Letter from Washington

Is Elliot Abrams on his way out? Secretary of State George Shultz continues to stand by his man, but top White House officials have long been irritated with Abrams’s handling—they call it mishandling—of U.S. policy in Nicaragua. They were particularly angered when he stiffened the hard line on Panamanian strongman General Manuel Antonio Noriega. Now they blame Abrams for leaking word that a deal was at hand with Noriega—a slip one top official told Cato was premature, and damaging to the still ongoing negotiating process.

U.S. officials say the elements of a solution to the Noriega problem are on the table, including: General Noriega’s resignation, democratic elections, an end to American sanctions, and, above all, a U.S. agreement not to seek Noriega’s extradition on drug charges if he leaves Panama. But negotiators have yet to hit on the right sort of diplomatic legerdemain that will a) allow Noriega to save face when he steps down as defense minister and b) ensure a smooth transition from military dictatorship to parliamentary democracy.

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Is Elliot Abrams on his way out? Secretary of State George Shultz continues to stand by his man, but top White House officials have long been irritated with Abrams’s handling—they call it mishandling—of U.S. policy in Nicaragua. They were particularly angered when he stiffened the hard line on Panamanian strongman General Manuel Antonio Noriega. Now they blame Abrams for leaking word that a deal was at hand with Noriega—a slip one top official told Cato was premature, and damaging to the still ongoing negotiating process.

U.S. officials say the elements of a solution to the Noriega problem are on the table, including: General Noriega’s resignation, democratic elections, an end to American sanctions, and, above all, a U.S. agreement not to seek Noriega’s extradition on drug charges if he leaves Panama. But negotiators have yet to hit on the right sort of diplomatic legerdemain that will a) allow Noriega to save face when he steps down as defense minister and b) ensure a smooth transition from military dictatorship to parliamentary democracy.