF if it comes to power; second, that he alone represents the military's best interests. The soldiers, says a foreign diplomat, "view Noriega as the keystone in an arch; without him the arch will crumble."
The general also has a significant civilian...
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