Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 15908 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05 2011/06
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24 2011/05/25 2011/05/26 2011/05/27 2011/05/28 2011/05/29 2011/05/30 2011/05/31
2011/06/01 2011/06/02 2011/06/03 2011/06/04 2011/06/05 2011/06/06 2011/06/07 2011/06/08 2011/06/09 2011/06/10 2011/06/11 2011/06/12 2011/06/13 2011/06/14 2011/06/15 2011/06/16 2011/06/17 2011/06/18 2011/06/19 2011/06/20 2011/06/21 2011/06/22 2011/06/23 2011/06/24 2011/06/25 2011/06/26 2011/06/27 2011/06/28 2011/06/29

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05 1986/08 1986/12
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/04 1988/07 1988/08 1988/12
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05 1991/07 1991/11
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/11 1994/12
1995/01 1995/04
1996/07 1996/09 1996/11
1997/02 1997/05 1997/06 1997/10 1997/12
1998/05
1999/09
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/04 2001/05 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11 2001/12
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Belfast Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chiang Mai Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guangzhou Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hong Kong Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Mission Geneva Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne Consulate Matamoros
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Nuevo Laredo Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE UN Rome Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vientiane Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AFIN AS AM ABLD AFFAIRS AMB APER AA AG AE ADM ALOW ACOA AID ATRN ADCO AND ABUD ADANA APEC ARABL ADPM ANARCHISTS AL AADP ANET AGRICULTURE AGAO AMED AY AORG ASEAN AO AROC ACABQ AINF ARF APCS AODE AX AMEX AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC AOPR AREP ASIG ASEX AER AVERY ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT AGMT ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BK BL BM BO BE BH BTIO BX BMGT BILAT BP BC BIDEN BBG BF BBSR BT BWC BEXPC BN BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CG CF CHIEF CJAN CBSA CE CY CD CT CW CM CONS CDC CR CN COUNTRY CONDOLEEZZA CZ CICTE CYPRUS CARICOM CAPC CTR CBE CACS COM COE CARSON COUNTER CFED CIVS CV COPUOS CKGR CHR CVR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE CB CSW CIC CITT CARIB CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CONSULAR CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CHINA CAC CL
DR DJ DHS DAO DCM DO DEFENSE DA DE DOMESTIC DISENGAGEMENT DK DOD DOT DPRK DEPT DEA DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EU EFIN EUN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS ELTN EIND EZ EI ER ET EINT ECONOMIC ENIV EFTA ES ECONOMY ENGR ELECTIONS ERNG ECIP EXIM ENERG EREL EK EDEV ETRAD EPA ETRC ENVI EXTERNAL ELN ECOSOC EAIDS EUREM EFINECONCS EPREL ECA EDU EINVEFIN ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ETC ENVR EAP EINN EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EFIM EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FI FR FAS FOREIGN FTAA FREEDOM FBI FINANCE FAO FAA FJ FTA FARC FAC FM FDA FINR FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO
GM GG GERARD GT GA GR GTIP GY GLOBAL GCC GC GV GAZA GL GOV GOI GF GH GE GANGS GTMO GAERC GZ GUILLERMO GASPAR
HR HO HA HYMPSK HK HUMAN HN HURI HU HILLARY HI HUM HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD IWC IRAQI IDB ISRAELI ITALY ISCON IADB ITPGOV ITALIAN ID ICRC INR ICAO IFAD IPR IRAQ INMARSAT INRA INTERNAL IO IQ ICJ ILC INDO IRS ICTY IIP ITRA IEFIN IA INTERPOL IEA INRB IAHRC ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JUS JOHN JAMES JOHNNIE JOSEPH JML JIMENEZ
KOMC KNNP KFLO KDEM KSUM KIPR KFLU KPAO KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KWBG KMDR KTER KSPR KV KTFN KWMN KFRD KSTH KS KN KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KBIO KU KIRF KSAF KSTC KICC KIRC KIDE KNUC KNUP KSEO KCFE KPWR KBCT KR KREC KCSY KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KHLS KOCI KREL KMPI KPRP KAUST KPAOPREL KPRV KCRIM KMCC KCRCM KPAONZ KNAR KHDP KHIV KTRD KTAO KWAC KJUST KTBT KGIT KHSA KVIR KFSC KX KO KMRS KSCI KPOA KNPP KACT KVRP KBTS KAWK KENV KNNPMNUC KERG KPIR KMFO KCOM KAID KTLA KNDP KRCM KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KFTFN KTFM KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KBTR KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KIFR KSAC KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KFPC KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LO LH LAB LTTE LU LA LI LG LT LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MAS MO MCC MCA MU ML MIL MTCR MEPP MG MAR MZ MD MP MR MAPP MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MT MIK MN MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MACEDONIA MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MI MQADHAFI MPOS MPS MC
NZ NATO NI NO NU NG NL NPT NS NA NP NATIONAL NC NSF NDP NIPP NSSP NR NGO NATOIRAQ NE NAS NZUS NH NSG NAFTA NEW NRR NT NASA NAR NK NOVO NATOPREL NEA NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG
OTRA OECD OVIP OREP OPRC ODC OIIP OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OMS OEXC OPCW OSCI OPAD ODIP OPEC OFDP OVIPPRELUNGANU OIE ODPC OFFICIALS OSHA OHUM OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PBTS PL POL PAK POV POLITICS POLICY PERL PA PCI PNAT PAS PALESTINIAN PPA PROP PERM PETR PREZ PO PRELPK PAIGH PROG POLITICAL PJUS PDOV PAO PBTSRU PGOR PMIL PARMS PINO PRAM PSI PG PREO PGOF PTERE PTE PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PDEM PINT PMAR PRELP PREFA PNG PTBS PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PY PLN PHUH PEDRO PF PHUS PETER PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PROV
QA
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RM RICE ROOD RO RELAM REGION RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REMON RPEL REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SY SO SP SU SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SW SR SYRIA SNARM SPECIALIST SENS SEN SN SC SF SMIL SCRM SENVSXE SL SAARC STEINBERG SARS SWE SG SCRS SNARIZ SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TSPL TNGD TS TW TRSY TP TZ TN TC TR TINT TF TK TRAD TT TD TWI TL TV TERRORISM TO TURKEY TSPAM TRT TFIN TAGS TBID THPY
UK UNSC UNGA UN US UZ USEU UG UP UNAUS UNMIK USTR UR UNHRC UY USPS UNSCR UNESCO UNFICYP USAID UV UNMIC UNCHR USUN UNDP USOAS USGS UNHCR UNEP UA USNC UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNODC UNCHS UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VE VM VT VZ VEPREL VTEG VTIZ VISIT VTPREL VENZ VAT VC VI VN
WHTI WIPO WTRO WTO WFP WS WHO WA WI WZ WBG WMD WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WB
XA XR XW XX XK XL XM XS XF XG XT XC XH XD XB XU XE XV XY XZ XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YL YE YMCS
ZU ZI ZP ZR ZOELLICK ZF ZK ZO ZL ZH ZT ZB ZJ ZEALAND ZN ZA ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08PANAMA284, PANAMA: U.S. REP. GENE TAYLOR'S MEETING WITH GOP

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08PANAMA284.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08PANAMA284 | 2008-04-09 21:04 | 2011-05-31 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Panama

`

    VZCZCXYZ0000
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHZP #0284/01 1002104
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    R 092104Z APR 08
    FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1909
    INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
    RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2672
    RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1165
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
    RUEABND/DEA WASHDC
    RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000284

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    FOR STATE WHA/CEN - TELLO

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2018
    TAGS: EAID ECON ENRG NAS PM
    SUBJECT: PANAMA: U.S. REP. GENE TAYLOR'S MEETING WITH GOP
    VP/FORMIN SAMUEL LEWIS

    ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On March 24, 2008, U.S. Representative Gene
    Taylor (Mississippi) met GOP Vice President and Foreign
    Minister Samuel Lewis.  During the wide ranging 90-minute
    meeting, they discussed the Panama Canal expansion project,
    Manta relocation, 2009 Panamanian elections, the
    Colombia-Ecuador dispute, crime, Panama's economy, Hugo
    Chavez, and the Latin American Left.

    --------------------
    Meeting Participants
    --------------------

    ¶2. (U)
    USG
    Representative Gene Taylor
    Ambassador William A. Eaton
    Manuel Rubio, notetaker

    GOP
    First Vice President and Foreign Minister Samuel Lewis
    Deputy Foreign Minister Ricardo Duran
    Tommy Guardia, notetaker

    ----------------------
    Panama Canal Expansion
    ----------------------

    ¶3. (U) Taylor asked about the financing for the Panama Canal
    expansion project, the status of the bidding on Canal
    expansion contracts and the effect of increasing oil prices
    on Canal traffic. Lewis responded that the Canal expansion
    project would be financed through a combination of cashflow
    from operations and approximately $2.3 billion in debt
    financing.  Lewis said there was "tremendous" interest among
    commercial banks and multilateral agencies, such as the
    Inter-American Development Bank, the Japanese International
    Cooperation Agency, and the European Union.  He noted that
    lenders are attracted by the Canal's guaranteed revenue
    stream and successful history.

    ¶4. (U) Lewis added that, as the price of oil increases, the
    value of the shortcut offered by the Canal also increases.
    He said the GOP commissioned a study to access the impact
    climate change will have on the Canal and its operations.  He
    said the study will also  quantify the Canal's benefits to
    the environment through lower emissions and fuel costs by
    using the Canal as opposed to longer routes.

    --------------------------------------------- --------
    Moving Manta Operation to Panama - GOP Not Interested
    --------------------------------------------- --------

    ¶5. (C) Taylor noted that the Ecuadorian government may not
    extend the U.S. lease on the Manta facility.  Taylor asked if
    the GOP would consider the USG moving part of the Manta
    operations to former Howard airfield outside Panama City or
    to any other facility anywhere in Panama.

    ¶6. (C) Lewis said there are "slim" chances that the GOP would
    consider such a request anywhere in the country.  He said few
    in Panama would want to re-visit the issue. Lewis said
    opening up a discussion of moving part of the Manta
    operations to Panama would generate unspecified problems.
    Noting shared national security concerns and strong bilateral
    relationship, Lewis said the two countries should focus their
    security efforts on issues they can work jointly. Lewis noted
    that Panama's stability is related to U.S. national security
    since 14% of U.S. maritime trade passes through the Canal and
    the Canal handles more U.S. trade than any single U.S. port.

    --------------------
    Panamanian Elections
    --------------------

    ¶7. (SBU) Discussing the 2009 Panamanian elections, Lewis
    noted that the ruling Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD)
    had two presidential candidates (Panama City Mayor Juan
    Carlos Navarro and Housing Minister Balbina Herrera) and that
    there may no space for additional candidates.  Lewis said the
    PRD primaries would be in September or October, but the date
    would be decided by the PRD leadership.   Lewis said he had
    made no decision on running for President.  Lewis said the
    important thing for the new government would be to continue
    the programs started by the Torrijos Administration.

    -------------------
    Colombia and Panama
    -------------------

    ¶8. (U) Taylor asked how Panama has avoided the problems
    suffered by Colombia, such as the FARC and high crime,
    especially given their proximity and close ties.

    ¶9. (C) Lewis said the problems of Colombia are rooted in the
    drug trade, exacerbated by the involvement of an irregular
    army (FARC).  According to Lewis, if the problems were rooted
    in ideology, the government and the FARC could eventually
    come to an arrangement on political representation.  Lewis
    said that, since Colombia is dealing with drug dealers, there
    is nothing to negotiate, so compromise is not possible. Lewis
    said Panama is spared some of these problems because it is
    not a cocaine producing country.  He said the GOP has always
    maintained a strong anti-drug policy.

    ¶10. (C) Lewis stressed that the GOP and most Panamanians do
    not want the Darien Gap opened.  He said that while the
    Darien Gap makes it harder to control the area, it serves as
    a natural barrier to drug dealers and the FARC, as well as an
    environmental preserve.  Lewis said he has to dance around
    the issue, especially with the Colombians, who he said bring
    up the topic "on a daily basis."

    -------------------------------------
    Crime in Panama - Mostly Drug Related
    -------------------------------------

    ¶11. (SBU) Discussing crime in Panama, Lewis said drug
    consumption is a problem and is aggravated by Panama being
    the first stop in the drug transit chain.  Lewis said that
    narcotraffickers pay in drugs.  Accordingly, drug dealers in
    Panama offer drugs cheaply in order to monetize such drugs.
    Lewis noted that with limited resources, Panama seized more
    drugs in 2007 than Mexico and than all of Central America
    combined.  He said the large amount of drug seizures reflects
    the huge amount transiting Panama.  Lewis said he feels that
    the Merida Initiative is very important is addressing the
    drug trade.  He said Panama needs more resources to fight
    narcotrafficking and he hoped Merida would help.

    --------------------------------
    Copper Mines and the Environment
    --------------------------------

    ¶12. (SBU) Taylor asked about mining operations in Panama.
    Lewis said Petaquilla, a Canadian firm, had been working a
    cooper mine for 20 years.  The mine was abandoned when copper
    prices collapsed.  Now that prices have rebounded, they were
    looking to re-start activities.  Lewis said the project is
    facing opposition from environmental and civil society
    groups.  Lewis said environmental groups have aligned
    themselves with political groups who have different agendas,
    making compromise very difficult.  He noted that
    environmental groups opposing mining also opposed expansion
    of hydroelectric power.  He said hydroelectric power is the
    key to meeting Panama's energy needs.  He said "water is
    Panama's oil."

    --------------------------------------------- --
    Booming Economy Strains Labor and Energy Supply
    --------------------------------------------- --

    ¶13. (U) Taylor asked whether Panama's booming construction
    sector was in a bubble. Lewis said there was some speculation
    in the sector.  However, Lewis said that a study done by a
    local consultant found that most condominium units were being
    purchased by end-users.  Lewis said Americans, Venezuelans
    and Colombians are purchasing these units to live in
    full-time.  He recounted a story of a group of Venezuelan who
    recently purchased 100 condo units not for investment, but to
    occupy.  Lewis said many believed that most condo units would
    be vacant or used only part time; this has not been the case.
    Lewis said the "tremendous" amounts of liquidity in the
    banking sector is also fueling the construction boom as
    financing for construction and purchases has become easier.
    He said prices are still rising.

    ¶14. (U) Lewis said the electric company assumed a 4% usage
    growth rate. He said the actual electric usage growth rate
    has been 10% in the last 12 months because of new condo
    occupancy.  Lewis said energy demand and supply in Panama are
    almost equal.  Lewis noted that Panama narrowly escaped the
    most crucial time, the recent dry season, without blackouts.
    Lewis said new thermal and hydroelectric plants coming online
    in 2008 and 2009 should be sufficient to meet energy needs.

    ¶15. (SBU) Lewis said Panama is at full employment. He said
    the 6% still unemployed are essentially unemployable, and the
    challenge for the GOP was to train these people so they can
    find jobs.  Lewis said it is impossible in Panama to find
    construction workers.  Anyone needing a worker has to take
    someone from another project.  Even the sugar workers are
    leaving the industry to work in tourism.  He said this has
    created competition for workers and, as a result, higher
    wages.

    ¶16. (SBU) Lewis said, however, that inflation (due to higher
    energy costs and declining dollar) was now Panama's greatest
    challenge. He said there are calls for higher minimum wages
    and price freezes.  He said these distortions to the economy
    would be very damaging.  With the election season beginning,
    he said such ideas could gain traction.

    -----------
    Hugo Chavez
    -----------

    ¶17. (C) Lewis said Chavez has been quiet for the last few
    weeks because of the conflict with Colombia.  Lewis said
    Chavez has actually been saying helpful things with respect
    to Colombia.  He attributed this attitude change to Chavez's
    realization he had crossed the line with Colombia.  Lewis
    said Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela were very close to war.
    He said of the three, the only army capable of fighting was
    the Colombian Army.  He said Chavez realized he would lose
    badly to Colombia.  Lewis said it "is one thing to play with
    the chain, it is another thing to play with the gorilla
    (Colombia)."  Lewis said that Chavez's response to the
    Colombia-Ecuador incident opened the eyes of many in the
    region, including the Cubans.  Lewis said everyone realized
    that Chavez had pushed things too far. When asked by why
    Chavez got involved in the Colombia-Ecuador dispute, Lewis
    said "Chavez is the type of person who would attend a funeral
    and be upset he was not the one in the coffin getting the
    attention".  Lewis said Chavez could not stand not being part
    of the fight.

    ------------------------------------------
    Latin American Left and Panama's Challenge
    ------------------------------------------

    ¶18. (C) Taylor asked by why Panama has not elected a leftist
    populist government.  Lewis said Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia,
    and Nicaragua, all had elements of a failed state where
    people are willing to try anything.  Lewis said this
    willingness is a danger to democracy.  People are not blaming
    leaders, but are blaming the system, he said.  In Panama, he
    said, there are still those willing to fight for democracy.

    ¶19. (U) Rep. Taylor did not clear this cable.
    EATON

`