Former Panama General Manuel Noriega served 17 years in prison in the U.S. for drugs and 2 years in France for money laundering. This weekend, at his request, he was returned to Panama to begin serving three 20 year sentences. He's now 77 and in a wheelchair.

Noriega was toppled in a US invasion of Panama in 1989. He was convicted in absentia in three homicide cases involving 11 murders, including the 1985 beheading of a doctor who threatened to reveal Noriega’s drug ties. He was also responsible for the executions of nine officers who staged a failed coup.

Here are some photos of Noriega's arrest by U.S. DEA agents in Panama. The lead take-down agent, DEA group supervisor, Rene DelaCova, pleaded guilty 1n 1994 to stealing $700,000 from drug traffickers in an unrelated case. He got a 3 year sentence. [More...]

Teeeeeeebooooooooowwwwwwwwwwww!!!!

Open Thread.

Everybody cool it in the comments please.

Open Thread.

El Clasico, Barca v Madrid, coming up in a few minutes.

I like Madrid. Line is pick or win bet (+140.)

Open Thread.

Atrios points to this strange Felix Salmon post about Treasury's incompetence and/or malfeasance regarding the mortgage crisis. What's strange about it is this line:

[I]n the battle of Treasury vs the banks, the banks — predictably — have won.

Ridiculous from Salmon - Geithner's Treasury has protected the banks from Day One (before Day One in Geithner's case, considering his outrageous actions on behalf of the banks as president of the New York Fed.)

Tim Geithner is a disgrace, and a disgrace that reflects on Barack Obama. If he loses reelection, what would most make his loss deserved is his acceptance of the malfeasance and incompetence of Tim Geithner. Obama has been unforgivable on that.

The height of Republican hypocrisy is the phony outrage of Congressman Darryl Issa at the DEA's money laundering stings, particularly in Mexico. These stings are as old as the hills and well-publicized. (Issa's absurd letter to AG Eric Holder is here.) Even Fox News says he's missed the boat on this one.

The Justice Department and the State Department acknowledged the laundering this week. The DEA issued this statement earlier this week confirming it.

Why wouldn't they? DEA, the IRS and Customs (now ICE) have been engaging in undercover laundering of proceeds for drug traffickers at least since Ronald Reagan was President. Republicans crowed about the stings then. [More...]

More thread.

Still busy but just noticed that CP3 was traded to the Lakers. Wow!

Wait, what? (h/t Bill Simmons.) Stern did what?

Open Thread.

Michigan attorney Scott Millard, 29, was held in contempt of court and jailed Dec. 1 for instructing his client to "take the 5th" and refuse to answer a judge's question at his arraignment and bond hearing. The judge had asked the client when was the last time he had taken drugs. Millard was released four hours later when a higher court granted a stay.

The transcript is here.

If Judge Post is found to be in violation of the law - which many attorneys and former judges who spoke with 24 Hour News 8 believe he is - he could face anything from censure to removal from the bench.

[More...]

Tonight was the most appalling X-Factor show of the season. Judge Nicole Scherzinger should hang her head in shame. She copped out of voting in the final sing-off round and the choice wasn't difficult. As a result, Rachel Crowe, who sang her best performance of the season in the safety round, went home. Rachel, who is only 14, fell apart crying out her eyes out. Unbelievably, Nicole went up to the stage as if she was going to comfort Rachel. Nicole has always been the weakest judge, replacing Cheryl Cole at the last minute. After her dereliction of duty tonight, I hope she's not brought back to judge next year. She was roundly booed by the audience and rightfully so.

Another hall of shame award today to Spirit Airlines, for offering special "slammer fares" to Chicago in honor of Rod Blagojevich's sentencing. I'm not linking to the ad because I don't want to send them business, but it says:

"you don't have to live in the 'Big House' to take advantage of these fares" to among other places, Chicago. But hurry... You don't want to get convicted for missing this seat-selling sale!"

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

There's still no explanation for why the security guards were dancing at the Sofitel following the hotel maid's report that she was assualted by Dominique Strauss-Kahn. (Background here.)

But now the video is available. (Also below.) The dance lasts 13 seconds, not 3 minutes as originally reported. [More...]

The Associated Press and German ARD TV have located the CIA's secret prison in Romania where terror detainees, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Ramzi Binalshibh, Abd al-Nashiri and Abu Faraj al-Libi were held and subjected to harsh interrogation techniques. You can view the building here.

Air transportation was provided by CIA contractor Richmor Aviation Inc., which also operated flights to Guantanamo and Morocco. The prison was closed in 2006. Porter Goss was the CIA Chief during the time it was used to hold the detainees.

A few months ago Reprieve published some of Richmor's billing records for its flights, which had been revealed in a civil lawsuit.