Which explains why roosevelt offered u. s. naval support to panamanian rebels fighting for independence from colombia? the media directed public attention to the unjust conditions that panamanians suffered under colombian rule. the colombian government would not allow the united states to have control over the panama canal zone. the u. s. government strategized to create an economic alliance with panama to lower the cost of raw materials imported to the united states. roosevelt wanted to secure panama as a protectorate to extend the u. s. presence further south into latin america.