Manuel Noriega

General Manuel Antonio Noriega was Panama's strongman and dictator for nearly a decade. He exercised the power of life and death over his fellow countrymen, torturing and murdering anyone who stood in his way. Today he is a prisoner in Miama's Federal Correctional Institution, serving 40 years for drug smubbling. This film examines the rise and fall of Noriega, from his humble beginnings in the market district of Panama City's old quarter to his multi-million dollar drug and money laundering empire. Falsifying his birthdate, he won a scholarship to Lima's world-famous Military School, and as a junior recruit in the Panamanian Army, he met his mentor Omar Torrijos. Examined also is Noriega's relationship with the United States, which began when he was recruited by the CIA to spy on his own left-wing friends. Why did the US decide to invade Panama and overthrow Noriega after turning a blind eye to his brutal regime for years? Was he really any worse than any other US-moulded Lat American dictator? Includes interviews with General Noriega in prison, Noriega's lawyer, the former U.S. ambassador to Panama Everett Briggs, the former CIA chief in Panama Donald Winters, the former U.S. assistant secretary of state Elliot Abrams, several Noriega scholars as well as political opponents and colleagues from his years in power.