Noriega asks for Panama's forgiveness in jailhouse interview

[Little Tich]

Source: Yahoo! News / AP

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Former dictator Manuel Noriega broke a long silence to ask his compatriots on Wednesday to forgive actions by his military regime that culminated in the 1989 U.S. invasion.

Noriega began the brief jailhouse interview with local network Telemetro reading a handwritten statement in which he said his apology came after days of reflection with his family and members of the church.

He said he wasn't motivated by any personal interest but a sincere desire to bring closure to the military era, a dark chapter in Panama's history that left the country in ruin and hundreds dead.

"Before the altar of my conscience I've come to express myself in the spirit of forgiveness," Noriega said, his hand shaking but otherwise appearing in good health for his 81 years.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/noriega-asks-panamas-forgiveness-jailhouse-interview-232825053.html

[niyad]

1. great scott, did not realize he is still alive.

[fizzgig]

5. that was my first thought, too

[Monk06]

2. He could apologize for laundering drug money and being Reagan's sock puppet in Central America.

His big mistake was attempting to nationalize Panamanian banks and steal all those drug profits.

He's lucky the Colombians didn't chop his frigging head off in broad daylight.

[packman]

3. A lot needs to come out about that 1989 invasion

Noriega was just a middle man between the drug people and the US government who needed monies to fund their wars in South America and the Middle East. Reagan and his VP had dirty hands in that entire affair. Noriega deserved what he got, but more needs to dragged out into the light before he dies.

[geek tragedy]

4. This guy gave corrupt Latin American dictators a bad name nt