Why this book:  The author Paul Shemella is a good friend of mine and we both served together in the Navy SEALs.  I had read and enjoyed one of his previous novels, Jungle Rules, which, like The Dictator’s Revenge, takes place in Panama where we had both served – I followed him in commanding the SEAL Command in Panama in 1992.  The Dictator’s Revenge is a prequel to Jungle Rules and serves it well. 

Summary in 3 sentences: Manuel Noriega is in prison after having been deposed in the US invasion of Panama in December 1989. He is seething with anger and a desire for revenge against the United States, and finds a way to enlist the aid of one of his drug lord cronies to secretly help him get back at the US by severely damaging or destroying the Panama Canal.  Neither the US nor the Panamanians are aware of this, as the steps are taken by the drug lord to earn the money Noriega has promised him for achieving this objective.  The US and the Panamanians notice that something very nefarious is going on, and engage a Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander and a few SEALs to help figure it out and prevent a catastrophe of international proportions.  

My Impressions: An engaging and exciting page turner – a very enjoyable read.  Paul knows his subject, having commanded the SEAL unit in Panama right after Operation Just Cause, which had deposed Manuel Noriega from power in 1989.  While stationed in Panama, Paul explored many of the nooks and cranny’s of the area around Panama City and worked with the Panamanians as they were rebuilding their country after the reign of Noriega and the subsequent invasion by US Forces. The Dictator’s Revenge gives the reader a sense for living in Panama as part of the US forces during the period following Operation Just Cause. 

The novel’s main protagonist is Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander Carl Malinowski, who is working on the staff of USSOUTHCOM’s Special Operations component. He is brought in to help resolve a complicated situation that appeared ominous.   One of the most experienced Panama Canal harbor pilots is mysteriously and violently kidnapped, several people murdered and it seemed to be a lot more than a “mere” ransom operation.  It appeared that this crime and its potential implications were more than the Panamanian government felt fully competent to handle effectively while still rebuilding after the US invasion, so they requested US assistance.  LCDR Malinowski is given tactical lead, asks for and gets the assistance of several enlisted SEALs he’d worked with in the past, and in conjunction with the Panamanian national police, the CIA,  the SEAL Unit in Panama, and other Special Operations resources stationed in Panama, they put together a team to sort who may have done the kidnapping and why. 

The antagonists in this story include Manuel Noriega who we only see a few times in the book, as he is a guest enjoying the hospitality of the US federal prison in Florida.   Also, there is the leader of the drug cartel who Noriega is paying to exact his revenge, and the numerous  sicarios – Colombian henchmen who are ready at the drop of a hat to perpetrate whatever horror their drug lord bosses deem useful to achieve their evil objectives. 

Malinowski and his team have very little to work with, but they are dogged in tracking down whatever leads they have to retrieve the harbor pilot and better understand why he was kidnapped.  Their deductive process is fun to observe, since we the readers know exactly who is behind the kidnapping and why.  It is impressive to watch the SEALs and the other organizations go through their deliberative planning process to explore different possibilities and options, and then plan and execute missions designed to get the harbor pilot back, and then prevent the perpetrators from shutting down the Panama Canal, which would be a disaster with huge international consequences.

There are two main stories in The DIctator’s Revenge: The first is about the SEALs and their supporting organizations figuring out that the destruction of the Panama Canal was Noriega’s objective, and then undertaking the various steps and operations necessary to prevent it.  In this story we learn of and go along for the ride on many of the special capabilities of SEALs and other special operations forces use to fight those who would harm the US or its allies.  

The second story is the romantic relationship between LCDR Malinowski and his main counterpart with the Panamanian Police force, a beautiful, intelligent, and driven Panamanian woman who is a major in the Panamanian national police force.  At the beginning of the novel their relationship is a mutually convenient friendship “with privileges,” but as the story progresses, it grows into a romantic love affair that has them both looking to make it a long term commitment.  This becomes a bit awkward as they are both key players on the team planning planning to resolve this critical mission.  It also adds additional tension to the story, as she also becomes a target of the drug lords.  

Additionally, Paul Shemella wickers into this story another enemy whose hate for the United Staes the drug lord leverages to help him meet his and Noriega’s objectives:  Islamic Extremists.  Eight or so years before 9-11, Islamic extremists were already seeking ways to do major strategic damage to the United States, and there was no shortage of extremely committed young men willing to die in an effort to achieve that goal.  It is no secret that criminal organizations in Latin America and idealogical extremists in the Middle East have worked together – each with a different cause, but achievable through common means. 

Paul Shemella knows his subject well – Panama, fighting drug lords, and Navy SEALs – Paul spent 26 years inspiring, planning and leading SEAL operations around the world. As a retired SEAL myself my only quibble was that the team of SEALs he put together, in both The Dictator’s Revenge and Jungle Rules, was a team of All Stars that any SEAL would aspire to be part of .  These were all great SEALs, but unfortunately, not all SEALs are great. But Malinowski’s team was a nice counterpoint to the dysfunctional team that has been in the news lately in the wake of the Eddie Gallagher trial.  For me it was nice to read about truly competent SEALs who believe in and follow the SEAL Ethos.  After reading ALPHA , it was nice to have Paul remind me of how good a SEAL squad can be, and of the good they can do working well together.