Video Americain

Review

This well-crafted, meticulously researched and tightly structured documentary is a clear and lucid presentation of a complex analysis of the U.S. invasion of Panama and the press coverage which was made available to the American people. On December 19, 1989, 20,000 U.S. troops launched a midnight attack. The official story of that incursion, voiced through interviews with Gen. Maxwell Thurmond, Commander of the Southern Command, and Guillermo Ford, President of Panama, among others, is juxtaposed with testimony from eyewitness Panamanian citizens, various analysts and the camera's evidence. U.S. media had no coverage of the thousands of civilians killed or the continued use of overwhelming deadly force after stated objectives were achieved. This is an important and fascinating eposé, and required viewing for anyone interested in an independent press and a responsible military.