This is CBS, I in the World, the New World Report with Professor Avon

Ellis of the U.S. Army War College, Panama.

Panama, and its stored history with the United States. I have

photograph after photograph showing the men and machines building the Panama Canal

1906 to 1913, a vast enterprise with at that time the biggest

steam shovels and the most powerful trains on the planet.

Still it was hand-hewn in much instance. Today there's a second parallel

channel I'm told I've never been there and both are struggling with the

drought. It has come to Panama in time, global change of climate, and the drop in

water has meant that Panama must cut back on what can pass through and how much it can carry it.

The ships coming from west to east and east to west.

At the same time, Panama is troubled by other factors having to do with its income from a copper mine having to do with the

Darien gap and the thousands that tens of thousands pouring through the country

headed to the southern border and other parts of Central America.

And there's an election next year.

The leading candidate, a man by the name of Martinelli who has been president before,

is also condemned by a court for corruption though he remains the leading candidate.

And that's plenty of trouble except for the fact that we have a government in the hands of someone

who's already said it could destabilize

traveling to the Darien gap with his colleague the president of Costa Rica.

Evan, thank you very much. You have much communication and good colleagues who respond to you about the troubles in Panama. What are you learning?

Good evening again.

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