Why Did America's Operation JUST Cause?

During the decade of the 80’s the government of United Stated of America launched Operation JUST CAUSE to removed General Manuel Antonio Noriega from power, safe guard the canal of Panama and restore a diplomatic government. United States government deployed around 30,000 troops to end the mission in a reasonable time. During the 60’s decade General Manuel Antonio Noriega Rosa was part of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Drug Enforcement Administration officer. General Noriega became friend with the Medellin cartel and began to conduct business with them. The association of the two allowed General Noriega to create an empire, utilizing the canal for drugs and weapons trafficking. General Noriega’s was collaborating with United States government and the Medellin’s cartel at the same time, cultivating gains of millions of
dollars. After the death of General Torrijos, former Panama President, General Noriega assume the command of the Panamanian Defense Force (PDF). In 1985 the National Security Advisor to President Ronal, Reagan warn General Noriega about his monopoly of power and involvement in drug trades. The first public confrontation between General Noriega and United States government took place in 1987. A former chief of staff of the Panamanian Defense Force (PDF) Accused General Noriega of complicity in the death of former president General Torrijos, electoral fraud and the murder of a leader of Noriega’s political opposition. The Government of United States order General Noriega to Stand down and return the power to the elected president. General Noriega continued with his government and decide to harass United States citizens in Panama. General Noriega turn to Cuba, Nicaragua and Libya for economic and military assistance, in return General Noriega allowed them to use the canal for weapons and instructors to panama to help General Noriega to created civilians defense committees, calling them dignity battalions for intelligence and population control. General Noriega received twenty million dollars from Libya, in return general Noriega granted permission to use the canal as a base to coordinate the activities for terrorist and insurgent attacks. On December 15 1989 General Noriega declared state of war between Panama and United states, after President Bush published that we would not negotiate with drug traffickers.
The following day four U.S. personnel were driving in Panama City after a wrong turn, they found themselves in front of la Comandancia (PDF) headquarters. The Panamanian Defense Force stopped the car and tried to get the officers outside the car, they sped up and reached another PDF check point in which Soldiers fired at them, hitting three of the four officers. During the confrontation one Navy officer resulted dead. On December 15, 1989 President George W. Bush order operation JUST CAUSE to begin, deploying around 30,000 troops. During the assault, troops destroyed General Noriega’s private jet and Personal gun boat to prevent the scape. U.S. Soldiers attacked la Comandancia headquarters and Punta Hatilla airport. During the attack the staff reported 19 killed in action and 325 wounded for the U. S. troops. For the PDF 297 killed in action, 123 wounded and 467 detained. Three U.S. helicopters (little birds) were downed during the
attack. General Noriega escaped from the attack and hide for several days, realizing he only had few options, he decided to find refuge in a diplomatic Vatican mission in Panama. Unites States government localized General Noriega few days after the attack, the government tried to stablish communications with the Vatican but it was unsuccessful due to Christmas holydays. The strategy utilized by the U.S. government was criticized by the media, playing loud rock music 24 hours without interruption to avoid communications between General Noriega and the PDF. Media said that the government was using the music as a psychological weapon. General Noriega, surrender to United States military on 3 January 1990. After the arrest the general was moved to Unites States soil in which he was charged with drug trafficking and money laundering. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison. The operation was a success from the beginning, the canal was return to the Panama’s government, and President Guillermo Andara was return to power days later after the arrest. “Operation JUST CAUSE validated that what we are doing is right and that the training program is exactly as it should be. Our training program paid off in spades in Panama and that’s the reason you saw the discipline, the efficiency, the effectiveness and the proficiency that was demonstrate by our troops. JUST CAUSE was a joint operation in every sense of the word.” (General Stiner, 26 February 1990, ARMY Times)