USAF TO LEAVE PANAMA BASE IN MAY

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 (UPI) - The Pentagon confirms (Wednesday) the Air
Force will move its last remaining aircraft from Howard Air Force Base
near Panama City, Panama, to McDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., May
1.

The aircraft, used mainly for anti-drug surveillance flights, are the
last U.S. military planes at the Panamanian air base.

The Pentagon confirmed the move today. The shift became inevitable
when talks between Panama and the United States aimed at keeping some
U. S. troops and aircraft at the base broke down in September.

The United States had proposed keeping about 2,000 troops at Howard
where, working with a multi-national force, they would have continued
what the Pentagon says have been highly effective anti-drug
surveillance efforts in the region.

But Panamanian officials said they would only allow U.S. forces to
remain at the base four years and would then consider whether to allow
them to stay longer. That was unacceptable to Washington and the
2-year-long talks broke off abruptly.

The United States is set to relinquish full control over the Panama
Canal to Panama on Dec. 31. Under terms of the 1977 treaty signed by
former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Omar Torrijos, all U.S. troops will
leave as of that date. Pentagon officials have said they are concerned
that the end of U.S. surveillance flights from Panama will lead to an
increase in the flow of drugs from South America to the United States.

While the Air Force will continue making surveillance flights from
McDill, they may not be as effective as the flights from Howard
because of the greater distances that the aircraft have to travel
before they reach known drug trafficking routes.

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