Staff Reports
In a world swayed by uncertain leadership and shifting allegiances, it’s refreshing to see someone like Donald Trump standing firm on American interests. His latest stance on the Panama Canal is causing ripples, and rightfully so. Imagine handing over an engineering marvel, built with American ingenuity, grit, and sacrifice, only to watch as other nations extend their influences like unwelcome weeds in a garden we once tended. It’s nothing short of a travesty that this pivotal waterway, carved from the earth by American hands, now serves as a playing field for China’s ambitions.
The Panama Canal is not just a conduit for global trade; it’s a testament to a bygone era of American resolve. Let’s face it, Panama didn’t build it; we did. As Trump points out, the canal’s traffic largely benefits the United States. So when Jimmy Carter, widely regarded in conservative circles as a woefully ineffective leader, decided to hand it over, it was akin to gifting away not just property but a piece of American prowess. This decision stands as one of the most baffling examples of geopolitical naivete.
Trump’s mention of the canal has ignited quite the debate, leading some to speculate on his methods. While force isn’t necessarily the first recourse, reclaiming control of the canal is a non-negotiable goal. However, the Panama Canal Authority maintains that the canal is operated under strict neutrality, treating traffic from all nations equally.
And let’s not forget why this issue needs addressing. For decades, America has watched Latin American countries—supposedly with whom relations were meant to improve post-canal deals—consistently engage in unlawful activities detrimental to our nation—pouring drugs across our borders and exacerbating crime. If this is the result of Carter’s idea of “improving relations,” one can only shudder at what an actual strategic misstep might look like. The canal represents a strategic asset we should never have ceded, much less under such misguided pretenses.
In the end, it’s a simple matter of rectifying a historical oversight with clear eyes and a strong backbone. America’s interests shouldn’t suffer from past diplomatic errors. With Trump, it’s about bringing a sense of accountability and taking what is rightfully ours, although current international law and treaty stipulations prevent the U.S. from unilaterally reclaiming the canal. After all, history owes it to the generations that crafted this marvel to correct the folly of weak leadership.
