Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 21, 1990 TAG: 9003232553
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/4 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
"Actually, Noriega was not a factor from the time the first paratrooper landed in Panama," Webster said Tuesday night during a question-and-answer session with students at American University.
Webster's remarks seem to criticize President Bush, who made the arrest of the military leader the focal point of the invasion of Panama in December. Noriega already had been indicted on federal drug-trafficking charges in Florida.
But Webster said Noriega ceased to be an issue once the United States invasion had begun and he effectively had been removed from power.
"I think we made a mistake in overemphasizing the importance of Noriega," the intelligence official said.
In an Oval Office address after the invasion, Bush said: "As president, I have no higher obligation than to safeguard the lives of American citizens. And that is why I directed our armed forces to protect the lives of American citizens in Panama and to bring General Noriega to justice in the United States."
Webster said that because Noriega had experience in intelligence, keeping track of him was not easy. He changed locations and cars and had people watching the spies who were watching him, the CIA director said.
Despite that, Webster said, "we had very good intelligence about Noriega."
But Noriega slipped through the U.S. grasp when he hurried to an appointment his trackers hadn't counted on.
"It's remarkable we had him in focus seven times on the day of the invasion, and it was only his decision to have a dalliance with a lady of the street - we should have predicted it," Webster said.
After a few days on the run, Noriega turned up at the Vatican embassy in Panama City, where he was sheltered for days until a deal was worked out to allow his transfer to U.S. custody.
Noriega is in a federal prison near Miami awaiting trial.
Webster's remarks Tuesday are the second time in recent weeks he has publicly disagreed with others in the administration.
He and Defense Secretary Dick Cheney have been carrying on a public debate over what future military threat the Soviet Union poses since the Warsaw Pact has become impotent with the removal of communist governments in Eastern Europe.
Webster has argued that the threat is significantly diminished, while Cheney contends the United States still needs to maintain a strong military to meet a possible challenge from the East.
by CNB