U.S. Shortens Tours for Troops in Panama
The tours of U.S. military personnel stationed in Panama are being shortened because of continuing harassment by the Panama Defense Forces, the Pentagon said Tuesday.
Spokesman Dan Howard said that tours of married personnel with family dependents have been shortened from 3 years to 2 1/2 years. Unmarried personnel will also be permitted to serve shorter tours, probably lasting 15 months.
Howard cited a “pattern of low-level harassment” by the police but said there is no evidence that it is being directed by Panamanian strongman Manuel A. Noriega.
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