| Operation Just Cause |
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| Written by Administrator | ||
| Wednesday, October 18 2006 | ||
In the summer and fall of 1989 the United States had their eyes fixated on the events in eastern Europe which brought an end to the Cold War. At the same time a storm of a different kind was brewing in Panama. Manual Noriega, the dictator who ran the country with his Panama Defense Force was getting out of control and getting wilder by the day. Through his cronies, he had a complete monopoly over the country and had extensive networks within the Medallin drug cartel. As early as 1987 the U.S. Senate asked for the resignation of Manual Noriega, but he didn´t listen. Things got from bad to worse on December 15, 1989 when the National Assembly of Panama declared that a state of war existed between the U.S. and Panama. Service members were harassed and an unarmed marine Lieutenant was killed and his buddy was beaten.
 Noriega wasn't a good guy. From 1988 to 1989 Noriega supported a regime that harassed American citizens in Panama and hindered full implementation of America's rights under the 1977 Panama Canal treaties. During those years Noriega also turned to Libya, Cuba, and Nicaragua for economic and military support. Cuba and Nicaragua funneled communist bloc weapons into the country so Noriega could create what he called Civil Dignity Battalions that were bent on controlling people and gaining intelligence information. Under the agreement, if Libya contributed 20 million dollars they would be allowed to use Panama as a base to coordinate and control terrorist activities Central America. On May 7, 1989 the People of Panama elected candidates for presidency from the anti-Noriega coalition. Guillermo Endara led the opposition and defeated Noriega´s candidate for president by a nearly 3 to 1 decision. Noriega´s goons, in particular the Dignity Battalions tried to coerce voters into electing Noriega´s candidates, despite the presence of observers from the Catholic Church and former president Jimmy Carter. On May 12 Noriega attributed the election results to foreign meddling and sanctioned violence against his opponents. After being physically assaulted, opposition members went into hiding. With Noriega´s brutal and increasing disregard for law and international opinion, the President and his advisors became increasingly concerned with Americans living under a regime like this. The U.S. Believed that in the hands of a government opposed to the U.S., Panama could be used as a wartime base by the Soviet Union or one of its client states such as Cuba in order to attack U.S. Also, they could support left wing insurgencies in Central America and aid in drug trafficking to the U.S. On December 20, 1989; the morning of the invasion, President George Bush put forth a statement justifying the right to invade. Number one, an invasion was necessary in order to safeguard the lives of U.S. citizens in Panama. Noriega had threatened the lives of 35,000 Americans living in Panama. Number two, defending democracy and human rights in Panama. Earlier that year, Noriega nullified presidential elections that had been won by opposing candidates. Number three, Panama had become a center of drug trafficking and money laundering. Noriega was cited by the U.S. Government for having an integral role in these crimes. Number four, protecting the integrity of the Torrijos-Carter Treaty which called for the neutrality of the Panama Canal. Noriega threatened the neutrality of the Panama Canal and the United States had the right under treaties to intervene militarily to protect the canal. The invasion consisted of the U.S. Army supported by the air force and navy. H-hour occurred December 20, 1989 at 0100 local time. The operation included 22,000 U.S. Troops and over 300 aircraft and was the first operation in which the f-117 stealth bomber and AH-64 Apache helicopter were used in combat. The operation began with strategic assaults on critical locations which included the civilian Punta Paitilla Airport, a PDF garrison at Rio Hato, where Noriega had a house and other military centers across the country. The objectives were as follows: to protect U.S. lives and facilities. To capture and deliver Noriega to a competent authority. To neutralize PDF forces, their command and center of control. To Support the establishment of a U.S. supported regime government in Panama. And finally, to restructure the PDF. The PDF fought harder than expected. Instead of running for the jungle at the first sight of superior American firepower and strength, the PDF fought for hours until they were routed. This was probably due to rousing speeches given at the legislative building and over the airwaves. In the end, 22 American Soldiers were killed in action compared to the roughly 300 members of the Panamanian Defense Force. Sadly, roughly 500 civilians were killed during the conflict of which most of whom died when heavy fighting erupted in the EL Chorillo district. This number is heavily debated and many believe that the real number is much higher. Also, many Panamanians considered the invasion unnecessary altogether and the bombing of Chorillo excessive. However, with the arrest of Noriega, diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Panama were allowed to take place and now the two countries are on amicable terms.
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| Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 ) | ||
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