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8 - Panama

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

William C. Martel
Affiliation:
Tufts University, Massachusetts
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Summary

Under the leadership of General Manuel Antonio Noriega, Panama had been plagued in the 1980s by massive corruption related to the government's active involvement in drug smuggling in Central America. This corruption progressively disrupted ordinary economic activity and fostered a climate of fear and anxiety in Panama. In a resolution issued on December 15, 1989, the National Assembly of Panama declared that a state of war existed with the United States. Shortly afterward, members of the Panama Defense Forces (PDF) shot three American officers, one of whom died. In response, on December 17, 1989, President George H. W. Bush ordered the invasion of Panama, called Operation Just Cause, which began on December 20, 1989. At 1 a.m. local time, the U.S. military attacked key targets in Panama to destroy Noriega's authoritarian and brutal regime The purpose of this military action, which involved 22,000 soldiers, 3,400 airmen, 900 Marines, and 700 sailors, was to remove General Noriega, who was the head of the PDF, and restore democratic governance to Panama. Although this “war” was over within hours, it took almost two weeks to capture Noriega.

In an address to the nation on the morning of the invasion, President Bush said the goals of the United States were “to protect the lives of American citizens in Panama and to bring General Noriega to justice in the United States.”

Type
Chapter
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Victory in War
Foundations of Modern Strategy
, pp. 215 - 230
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

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  • Panama
  • William C. Martel, Tufts University, Massachusetts
  • Book: Victory in War
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511842443.010
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  • Panama
  • William C. Martel, Tufts University, Massachusetts
  • Book: Victory in War
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511842443.010
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Panama
  • William C. Martel, Tufts University, Massachusetts
  • Book: Victory in War
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511842443.010
Available formats
×