Operation Acid Gambit

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Introduction

On the night of April 9, 1989, Kurt Muse, the man behind La Voz de la Libertad, would finally be arrested while trying to clear immigration at Panama City’s Omar Torrijos International Airport. It would take nearly two and a half days and the cancelation of all Panamanian visas to the United States by the State Department for the Panamanian Defense Force to finally present Kurt Muse to the world; as a spy for the United States government.1 Kurt founded La Voz de la Libertad, and used it to promote the over threw of Noriega. Once news of his arrest was discovered, the other key players in La Voz de la Libertad and their families knew what had to be done. A member transmitted “shopette” and soon twenty-six Panamanians were asking for asylum at the gates of Fort Clayton.2 Kurt was the only American actively involved in La Voz de La Libertad and would not incriminate his Panamanian coconspirators. It would take nearly nine months for Operation Acid Gambit to come to fruition, and Kurt finally be liberated from his jail cell by Delta Force.

History
Why would the Panamanian Defense Force arrest someone who was not only an American citizen but also a Department of Defense dependent; then hold him for nine months in Carcel Modelo, one of Panamas most notorious prisons? Kurt Muse was born in the United States of America but spent most of his life in Panama City, Panama; where he ended up working in the family printing business. Kurt loved Panama and her people very deeply; he could not stand to see what Manuel Noriega was doing to the country. During the summer and fall of 1987 Panama was in a state of disarray, the economy was suffering, protests and strikes were rampant.
Up until October 11, 1987, Kurt and his cocon...

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...hese organizations do not know exact details of the operation.
However, it is evident that the implementation of these specialized aviation units has enabled Delta Force to execute its missions with much more accuracy. America’s ability to reach out and touch someone has come a long way since the failed mission of Operation Eagle Claw. Ignoring the political side of things, it is very comforting to know that such a precision instrument exists. “You guys are the meanest and ugliest fuckers I’ve met in my life. But I love you. You guys saved my life and I’m eternally, eternally grateful…So long, guys.” (Kurt Muse)

Works Cited

Flanagan, Edward. BATTLE FOR PANAMA. McLean, VA: Brassey’s (US) Inc. 1993.
Muse , Kurt, and John Gilstrap. SIX MINUTES TO FREEDOM. New York: Kensington Publishing Corp. 2006.
Waller, Douglas. THE COMMANDOS. New York: Simon & Schuster. 1994.

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