Retired Panamanian officer recounts U.S. invasion of Panama

A retired Panamanian officer who fought in the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama has called the operation an unjust war, saying that it served U.S. interests rather than the so-called goal of defending democracy.

The United States launched "Operation Just Cause" on Dec 20, 1989, with the stated objective of capturing Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega for drug trafficking and organized crime.

During the operation, which concluded in January 1990 with the surrender of Noriega, nearly 30,000 American soldiers entered the Panamanian territory and killed numerous civilians in the Central American country.

Manuel Marino, now 58, is an officially assigned captain to steer ships through the Panama Canal. He was serving as a lieutenant in the Panamanian Navy at the port of Fuerte Amador when the United States suddenly started the war.

"We were informed that the United States was directly attacking our general headquarters. That's where General Noriega's office was located. In the meantime, we were also under American attack from land, air and sea," Marino said.

In the four years before the invasion, it was reported twice that the United States was going to invade Panama. So the Panamanian military had been preparing for the possible U.S. invasion. But after they were proven rumors, the Panamanians let their guard down. Taking the chance, the United States started the invasion.

"That was a very furious moment. I cannot find another word for it. We had two options: either surrender and see if it can save our lives or continue to fight until we die," Marino said.

Though codenamed as "Operation Just Cause", Marino said the U.S. operation had nothing to do with the word "just".

"They codenamed the invasion as 'Operation Just Cause'. I don't know where they found these words. I don't think any sane person, then or now, could justify this U.S. invasion of Panama. I think beyond arresting commander of the Panama Defense Forces, the Americans were seeking for other interests. This was what prompted them to invade Panama," Marino said.

At an auction many years later, Marino bought a jeep left by the U.S. military after the invasion. The car is still in his garage, as a reminder of this history.

"The U.S. invasion of Panama was an unjust war that should never have happened. For Panamanians, this is a sad day (December 20) and part of the Panamanian history," Marino said.

On Saturday, the exact day marking the 35th anniversary of the invasion, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump called the Panama Canal "a vital national asset for the United States" in a strong-worded statement, threatening to retake the canal, citing "exorbitant prices" on U.S. ships.

Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino dismissed Trump's threats on Sunday, reaffirming that "the sovereignty and independence" of Panama are not "negotiable."

The Panama Canal, an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic with the Pacific, was completed by the United States in 1914 and returned to Panama in 1999 under a treaty signed by then U.S. President Jimmy Carter and then Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos. The deal relinquishes American control over the canal by year 2000 and guarantees its neutrality.

Retired Panamanian officer recounts U.S. invasion of Panama

Retired Panamanian officer recounts U.S. invasion of Panama

Retired Panamanian officer recounts U.S. invasion of Panama

A revolutionary agricultural project, jointly developed by Chinese experts and Pakistani researchers, is taking shape in Pakistan's Punjab province, driving innovation on an unprecedented scale and aiming to tackle food insecurity, a pressing issue both domestically and globally.

Spanning over 5,000 acres (more than 2,000 hectares), a high-tech farm in the province is at the forefront of transforming Pakistan's agricultural landscape.

It's part of a larger effort to achieve food security by leveraging cutting-edge technologies and collaborative expertise.

At the heart of this project is the use of high efficiency irrigation systems and state-of-the-art agricultural machinery.

By integrating both imported Chinese equipment and locally manufactured tools, the goal here is clear - maximize yields while minimizing costs.

"We have taken advantage of Chinese technology, especially in agricultural mechanization. We have introduced and imported state-of-the-art Chinese tractors which are very comfortable and work at scale. They have a higher rate of efficiency per day per person than our traditional model of tractors," said Sarfaraz, a farm manager.

Pakistan's agricultural sector has long faced challenges. With more than 60 percent of farmers relying on low-quality seeds from informal markets, the initiative seeks to bridge the gap by developing hybrid seeds better suited to changing climatic conditions.

Beyond crops, the initiative extends to livestock and dairy farming. Pakistan's milk and meat sector remain largely under commercialized. This project aims to change that by introducing large-scale and tech-driven livestock farms.

"The main purpose of this project is to import animals that are high in milk and meat quantity to increase our milk and meat production at the national level," said Shamraiz Akram, a livestock manager.

With modern technologies, these farms aim to improve productivity while boosting local economies through job creation and supply chain development.

Food processing and distribution are also key components. With several economic zones under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor focusing on agri-processing, projects like this are strategically positioned to tap into larger markets.

China-Pakistan project contributes to food security in Pakistan