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About:
In December of 1989, the president of the United States, George Bush, ordered 24,000 American soldiers to invade Panama and capture the president at the time, Manuel Noriega. Noriega was a drug trafficker who took over the Panamanian military rule after the death of former leader, Omar Torrijos. Hundreds of Panamanian civilians died during the invasion and it was seen as a violation of international law, but the United States carried through for the sole mission of capturing Noriega. ("Manuel Noriega"). Theodore Roosevelt and Jimmy Carter both created treaties with Panama construction and control of the Panama Canal, but political troubles began to arise after the Carter treaty, causing the US to alter their opinions. The new leader of the Panama military was Manuel Noriega, and he wanted his military to be the strongest, so he sided with drug traffickers to increase his army. Noriega was indicted a few years later for drug trafficking but refused to follow the United States' orders, causing "Operation Just Cause" to be put into action to capture Noriega and put him into custody for his crimes (all "Panama Invasion). "Operation Just Cause" was a quick operation, lasting a little over a month, and successful because of the capture of Noriega, who is now serving his 40 year sentence in Miami ("Military.com Resources").
Timeline:
December 1989- Bush orders soldiers to invade Panama and capture Noriega in "Operation Just Cause ("Manuel Noriega").
January 3, 1990- Noriega surrenders at the US Embassy and is taken into custody 30 minutes later by the DEA ("Edge of War - Taking Down Noriega (Full Episode)").