Kevin Buckley is a journalist and Simon & Schuster author.
In a tense narrative that reads like a spy thriller, Buckley traces Manuel Noriega's ascension to power and his ties to the U.S. government. The book begins with an account of the murder of Noriega opponent Hugo Spadafora in 1985, which set in motion the chain of events culminating in Operation Just Cause in December 1989. Buckley raises questions about the invasion (``the single bloodiest event in Panama's history'') and suggests that very little benefit to either side was accomplished other than the ouster of Noriega. The author describes Noriega's daily life in the ``Dictator's Suite'' at the Metropolitan Correctional Center near Miami and explains how his ``long record of service'' to Washington is in large part responsible for the bizarre legal tangle that threatens to delay his trial indefinitely. A former Newsweek bureau chief in Saigon, Buckley presents a gripping account of Central American-style hubris in action and grievous foreign-policy bungling on the part of the Americans. (June)
The author, a former Newsweek correspondent, vividly describes events leading up to the ``Just Cause'' invasion of Panama by U.S. troops. His book covers the complexities of Panamanian political intrigues, the corruption, the political culture, the involvement of the United States with Manuel Noriega, and the interaction between Noriega and the major domestic and international actors from 1986 through January 1990. Using details and anecdotal information, Buckley fleshes out the motivations and actions of each character, maintaining throughout a sense of suspense and mystery, even for the specialist familiar with the events. Highly recommended for all libraries.-- Roderic A. Camp, Central Coll., Pella, Ia.
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