We deal with allegations that have been denied, and that will not be thoroughly and impartially investigated. We deal with mutual finger-pointing from two of the world's most corrupt governments, Nicaragua's and the one that Mireya Moscoso runs here in Panama.

But before we dismiss the latest scandal about gun running to the bloodthirsty AUC paramilitary in Colombia as mere unproven allegations, we need to recognize the harm that this affair, on its face another aspect of the Moscoso administration's taking sides in Colombia's civil conflict, has done to Panamanian sovereignty.

There is no question that President Moscoso is allowing Plan Colombia supply and reinforcement operations to be conducted by US "civilian contractor" mercenaries from Panamanian territory. There is no question that Colombians fleeing from the leftist FARC rebels are tolerated in Jaque, but other Colombian fleeing from the right wing AUC are not. There is no question that the recent US-Panamanian anti-drug agreement can be interpreted by the Americans as permission to carry out Plan Colombia missions in and over Panamanian territory, because according to US policy, any anti-FARC action is "anti-drug." Thus the alleged involvement of Panama's National Police in gun running to the AUC, which is essentially a drug-financed unofficial extension of the Colombian Army, would be in keeping with the policy that the Moscoso administration has been carrying out but won't admit.

But Colombia's civil strife never ends. Our neighbors have been at war with themselves almost continually since 1830. This is the main reason why, nearly a century ago, Panama decided to go its separate way as a nation.

Each of Colombia's combatant factions could run roughshod over Panama if it chose to do so. The Moscoso administration's involvement in Colombia's mess could provide such a motive.

Even if that worst-case scenario doesn't come to pass, Mireya's policies have made Panama complicit in the most atrocious human rights violations and tend to isolate us from most other Latin American countries, which condemn Plan Colombia. She's acting more like a minor White House appointee than as the leader of an independent nation.

Was there ever domination that did not appear natural to those who possess it?

John Stuart Mill

In April 1917 the illusion of isolation was destroyed, America came to the end of innocence, and of the exuberant freedom of bachelor independence. That the responsibilities of world power have not made us happier is no surprise. To help ourselves manage them, we have replaced the illusion of isolation with a new illusion of omnipotence.

Barbara Tuchman

People who are always making allowances for themselves soon go bankrupt.

Mary Pettibone Poole

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