Let's first simplify both sides of the inequality.
On the left side, we calculate: 8 * 3 + 2 * 6 = 24 + 12 = 36
Now, for the right side: 60 ÷ 5 * 3 = 12 * 3 = 36
Now we can compare the two sides: Left side: 36 Right side: 36
Thus, we can conclude that the statement is: 36 __ 36
The appropriate operator to make the statement true is "=".
So, the answer is "=".