Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 16061 / 251,287

### Articles

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

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05 2011/06 2011/07
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 2011/06/30
2011/07/01 2011/07/02 2011/07/04 2011/07/05 2011/07/06 2011/07/07 2011/07/08 2011/07/10

### 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 1997/03 1997/05 1997/06 1997/08 1997/10 1997/12
1998/05
1999/01 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 AL ALOW ACOA AID ATRN AND ABUD ADPM ADANA APEC ARABL ADCO ANARCHISTS AADP AO AGRICULTURE ANET AGAO AROC AMED AY AORG ASEAN ACABQ AINF AODE APCS ARF 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 BILAT BMGT BC BX BIDEN BP 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 CB CN COUNTRY CONDOLEEZZA CZ COM CICTE CYPRUS CARICOM CTR CBE CACS COE CIVS CARSON CAPC CFED COUNTER COPUOS CV CKGR CHR CVR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE 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 ECIP ERNG EXIM ENERG EREL EK EDEV ETRAD ETRC EPA EUREM ENVI EXTERNAL ELN ECOSOC EAIDS ENGY ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EINVEFIN EPREL ECA EDU EFINECONCS ETC ENVR EAP EINN EXBS ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EFIM EINVETC ECONCS EBRD 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 FK FAC FINR FDA FM 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 HU HURI HILLARY HI HUM HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD IWC IRAQI IDB ISRAELI ITALY IADB ITPGOV ITALIAN ID ICAO ICRC INR IFAD IO IQ IPR IRAQ INMARSAT INRA INTERNAL ICJ INDO IRS ICTY ITRA IIP ILC ISCON 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 JOHN JUS JAMES JOSEPH JOHNNIE 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 KSAF KSTC KBCT KIRF KIRC KICC KIDE KNUP KSEO KNUC KCFE KPWR KR KMPI KREC KCSY KHLS KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KREL KPRP KPRV KAUST KPAOPREL KCRIM KVIR KCRCM KPAONZ KNAR KHDP KHSA KMCC KHIV KTRD KTAO KPAOY KTBT KJUST KFSC KINR KWAC KGIT KMRS KSCI KENV KNPP KO KCOM KAID KVRP KBTS KERG KTLA KPIR KAWK KNDP KACT KMFO KX KNNPMNUC KPOA 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 LAB LH 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 MAPP MP MD MINUSTAH MZ MR 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 NP NA NATIONAL NC NSF NDP NIPP NSSP NE NATOIRAQ NAS NGO NR NZUS NARC 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 OFDP OPEC OFFICIALS OIE ODPC OSHA OVIPPRELUNGANU 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 PNAT PCI PAS PALESTINIAN PPA PROP PERM PETR PREZ POLITICAL PO PRELPK PAIGH PROG PJUS PMIL PDOV PGOR PAO PTE PBTSRU PSI PINO PRAM PTERE PGOF PARMS PG PREO 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 RO ROBERT RM RICE REGION ROOD RELAM 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 SARS STEINBERG SNARIZ SWE SCRS SG 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 TF TINT TK TRAD TT TD TWI TERRORISM TL TV TO TURKEY TSPAM TRT TFIN TAGS TBID THPY
UK UNSC UNGA UN US UZ USEU UG UP UNAUS UNMIK USTR UR UY UNHRC USPS UNSCR UNESCO UNFICYP USAID USOAS UV UNMIC USUN UNCHR UNDP USGS UNHCR UA UNEP USNC UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNODC UNCHS UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VE VM VT VZ VEPREL VTEG VTIZ VTPREL VISIT VENZ VAT VC VI VN
WHTI WIPO WTRO WTO WFP WS WHO WA WZ WI WBG WMD WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WB
XA XR XW XX XK XL XM XS XF XG XT XC XH XD XE XV XB XU XZ XY XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YL YE YMCS
ZU ZI ZP ZR ZOELLICK ZK ZF ZO ZL ZB ZH ZT 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 08PANAMA726, SCENESETTER: PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT TORRIJOS

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. #08PANAMA726.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08PANAMA726 | 2008-09-05 19:57 | 2011-05-31 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Panama

`

    VZCZCXYZ0000
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHZP #0726/01 2491957
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    R 051957Z SEP 08
    FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2483
    INFO RUEABND/DEA WASHDC
    RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
    RUEAUSA/DEPT OF EDUCATION WASHDC
    RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
    RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
    RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
    RUCNFB/FBI WASHINGTON DC
    RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHDC
    RHEFHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
    RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
    RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
    RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000726

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2018
    TAGS: PREL PGOV SNAR KCRM KDEM ETRD ECON PINR PM
    SUBJECT: SCENESETTER:  PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT TORRIJOS
    SEPTEMBER VISIT TO WASHINGTON

    REF: A. (A) PANAMA 704
         ¶B. (B) PANAMA 714
         ¶C. (C) PANAMA 725

    Classified By: Ambassador Barbara J. Stephenson.
    Reasons:  1.4 (b), (c) and (d)

    -------
    Summary
    -------

    ¶1. (C) Panamanian President Martin Torrijos will visit
    Washington in mid-September for meetings with the Secretary
    of State and the President.  These meetings will take place
    about ten days after the ruling Revolutionary Democratic
    Party (PRD) will have selected its presidential candidate.
    The PRD primary on September 7 will close Panama's primary
    season, and the country will turn its attention to general
    elections scheduled for May 3, 2009 to not only elect
    Torrijos' successor but also to fill every elected seat in
    Panama.  Likely to be Torrijos' last one-on-one meeting with
    the President, this visit provides an excellent opportunity
    to review the state of the U.S.-Panamanian bilateral
    relationship with an eye to consolidating our achievements.
    Furthermore, in meeting Ambassador to receive her credentials
    on August 6, Torrijos shared his desire to take the bilateral
    relationship to the next level, a view he subsequently
    reiterated to Senator Hagel on August 27.

    ¶2. (C) We expect Torrijos to detail how his Administration
    has laid the groundwork for Panama to take off on a
    trajectory to establish itself as a First World nation by
    continuing Panama's prosperity and democracy and, in
    particular, attacking the conditions that leave 37 percent of
    Panamanians in poverty.  First VP and FM Samuel Lewis, who
    will accompany Torrijos, previewed for Ambassador on August
    29 that Torrijos would ask the President to submit the
    U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) to Congress
    before his term expires, even if the Colombia TPA has not
    been approved; we do not believe that Torrijos will make a
    public appeal to jump the queue, something Ambassador and
    EMBOFFs have counseled against.

    ¶3. (C) Security cooperation should figure prominently in the
    discussion between the two presidents, but Torrijos may not
    raise the issue; we should.  The U.S. and Panama mutually
    benefit from a broad, extensive, and mutually beneficial
    security cooperation relationship (REFTEL A).  That security
    relationship, however, has come under renewed scrutiny as
    Panamanians wrestle with a "militarization" debate.
    Torrijos, likely to be defensive on his security reform
    efforts, needs to hear that the U.S. highly values its
    security cooperation with Panama, believes that this aspect
    of our broader relationship can be taken to a higher level.
    However, we should avoid giving blanket USG approval for his
    security reform plan.  Torrijos should be encouraged to
    anchor his security reform process in democracy, respect for
    human rights, and the broadest possible basis of political
    support he can muster.  How Torrijos and his administration
    manage their security reform process will determine the
    degree to which we can transform our security cooperation
    (REFTEL C).  Thankfully, Panama's most pressing emerging
    security threat -- the FARC presence -- is manageable if it
    is met with a calibrated, coordinated, and concentrated
    effort to strengthen governability in Panama's Darien
    province that abuts Colombia.  END SUMMARY

    ----------------------------
    Panama is Ready for Take-Off
    ----------------------------

    ¶4. (C) Panamanian President Torrijos is rightfully very proud
    of his record of achievement at putting Panama's house in
    order to prepare for take-off on a trajectory that will take
    Panama to First World status.  The President will hear from
    Torrijos how he reversed a grim fiscal situation (a budget

    deficit of 5.4 percent of GDP in 2004), re-vamped Panama's
    tax structure and increased collection, and produced fiscal
    surpluses since 2006.  Additional, Torrijos will explain how
    he took on Panama's insolvent social security system (Caja de
    Seguro Social) and assured its short-term solvency.  Having
    put Panama on firm financial footing, Torrijos next secured
    popular approval via national referendum in October 2006 to
    expand the Panama Canal by constructing a third set of locks
    that will not only be able to handle significantly larger
    ships but that will also double the canal's cargo capacity.
    "American ports need to start getting ready -- some already
    are -- to handle larger ships and more traffic," Torrijos has
    told Ambassador.  "The canal expansion will strengthen the
    strategic relationship between Panama and the U.S."  Finally,
    Torrijos pushed through the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion
    Agreement (TPA), overcoming opposition within his own party
    and protectionist sectors, and firmly committed Panama to
    global leadership to foster free trade and integration.
    "These steps were essential to giving Panama the capacity to
    tackle the economic disparities and rid Panama of poverty,"
    First VP and FM Samuel Lewis told Ambassador on August 29.
    "The next administration will have the tools and resources to
    address the plight of the 37 percent of Panamanians who today
    live in poverty."  Today, the Torrijos Administration has a
    newly heightened sense of urgency to implement programs and
    put in place structures to channel resources and political
    attention to meeting major challenges in education,
    healthcare, judicial reform, law enforcement, and welfare.
    Torrijos recently distributed to all his ministers and other
    key GOP leader count-down clocks that tick off the time that
    remains until he steps down from office on July 1, 2008.

    --------------------------------------------- --
    Torrijos to Ask Privately to Jump the TPA Queue
    --------------------------------------------- --

    ¶5. (C) Lewis laid out for Ambassador on August 29 that
    Torrijos would ask the President to submit the U.S.-Panama
    TPA to the U.S. Congress for consideration before his term
    expires, even if the U.S.-Colombia TPA has not yet been
    approved.  Presidential palace foreign affairs advisor Jorge
    Ritter, who will also travel with Torrijos,   reiterated to
    POLCOUNS on September 4 that Torrijos would indeed ask the
    President to jump Panama ahead of Colombia in the TPA queue.
    Panama would most likely push for action on its TPA with the
    U.S. in a lame duck U.S. Congressional session.  Ambassador
    and EMBOFFs have cautioned against going public with this
    request to jump the queue and urged the Torrijos
    Administration to not get in front the President on this
    matter.  Embassy has cautioned against creating unforeseen
    political problems for consideration of the U.S.-Panama trade
    deal.  That Torrijos would consider approaching the President
    with this request underscores Panama's desire to finalize the
    fourth leg of the Torrijos Administration's strategy to ready
    Panama for economic take-off.  In his other activities in
    Washington -- meetings on the Hill, two days of roundtables
    and sessions with trade groups entitled "Panama Forum," press
    availabilities, and interaction with supporters of the trade
    deal -- Torrijos will seek to raise the profile of the
    U.S.-Panama TPA by underscoring its strategic significance
    for the U.S. and Panama.  Furthermore, he will advocate for
    approval of both the Colombia and Panama TPAs to put the U.S.
    relationship with the hemisphere on a firm strategic footing.
     Torrijos will need to hear clearly from the U.S. regarding
    its strategy to secure Congressional approval, not only of
    the Panama deal, but also of all pending trade deals.

    -----------------------
    FARC Threat: Manageable
    -----------------------

    ¶6. (C)  Lewis told the Ambassador that the FARC threat in the
    Darien was in the process of changing. Lewis said the FARC
    had suffered several major blows since May, including the
    hostage rescue, the deaths of several members of the
    Secretariat, and the capture of the Reyes computers. The real

    threat to Panama now is that FARC forces may flow into the
    Darien looking for refuge and supplies and spreading chaos.
    This is an especially serious problem given that the Darien
    is, for the most part, ungoverned space. The fact that the
    FARC have not been more successful up to now in building up
    support in the Darien owes more to strong anti-Colombian
    prejudice in the Darien than to effective GOP policies. Given
    this scenario, Lewis believes the GOP must calibrate its
    response to the FARC, and use more of a soft-power approach,
    concentrating on issues of governability. This includes
    improving the quality of life of local security officers, the
    effectiveness of local government, providing economic
    opportunity for the local population, as well as bolstering
    the capacity of the police.

    ¶7. (C) Lewis, analysis is right on target. Post believes
    that with limited support from the USG for a comprehensive,
    calibrated approach to the Darien, the GOP will lead the
    effort to strengthen governability in this province that
    borders Panama. Strengthening local government is the area
    where U.S. assistance is likely to be most beneficial.
    Panama,s highly centralized government has failed to
    effectively govern its Darien province for the last one
    hundred years. Based on recent USAID pilot efforts to address
    community needs, now is the time to develop effective local
    government and other structures that can coordinate with the
    central government to improve basic services, education and
    health care. This will assure the support of the local
    population, and the eventual isolation and defeat of the FARC
    in the Darien. USAID has proposals in this area pending
    funding through the Merida Initiative, and Post asks that
    they be given full consideration. Post is also developing an
    interagency Section 1210 Security and Stabilization proposal
    to counter FARC and narcotics trafficking activities in the
    Darien through strengthening local government, enhancing
    border security, reconstruction infrastructure, and
    developing alternative economic activities.

    -------------------
    Panama Helps Itself
    -------------------

    ¶8.  (C)  The last time President Torrijos met with President
    Bush, he asked for USG assistance acquiring helicopters, as
    part of a plan to militarily confront the FARC in the Darien.
    While Post does not believe that this military response is
    now a top priority, we are pleased to report that the GOP is
    taking the initiative on its own to meet its security
    aviation needs. Minister of Government and Justice Daniel
    Delgado told SouthCom Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Spears August
    21 that the National Assembly had authorized his ministry
    over $40 million to upgrade the equipment of Panama,s Police
    and National Aero-Naval Service (SENAN) currently being
    formed by the merger of its air and maritime services.
    According to Delgado, this includes money for the
    refurbishment of seven Huey helicopters, including pilot
    training and spare parts, in addition to seven patrol boats.
    He said he hoped to have four of the helicopters operational
    by December. Post believes that these helicopters will go a
    long way to meet Panama,s need for multi-mission aircraft,
    and represent a very positive step in upgrading the
    capabilities of its forces.

    --------------------------------------------- -------------
    Anchoring Security Reforms in Democracy Key to Cooperation
    --------------------------------------------- -------------

    ¶9. (C) Security cooperation should figure prominently in the
    discussion between the two presidents, though it is uncertain
    whether Torrijos himself, wounded by his own mishandling of
    Panama's "militarization" debate, will raise the matter.
    Torrijos is likely to defend his enactment, by executive fiat
    and without robust consultation, a series of security reform
    laws that have raised the specter in the minds of many
    Panamanians that Torrijos wishes to "militarize" Panama,
    something that was constitutionally outlawed after the U.S.
    removed former strongman Manuel Noriega from power in
    December 1989.  Torrijos has essentially told Ambassador that
    these security reforms are too important to be left to the
    democratic process. Unfortunately, Torrijos' mismanagement of
    the security debate has unleashed a political dynamic that
    imperils his own security reform effort and threatens to
    strain our bilateral security relationship as critics -- that
    they conflate with the controversial reforms -- take aim at
    essential U.S. security activities in Panama.

    ¶10. (C) Fortunately though, Panama's most pressing emerging
    security threat -- the growing FARC presence and activity in
    Panama -- is manageable if it is met now with a calibrated,
    coordinated, and concentrated effort to strengthen
    governability in Panama's Darien province that abuts
    Colombia.  The U.S. needs to foster partnership with Panama
    to assist the GOP to strengthen governability in Panama's
    remote border region with Colombia.  SOUTHCOM currently has a
    12-person Army Joint Planning and Assitance Team (JPAT)
    imbedded with the Frontier Force providing training and
    assistance.  To assist Panama in this endeavor, Torrijos
    needs to understand that how he manages this critical debate
    will determine the degree to which the U.S. can partner with
    Panama on vital security cooperation.  We should encourage
    Torrijos to ensure that security reform efforts are anchored
    in democracy and respect for human rights.  At the GOP's
    request, SOUTHCOM is actively assisting in the establishment
    of a human rights office in Panama's Ministry of Government
    and Justice (MOGJ) along with human rights training at all
    levels of the MOGJ and Panama's public forces.

    --------------------------------------------- -------
    Skeptical About "Alliance for Growth and Prosperity"
    --------------------------------------------- -------

    ¶11. (C) Torrijos is eager to join the President on September
    24 in a meeting New York City on the margins of the UN
    General Assembly with leaders from other countries that have
    signed trade deals with the U.S.  While it was "a great idea
    to meet," Lewis told visiting Acting A/S for International
    Organization Affairs Brian Hook on August 27, "It would be
    counterproductive to deploy the 'Alliance for Prosperity and
    Growth' banner."  Lewis explained that such a formalized
    effort could "actually be a drag on efforts to promote free
    trade."  Though supportive of free trade, Lewis said such an
    endeavor could politicize and create an ideological struggle
    over free trade.

    ---------------------------------------
    Securing Panama's Recognition of Kosovo
    ---------------------------------------

    ¶12. (C) Panama has been dithering for months over granting
    recognition to Kosovo.  The question is not "if" Panama will
    recognize Kosovo, but rather when and how.  In the face of
    dogged and multi-level Embassy approaches, the GOP has
    repeatedly provided different stories regarding how and when
    it will recognize Kosovo.  Shortly after Kosovo declared its
    independence, Panama told the U.S. it would recognize Kosovo,
    "soon, but after the Europeans."  Subsequently, Panama said
    it was working to organize a block of Central American
    countries to jointly recognize Kosovo, though it does not
    appear that Panama put much diplomatic energy into this
    effort.  Then Panama said it wanted to follow the "larger
    countries like Mexico, Brazil or Colombia" in its
    recognition.  Now that Colombia has recognized, Panama has
    indicated that it will do so once Panama leaves the UN
    Security Council on December 31.

    --------------------------------------------- ----------
    ICE Raid Ensnares 50 Illegal Panamanians in Mississippi
    --------------------------------------------- ----------

    ¶13. (C) On August 25, U.S. Immigration and Customs
    Enforcement (ICE) agents executed a federal criminal search
    warrant at Howard Industries, an electric transformer

    manufacturing facility in Mississippi, for evidence relating
    to aggravated identity theft, fraudulent use of social
    security numbers and other crimes and a civil search warrant
    for individuals illegally in the U.S.  Of the 595 illegal
    aliens who were arrested, some 50 were Panamanians.  Noting
    that Panama was not a significant source country for illegal
    immigration to the U.S., Lewis explained to Ambassador on
    September 4 that Panama wanted to defuse this matter by
    facilitating the voluntary return of the Panamanians to
    Panama.  Lewis said the MFA was sending additional personnel
    to bolster its consular staff in the U.S. as they dealt with
    this challenge.  Each individual arrested will need to have
    their cases reviewed as some may be entitled to immigration
    benefits.  We are coordinating closely with the GOP to manage
    public relations.
    STEPHENSON

`