ILLEGAL ABANDONMENT

A U.S. law-enforcement agency reported in May that illegal drug
trafficking and money-laundering in Panama have grown dramatically
since the pullout of U.S. forces in 1999. "Panama remains a major
transit country for cocaine and, increasingly, heroin," stated the
11-page intelligence report. Tomas Cabal, an investigative reporter
based in Panama, agreed with the report's findings and stated, "The
surge in drug activity is a direct consequence of closing (the U.S.)
Howard Air Force Base."

The U.S. government report pointed out that Panama's proximity to
Colombia makes it vulnerable to drug traffic. But it also noted that
"Chinese and Russian organized crime factions are active in narcotics,
arms and illegal alien-smuggling, utilizing Panama as a base of
operations."

The illegal abandonment of our nation's interests in Panama have not
only cost our nation its control of the Panama Canal, it has made the
entire Western hemisphere open to narcoterrorist activity that will
surely impact our nation.

We urge all lovers of freedom to write Sen. Jim Inhofe and Reps. Steve
Largent and Tom Coburn to regain our control of the Panama Canal by
supporting HR 77.

Dr. and Mrs. Mike Ritze,
Broken Arrow