Show notes
Author Cillian Dunne thought he was accepting a simple writing job in Panama. Instead, he found himself sitting across from a man who operated inside the shadow network of General Manuel Noriega — the Panamanian dictator who spent years on the CIA payroll before becoming one of America’s most wanted enemies.What started as a casual introduction turned into a two-year investigation involving intelligence agencies, cartel rumors, Cold War geopolitics, and the chain of events that led to the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama.In this episode of the Truth Hurts Show, Cillian breaks down how Noriega rose from a military school recruit to one of the CIA’s most valuable intelligence assets in Latin America. During the height of the Cold War, Noriega worked alongside U.S. agencies in the fight against communism across Central America — helping facilitate covert operations tied to the Iran-Contra era.But when political alliances shifted and scandals began to surface, Noriega went from trusted asset to international villain almost overnight.Cillian shares what he uncovered while interviewing Noriega’s right-hand man, the documents connecting Noriega to U.S. intelligence agencies, and the dangerous political environment inside Panama during one of the most volatile periods in modern Latin American history.This conversation pulls back the curtain on the blurred lines between intelligence work, geopolitics, and the narratives used to shape public perception.Because the story the world remembers about Noriega may only be part of the truth.If you think you understand how power, intelligence, and foreign policy really work, this episode will challenge everything you thought you knew.Follow US!YouTube: @TruthHurtsShow Brian's LinksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/briangoldphdTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briangoldphdMakan's LinksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/makan_mostafaviTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makanmostafaviCillian's LinksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dunne.cillianNew Book: https://a.co/d/02eqsvljTimestamps:00:00 Welcome Cillian!1:00 Noriega's CIA Origins03:11 Why Write This Book05:44 On the Ground in Panama07:45 Iran Contra Pipeline10:16 DEA Letters and Scapegoat13:01 Bush Feud and Blackmail16:06 Vatican Standoff Tactics17:55 Secret Weapons Rumors19:18 CIA Experiments and PR22:52 Spies Go Public23:28 Dalai Lama Asset Rumor23:53 Foreign Policy Reality Check25:41 Monroe Doctrine Shift26:54 Writing and Fact Checking28:51 Carlos Loyalty Flaws29:50 Noriega Secrets and Rumors32:22 Blackmail Party Tape Theory33:59 Agencies Fragmented Then Linked35:10 Crips Interview Book Origin37:04 Inglewood Interviews and Trust40:04 Prison Solo Rider Puma42:10 How David Joined the Crips43:39 Where to Get the BookHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.