President Roosevelt sent troops to support Panamanian rebels in the fight against Columbia so that

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President Roosevelt sent troops to support the Panamanian rebels in the fight against Columbia, because the Panamanian rebels was losing the fight. The Panamanian need the help so that they would not lose the fight to Columbia.
so...Panamanian rebels could break free from Columbia and declare independence. 
That would have also "conveniently" paved the way for the United States to sign a separate agreement with the new nation of Panama on the land needed for the Panama Canal.