Will The U.S. Cede The Strategic ‘Path Between The Seas’ To The People’s Republic Of China And/Or Narco-Traffickers?

(Washington, D.C.): One of the most
strategically portentous actions taken by
the U.S. government in recent memory is
going forward with scant public notice
and no debate: The liquidation of the
last remnants of the American military
presence in the Panama Canal Zone. In
fact, the United States is drawing down
its forces in Panama on a basis even
more rapid than is called for under the
1978 Panama Canal Treaty — despite
mounting evidence that the PRC and
criminal elements involved in the drug
trade are poised to fill the vacuum of
power thus created.

Fortunately, two respected analysts
have joined forces to rouse the Nation
from its dangerous slumber. In the
attached op.ed. article published in
today’s Washington Times
entitled “Panama
Slipping Into China’s Eager Grasp?”
Lieutenant General Gordon Sumner
(USA, Ret.), former chairman of the
Inter-American Defense Board under
President Carter and U.S.
Ambassador-at-large during the Reagan
Administration, and Howard
Philips, chairman of the
Conservative Caucus, have served notice: The
United States need not lose its ability
to operate in and from Panama but it must
act swiftly if such an outcome is not to
become, as a practical matter,
unavoidable.

What is at Stake

Were the United States presence in
Panama to end under present and
foreseeable circumstances, the
following are among the capabilities that
General Sumner and Mr. Phillips
anticipate will be adversely affected:

• “The ability to rapidly
  transfer U.S. Navy vessels
  between the Atlantic and Pacific
  Oceans.”
• “The ability to prevent an
  alien power, such as China or the
  drug-traffickers, from
  controlling the isthmus.”
• “The ability to defend the
  Panama Canal from acts of
  terrorism or sabotage.”
• “The ability to train 7,800
  military personnel annually at
  Panama’s topographically and
  climatologically unique Jungle
  Operations Training Base.”
• “The ability to effectively
  monitor drug activity in South
  America.”

Does Clinton Get It?

Interestingly, the Clinton
Administration has belatedly begun
signaling some interest in a continuing
military involvement in Panama. This has
taken the form of a Multilateral
Counternarcotics Center (MCC) to be
situated at Howard Air Force Base. While
such a facility would allow some
American military personnel to be based
in the isthmus, the need for a more
substantial presence still appears to
elude senior U.S. policy-makers. For
example, in response to a question about
the Sumner-Phillips article at today’s
State Department press briefing, Press
Spokesman James Rubin blithely dismissed
concerns about the security threat to the
Canal, declaring “…None of the
activities that may or may not
be going on there is going to affect our
national security.”

In a similarly condescending tone,
Rubin proceeded to set up and then
knock-down a strawman concerning the
nature of the strategic problem posed by
China’s increasing role in Panama:
“I am not really all that concerned
that there is some new military alliance
that is going to emerge between those two
countries that will affect American
security.” It is far more likely —
but perhaps no less ominous — that China
will develop the capacity to disrupt or
otherwise interfere with U.S. interests
in the Canal Zone and Central America
more generally, rather than pursue a
formal “military alliance” with
Panama.

The Bottom Line

It would clearly be undesirable under
any circumstances for the United States
to compromise the sorts of critical
capabilities General Sumner and Mr.
Phillips have identified as being at risk
in the retreat from Panama. It would be irresponsible
to do so if, as they contend, the
option of leasing Panamanian bases — for
a small fraction of the costs of one
of Mr. Clinton’s peacekeeping operations
— would be welcomed by the government of
Panama and entirely consistent with the
1978 Treaty.

Congress should ensure that sufficient
funds are available to preserve a U.S.
capability to safeguard the Canal and its
uninterrupted operations. At an absolute
minimum, Congress should halt the
pell-mell rush to liquidate U.S.
facilities and capabilities in Panama on
a schedule faster than required — and
utterly at odds with abiding national
security interests.