On last night’s Hannity KLAN show, Talk Radio BIGOT Bill Cunningham yelled about Panama Canal: “It’s our canal … we fought and died for that; we built the damn thing” [ VIDEO BELOW ]

FACT: The Panama Canal is a man-made canal which joins the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. One of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken, it had an enormous impact on shipping between the two oceans, replacing the long and treacherous route via the Drake Passage and Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America. A ship sailing from New York to San Francisco via the canal travels 9,500 Km (6,000 miles), well under half the 22,500 km (14,000 mile) route around Cape Horn. Although the concept of a canal near Panama dates back to the early 16th century, the first attempt to construct a canal began in 1880 under French leadership. After this attempt failed and saw 21,900 workers die, the project of building a canal was attempted and completed by the United States in the early 1900s, with the canal opening in 1914. The building of the 77 km (48 mile) canal was plagued by problems, including disease (particularly malaria and yellow fever) and landslides. By the time the canal was completed, a total of 27,500 workmen are estimated to have died in the French and American efforts.

   The Panama Canal — [ Enlarge ]

After the war, U.S. control of the canal and the Canal Zone surrounding it became contentious as relations between Panama and the U.S. became increasingly tense. Many Panamanians felt that the canal zone rightfully belonged to Panama; student protests were met by the fencing in of the zone and an increased military presence. Negotiations toward a new settlement began in 1974, and resulted in the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. Signed by President of the United States Jimmy Carter and Omar Torrijos of Panama on September 7, 1977, this mobilized the process of granting the Panamanians free control of the Canal so long as Panama signed a treaty guaranteeing the permanent neutrality of the Canal. The treaty led to full Panamanian control effective at noon on December 31, 1999, and the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) assumed command of the waterway. [ READ MORE ] [ THE CANAL MUSEUM ] [ MORE ABOUT THE CANAL ]

Cunningham ‘Bleets’

Flashback: The ScumBag Falsely Inserts Mohammed Hussein into Obama’s Name

[ Bill Cunningham - A Racist ReTHUGlican Asshole 'Stinks-Up' Ohio | More: Bill Cunningham ]

From Media Matters: Stamp of approval: Media tout Obama polling falsehood

Several media figures and outlets have falsely claimed that President Obama’s approval rating is lower than that of most or all recent presidents, according to Gallup. In fact, Gallup itself recently reported that, by two different measures, Obama’s approval rating is the second highest of any president since 1969. [ READ MORE ]

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