Trump White House has asked U.S. military to develop options for the Panama Canal, officials say

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1. The White House has directed the U.S. military to draw up options for increasing the American troop presence in Panama to achieve President Trump’s goal of “reclaiming” the Panama Canal, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the planning.

   During a joint address to Congress last week, Trump said, “to further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal.” Since then, administration officials have not said what “reclaiming” means.

   U.S. Southern Command is developing potential plans that vary from partnering more closely with the Panamanian military to the less likely option of U.S. troops seizing the Panama Canal by force, the officials said. Whether military force is used, the officials added, depends on how much the Panamanian military agrees to partner with the U.S. 

2. From my personal experience in the region, people are less than 0% willing to give an inch of control to the US. That’s not to say that deals won’t be made to potentially increase US leverage over the canal, but make no mistake that actual US control through military action is something that would be met with violent resistance from the Panamanians and allies. I’m going to assume it is just another intimidation tactic by Trump as he constantly posits to want peace

3. I’m sure there are already plans in case of a war. That is a vital strategic asset

4. Panama does not have active armed forces, the closest thing is forces against organized crime

5. To be fair, the US military has scenarios and plans for almost every scenario you could imagine.

   I’m sure they already had plenty of scenarios outlined.

6. ~120 years later, we’re doing it again.

7. The US military has had plans drawn up regarding the Panama Canal since the 60s.

8. Fun Fact: Trump can do this any time, it does not require any authorization from US Congress.

   Ronald Reagan did this to Grenada in Oct 1983. The US military invaded the Caribbean island of Grenada to enforce regime change.

9. Question: How would the US military manage starting actual wars on three fronts? Re: Panama, Canada, and Greenland?

   I feel like that’s an epic way to deplete your resources really quickly.

10. There is, and will always be someone willing to fund an opposition to invaders.

11. Trump will invade Canada, Mexico, Panama, Denmark/Greenland, and economically collapse the UK and see a regime change there. He will also make war against China and Iran. Then he will balkanize the US and also start a global famine to cull the non white world. This is what his Russian and White Nationalist handlers and Elon and Thiel and dark Enlightenment types want.

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