Panama invasion: The US operation that ousted Noriega

[Judi Lynn]

6 hours ago



AFP
More than 20,000 US troops were deployed to Panama


The invasion came by sea, air and land. Thousands of US troops descended on Panama, seeking to unseat its de facto leader and bring him to Miami to face drug charges.

It was 20 December 1989, and the once close relationship between General Manuel Noriega and the US had deteriorated to the point of no return.

In an address to the nation, then President George H W Bush said he had ordered military forces to Panama to "protect the lives of American citizens" and bring Noriega "to justice".

The announcement came days after Panamanian forces killed an American serviceman. At the time, Noriega was also facing a US indictment for drug-trafficking, as well as claims he had rigged a 1989 election.

Operation Just Cause, as it was dubbed by the US, saw more than 20,000 US troops invade the country and seize control of key military installations.

More:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50837024

[Judi Lynn]

1. Wikipedia: The Panama Deception

The Panama Deception is a 1992 American documentary film that won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.[1] The film is critical of the actions of the U.S. military during the 1989 invasion of Panama, covering the conflicting reasons for the invasion. It also highlighted media bias within the United States, showing events that were unreported or systematically misreported, including downplaying the number of civilian casualties. It was directed by Barbara Trent, written and edited by David Kasper, and narrated by actress Elizabeth Montgomery. It was a production of the Empowerment Project.

The film asserts that the U.S. government invaded Panama primarily to destroy the PDF, the Panamanian Defense Forces, who were perceived as a threat to U.S. control over Panama, and to install a government friendly to U.S. interests. The film includes footage of mass graves uncovered after the American troops had withdrawn, burned down neighborhoods, as well as depictions of some of the 20,000 refugees who fled the fighting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Panama_Deception

[Judi Lynn]

2. Panama declares day of mourning for US invasion anniversary

Updated 3:47 pm CST, Wednesday, December 18, 2019



Photo: Arnulfo Franco, AP
FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2011 file photo, a man holds a Panamanian flag as he visits the graves of people who died during the Dec. 1989 U.S. military invasion that ousted Panama's former strongman Manuel Noriega, at the Jardin de Paz cemetery in Panama City. Panama declared a day of national mourning for Friday, Dec. 19, 2019, the 30th anniversary of the U.S. invasion which ousted dictator Manuel Noriega.


PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panama declared a day of national mourning for Friday, the 30th anniversary of the U.S. invasion that ousted dictator Manuel Noriega and resulted in hundreds of deaths in the Central American nation.

The measure approved Wednesday by members of President Laurentino Cortizo’s Cabinet, a first for the country, has been a main demand of relatives of those killed in the military operation, who see it as a symbolic step toward justice for the deaths of Panamanian civilians and soldiers.

It calls for Panamanian flags to fly at half-mast on the anniversary, but not for obligatory closure of businesses and government offices.

“For 30 years Panamanian society has waited for the lives of those who died or were wounded during the invasion of Panamanian territory in 1989 to be honored,” the office of the presidency said via Twitter.

More:
https://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Panama-declares-day-of-mourning-for-US-invasion-14916637.php

[Judi Lynn]

3. Panamanians honor victims of US invasion on 30th anniversary

By JUAN ZAMORANO, Associated Press
Dec. 20, 2019 Updated: Dec. 20, 2019 1:24 p.m.

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Relatives of Panamanians killed during the 1989 U.S. invasion brought flowers to their loved ones’ graves Friday to honor their memory on the 30th anniversary of the military action that ousted then-dictator Manuel Noriega.

President Laurentino Cortizo took part in the solemn event at the Jardin de Paz cemetery in the capital, where about 130 of those killed in the invasion are buried. In the afternoon, demonstrators marched through the center of the city to the neighborhood of El Chorrillo, which was devastated by bombs three decades ago.

“What we have to be doing is seeking the truth,” Cortizo said, “so that the families of the many disappeared know where their loved ones’ remains are.”

According to official figures, 514 Panamanians including both soldiers and civilians died in the invasion, though human rights groups say the losses were greater. On the U.S. side, 23 troops were killed.

Read more: https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/world/article/Panamanians-honor-victims-of-US-invasion-on-30th-14922469.php#photo-18787177

[dware]

4. I was involved in this,

I was with the Marine Fleet Antiterrorism Security Teams that went ashore, this was my 3rd time in combat.