Handing control of the Panama Canal from the U.S. over to the Central American country was one of President Jimmy Carter's most controversial, and most overshadowed, foreign policy achievements.
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I used to listen to your station pre Nov 5th. You helped elect the convict and adjudicated rapist to our house. You normalized a monster, now you’re going after a true servant of the people. You can do better NPR I guess just not right now. It must be ratings?
Well that explains why if I can Trump got such a hard-on for the Panama canal outside of the fact that there's documents down there holding him criminally liable
What I got from reading the article - It wasn’t his achievement that was controversial, but rather the treaty. And only because of resistance to give up the “comfortable lifestyle” of “segregated” zone.
Lay off from click bait and title your articles well, unless you want to lose your only readers.
Why is NPR playing into the maga narrative? No matter how much NPR panders and obeys in advance the chaos co-op is going to yank your modest funding and, more importantly, yank your license.
Republicans have hated PBS and NPR since day one, right wingers are again calling for outright abolishing both, and MAGA is set to control both houses of Congress and the White House in less than a month.
God forbid that a nation should have control of its territory.
Labeling this ‘controversial’ in your headline typifies NPRs recent editorial cowardice. Pretty soon you’ll be either terminally bothsiderist like NYT, or openly collaborationist like the LA Times.
...We should not have "control" of our territory at all , we stole it , like all lands have been stolen tru out time.tho the very concept is Ludacris to begin with.
NO ONE owns land , we rent it ... AT BEST.
me thinks you are an agitator not someone who actually cares , but i could be wrong.
Yeah, I did. NPR had other choices, like “consequential’ or ‘far-reaching.’
Both the Declaration of Independence and the Emancipation Proclamation were ‘controversial’ but that’s not usually the adjective we lead with when discussing them.
It's such an odd thing to run in this moment. The details in the article are interesting. But there's only one person who has given the Canal Zone's governance any thought for decades. Pandering to him yesterday afternoon is an 'interesting' choice.
This is why Trump has been harping on the Panama Canal. They all knew his days were numbered and they wanted to undermine him before his death.
Trump's ego can't handle the honors coming for Jimmy.
Pres Jimmy Carter is someone that ya wanna learn from harmonizing grace and simplicity yet holdin the great responsibility of power , Pres Carter is what God's defination of great with a heart of simplicity , truly a simple and a wonderful man
NPR gave up its editorial mission a year after it launched. They caved to right wing conservative criticism immediately. George W. Bush finished the job
There was a certain Austrian born Adolf that had the exact same expansionist and assets take over ideas some 90 years ago...
We all know how it ended up... But apparently the average ignorance of loads of Americans don't allow them to recognise fascism... 😒
The US forced Colombia to grant Panama its independence for the sole purpose of forcing Panama to give control of the land used for the canal to the US.
What’s ironic, and almost Simpsons-like, this comic book foresaw the US vs Latin America fighting over “The Zone/#Panama Canal”. The war ended in 2031, the US lost and the White House went to mars.
Trump, like most Americans have no clue that there are two canals in Panamà. In the future trump will not be celebrated or missed like President Carter. All followers appreciated.
The US forced a split of Panama from Columbia to get a treaty to build the canal. Panama hated the 1st treaty. It gave control of the canal to the US forever. In 2019 riots called Martyr's Day in Panama overwhelmed the canal police and the US Army got involved. 22 students & 4 soldiers were killed.
It's not like he has a choice. We built and ran it, with Panama's permission to 1999. Then we had to give it back, by the 1977 Torrijos–Carter Treaties that allowed the gradual transfer of control of the Canal Zone to Panama and the handover of full control of the Panama Canal on Dec. 31, 1999.
Complaining about an article means nothing. Accepting the premise that the right thing to do was controversial at the time helps normalize Trump's insane idea that stealing another nation's infrastructure and territory is in some ways acceptable. No way.
Article doesn’t have anything to do with DJT’s immediate imperialistic fascinations or “normalizing” anything. It’s stating a fact of that time: it was fucking controversial. Most of us discussed it at the time.
The original treaty leased the canal “in perpetuity” to the US. The terms were forced on Panama by gunboat diplomacy and bribing officials of the newly formed country.
Many many decades later, Torrijos wanted to renegotiate better terms. His opening bid was high - return of the canal and zone/land.
He and his team didn’t expect US to agree, they thought the US would simply bribe them and pay more for the canal. They were shocked when the US consented.
The new treaty set the handover for 12/31/99, giving Panama time to integrate their people into the administration and operation of the canal.
The Canal Zone housed the US civilian employees of CZ Authority, their families, as well as military families on military bases. Everyone had to leave, the homes belonged to the CZ Authority or DOD.
The Panama Canal was like Gitmo - the sitting government of the country never agreed to the deal but the US chose to keep going. Maybe someday Cuba can get its land back too
Returning what is not yours to the rightful owners is ‘controversial’ now. Why don’t you look into how the nation of Panama came into existence in the first place. It used to be part of 🇨🇴 until U.S. decided it needed some freedom. And control over the most valuable land on the planet at the time.
I learned a lot that I didn't know from reading your article but I don't think it was appropriate for one day after President Carter's death. Today you should have been looking at his most non-controversial achievements.
What's controversial about giving control over something that runs through their country? It's no more controversial than were America to hand back full control of Pine Gap and left because we asked you to leave Australia as Trump being POTUS is a Security threat
I am amazed by this little known part of US history. What was accomplished, & the impact on native & non native lives. Those born & raised in the canal, (Zonians), have a special place as (US) Americans w/ fond memories of that time period.
I live in Panama, DM me if you have questions
It’s not like he gave it to them . It was always theirs lol He just abided by the Signed lease agreement.
You know something America hasn’t got a great history with . Honoring their treaties with dark skinned people .
and Reagan’s campaign people “negotiated with Iran to not release the hostages until Reagan was inaugurated. And amazingly that’s what happened, at what price.
Oh another reason 45 wants to take it back. The orange clown is such a moron. God, Jesus or Lucifer please deliver us from the clown show and call back 45
Twenty years ago, people who received their news from NPR and PBS were among the best informed people in the country. I don't know why NPR stopped doing what they used to do so well.
It's only a current controversy because Trump brought it up recently. Reagan made it a fake controversy then to win an election and Trump is doing the same now to grift.
The NPR article doesn’t even mention Trump, nor his desire to take back control of the Panama Canal. It’s simply one piece of Carter’s legacy as president. Most younger people probably don’t even know the history.
Yes Trump is an amoral a*hole. Don’t be so obsessed that you see him in everything.
Sure, you could have run an in-depth piece on the Camp David Accords, but I guess a story on the importance of peace in the Middle East is in no way as relevant today as pandering to Trump.
President Jimmy Carter did the right thing, even when it hurt him politically. He knew doing the right thing was everything.
The one thing that comes of his his passing now is that flags will be flown at half mast for the next 30 days. Right through and past the Trump Inauguration. ;) RIP Jimmy
Carter was the last decent president of the US, after Reagan the oligarchs toke over and the US become an economic neo-liberalist regime where the corporate oligarchic plutocracy become the real rulers of the country...
And probably one of his better. There is zero reason for the US to have any form of government presence in a foreign country outside of an embassy, whether we built something there or not.
Yes, I am familiar with the history. The issue at hand is President Carter's foreign policy legacy. Calling his handling the Panama Canal one of his most controversial foreign policy decisions reflects a lack of awareness of the totality of his foreign policy.
Though to be fair, the Texas GOP platform includes a *whole bunch* of crazy shit. One example among many, IIRC, was including the explicit right of secession in 2022.
I think citing the TX GOP proves my point. Panama isn't one of the most controversial aspects of Carter's foreign policy legacy unless you are a GOP looney. Now we are soon to have one of those back in the White House, so NPR reinterprets its significance.
I was a newshound in high school during the Carter Administration. I have clear memories of what was going on. At the time, the Panama Canal was a blip compared with Carter's Middle East, China, and USSR foreign policy decisions. It's only being mentioned now because of Trump's imperial delusions.
I would bet dollars to dimes no one has cared who controlled this canal until Trump decided to make it a thing. Let’s not allow our national priorities to be driven by a nincompoop
Controversial is an odd word choice and it was only overshadowed due to the later embarrassment of the racist colonialists who had opposed it and then wanted to avoid the subject.
The corporate democrats’ willingness to toss Trans people out of the coalition is fucked.
Most organizations, after getting their ass handed to them, may become a little introspective.
Instead of wondering if the DNC has the wrong type of policies, they figure they have the wrong type of citizens.
Yes, improving America's relationship with the world by stopping the military occupation of another nation - a bad move? What are you writing for VP Trump now?
The cost of the annual lease and cost of running the canal was more than fees they were getting. The US was running it at a deficit. The agreement signed in 1977 finalized in 1999. 3 president's could had changed it but didn't. Why not?
A great man has died, write about his great deeds.
Give it up NPR. No matter how much you make everything, even Jimmy Carter’s death, about Trump, he’s not going to call his facist goons off you. He has too many media outlets to need one more, and he likes to entertain his rubes with spectacle.
Seriously? This is your headline? MSM is under fire for their failure to adhere to fact, to journalistic integrity and you lead with a very misleading headline.
Flags on all Federal buildings must fly at half staff for 30 days after the death of a former POTUS. Even in death he taunts the incoming fascist regime. See you at the inaugural, Jimmy!
What’s ironic, and almost Simpsons-like, this comic book foresaw the US vs Latin America fighting over “The Zone/#Panama Canal”. The war ended in 2031, the US lost and the White House went to mars.
Is that why Trump hyper focused on Panama? He seems intent on dismantling what other great and likeable leaders built in the past. Senseless destruction is his favourite hobby. The name of ‘Trump’ will not be remembered kindly in history, if at all.
He will be remembered as incompetent and evil, and there will probably be a lot of laws enacted because of him, sort of how there are a lot of warning labels on things that make you wonder who would be stupid enough to do that so that a warning label/law had to be made.
I’ve read about a few despots over the years and their names do get forgotten, except for a few. People tend to focus on the exemplary figures in history.
Today, we mourn the loss of Jimmy Carter—an icon of humility, service, & unwavering justice. He showed us what true leadership looks like: fighting for peace, human rights, & the power of love. His legacy lives on in the world he fought to make better. May we carry his fight for justice and equity.
And he's probably the only American president who would have honored that agreement rather than trying to find a way around it. Right person at the right time.
Biden honored the agreement with Taliban that 45 made, and got blamed for it. Controversial? Sure is. Honoring an agreement he didn't make? Yes.
45 released 5,000 Taliban prisoners for that deal to pull out of Afghanistan, but Biden will forever be blamed for it, right or wrong.
He wanted to pave the way for western oil companies to regain access to Iranian oil. Same reason he froze Venezuela's foreign held assets after they nationalized their oil fields.
It wasn't because of the international accord? The Iranians met their part of the bargain? Not sure what the Vebezuela comment is about. I don't think they were in on that accord.
Obama participated in the Iranian accords when he could have just sat it out. He participated and followed through because it would help oil companies in the long run. The Venezuela mention was intended to contrast. Obama was part of both actions, and both countries nationalized their oil wells.
Comments
Lay off from click bait and title your articles well, unless you want to lose your only readers.
Labeling this ‘controversial’ in your headline typifies NPRs recent editorial cowardice. Pretty soon you’ll be either terminally bothsiderist like NYT, or openly collaborationist like the LA Times.
Shame.
NO ONE owns land , we rent it ... AT BEST.
me thinks you are an agitator not someone who actually cares , but i could be wrong.
Both the Declaration of Independence and the Emancipation Proclamation were ‘controversial’ but that’s not usually the adjective we lead with when discussing them.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/30/lifestyle/jimmy-carter-homebrewing-bill-craft-beer/
Trump's ego can't handle the honors coming for Jimmy.
We all know how it ended up... But apparently the average ignorance of loads of Americans don't allow them to recognise fascism... 😒
https://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/1977/09/26
We're so effed.
Chill baby.
LOL
NOWHERE FKN NEAR THE USA!
Why is that controversial?
Many many decades later, Torrijos wanted to renegotiate better terms. His opening bid was high - return of the canal and zone/land.
The new treaty set the handover for 12/31/99, giving Panama time to integrate their people into the administration and operation of the canal.
❤️🤍💙
I live in Panama, DM me if you have questions
You know something America hasn’t got a great history with . Honoring their treaties with dark skinned people .
Still so timely today.
We need to stay in our own lane.
Something today's Christians don't understand.
Yes Trump is an amoral a*hole. Don’t be so obsessed that you see him in everything.
that way he would be protected from prosecution for not paying taxes to Panama
The one thing that comes of his his passing now is that flags will be flown at half mast for the next 30 days. Right through and past the Trump Inauguration. ;) RIP Jimmy
Carter was right.
Most organizations, after getting their ass handed to them, may become a little introspective.
Instead of wondering if the DNC has the wrong type of policies, they figure they have the wrong type of citizens.
A great man has died, write about his great deeds.
Stop trying to collaborate and start resisting.
JFC. Do better.
The wrong people die.
https://youtu.be/0t2EE5JZP-M?si=ned0-OQmObsMRfB0
45 released 5,000 Taliban prisoners for that deal to pull out of Afghanistan, but Biden will forever be blamed for it, right or wrong.