Years before the US went after Saddam Hussein, the White House had
Manuel Noriega, another former ally, in its sights. In their
Oscar-winning documentary, director Barbara Trent and writer/editor
David Kasper (Cover Up: Behind the Iran Contra Affair) contrast media
coverage of the 1989 invasion with expert testimony. The filmmakers
backtrack to America’s turn-of-the-century takeover of the Panama
Canal–and volatile aftermath–before flashing forward to the
reform-minded Carter era. When the CIA-supported Noriega comes to power,
reform gives way to repression, and Reagan calls for the dictator’s
ouster. His successor, Bush, brings in the troops. It would be one thing
if they only targeted military facilities, but witnesses claim soldiers
also fired on civilians and residential property (a Pentagon spokesman
denies the accusation). Depending on the source, casualties ranged from
250 to 4,000. Narrated by Elizabeth Montgomery, Panama Deception was
shot on video–and looks it–but content is king.