The U.S. Invasion of Panama: The Truth Behind Operational 'Just Cause' [Paperback]

The Independent Commission of Inquiry on the U.S. Invasion of Panama (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

How just was operation "Just Cause," the December 20, 1989, U.S. invasion of Panama? Why was it necessary for the U.S. government to attack and destroy entire neighborhoods of the poorest Panamanians, killing and wounding thousands of innocent civilians? Why did the U.S. military lie about civilian casualties? Why did the U.S. arrest and imprison hundreds of nationalists? Why hasn't the U.S. mass media adequately brought these issues to the attention of the American public? These questions were asked in speeches made in April 1990 at a New York City rally by Panamanian eyewitnesses and victims of the invasion, speeches that comprise the second half of this disquieting volume. "Many who ran out trying to flee from the fire and the bombardment died in the streets, machine-gunned by U.S. troops," recalls Olga Mejia, president of the National Human Rights Commission of Panama, translated from the Spanish by the commission of inquiry. "Others were burned to death in their homes or killed as their homes were bombed. Dawn found many dead in the hallways of their buildings, buried under the rubble or dismembered and totally unrecognizable, either from the bombs and the flame-throwers, or because the bodies were charred or incinerated by the U.S. troops and thrown into plastic bags along with their identification and personal effects. Afterwards, the soldiers threw some of the bodies into the sea. Others were buried in common graves or right where they were found..." -- From Independent Publisher

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: South End Press (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896084078
• ISBN-13: 978-0896084070
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,061,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > History > Americas > Central America > Panama

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing to see the other side, But;.........., March 9, 2011

By 

GI Joe (Beverly, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The U.S. Invasion of Panama: The Truth Behind Operational 'Just Cause' (Hardcover)

As always with anything in life there are two sides to every story.

I was asssigned to the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg and was part of the Operation Blue Spoon and what was ultimately Operation Just Cause. I served as a Communications Chief not only as a planner but as a TACSAT (Tactical Satellite Radio Operator)for the Corps G-3 (Operations).

I did appreciate the "other side" of the story from local Panamaian Nationals but from various times in the books I found that it lacked the whole story of the PDF (Panamaian Defense Forces) as well as the Dignity Battalions and Battalion 2000 and their role during the events in the months leading up to the invasion.

I did find a that facts were either not fully researched or "grasping at straws" in certain cases with information regarding the night of the invasion.

One in particular; on page 24-25 involving the rescue of Kurt Muse. Kurt Muse was NOT rescued by the 82nd Airborne. The rescue mission was executed by Task Force 160th and Special Forces personnel. Also several key points are that this prison was on the compound of the Commandancia (PDF Headquarters)and secondly that Kurt Muse had been in the prison for over 9 months.

The reader needs to keep in mind that many events were on going that led up to the arrest of Noriega and the Operation Blue Spoon. Roadblocks by the PDF were a common place event as well as harassment by the Dignity Battalions.

Panama had many housing areas that supported the bases of the military personnel and these dependants many times were at risk due to these harassment operations.

In fact; this book "glossed over" the fact of a few nights leading up to the invasion that a group of off duty military were stopped and beaten by the PDF and one of the offiers were killed in a shooting.

This was later investigated and was verified by a Navy Lt. Commander, Adam Curtis and his whose wife Bonnie that witnessed this event. (This is a matter of Official Military record).

This book did offer both sides of the story, however; it could have been presented better if all facts were reported and thoroughly investigated to include BOTH SIDES to include the military personnel that were involved.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Difficult to rate - is this truth or fiction or both?, May 23, 2011

By 

T. White "Biophile" (Miami, Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The U.S. Invasion of Panama: The Truth Behind Operational 'Just Cause' (Paperback)

Let me just quote some of the comments I made previously on my website regarding this and some other relevant books. To begin with, this is what we saw on US television regarding the Panama Invasion: Noriega was bivouacked in a Catholic nunciature (no, I don't know what that is either) for sanctuary and the US forces attempted to drive him out by blasting Ted Nugent songs from an outdoor speaker system 24 hours a day. ) That would certainly break my will to live. (We finally gave up on this tactic at the request of the Vatican.)
At least, this is what we saw on TV in the United States. My memory of this is not perfect, but it seemed to me that this was presented to us as something in the nature of a fraternity prank. To be honest, I didn't pay much attention to it at the time. Actually, though, it was the biggest US military mobilization since the Vietnam war. There is controversy regarding civilian deaths versus Noriega's "dignity battalion" (Dingbats!) combatant deaths, but I think the best estimates are around 300 or so, including combatants. Noriega's men were responsible for some of those. Panamanians in the poor El Chorillo district lost their homes (and some of them, their lives) due to fire. The initial US attack on the headquarters of the PDF caused a few of these homes to burn, but the remainder were torched hours later by Noriega's batalloneros. Twenty-three American soldiers and three American civilians were killed. Oddly, some of these fatalities were from friendly fire. You read different books, you get different stories.
I thought that John Lindsay-Poland's book "Emperors in the Jungle" was excellent. He goes into great detail about the pollution and dangerous munitions left behind by the US military. He doesn't pull any punches and the book rings true. The 1096 page long tome by Luis Murillo "The Noriega Mess" is a fascinating read (it could be an action movie, I think) and packed information of all kinds -very well researched. Inexplicably enough, the guy holds a doctorate in aerospace engineering. His mother was head librarian at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Station, which is located on Barro Colorado Island in the Panama canal.
And now in fairness, I must report that I recently acquired an apparently out-of-print book written after the invasion by a committee (!?). It is called The Invasion of Panama - The Truth Behind Operation 'Just Cause'. The term "vitriolic" doesn't do this book's attitude justice. In it, we see the US forces as demonic monsters who charged into Panama, mowing down everyone in their path. There were either 1000, 2000, or perhaps 4000 civilian deaths. Mass graves, high caliber munitions used indiscriminately against citizens. The dignity battalions were brave Panamanian volunteers fighting to protect their country against the cruel invaders. Noriega was the victim of a US campaign to "demonize" him. El Chorillo was intentionally destroyed, apparently out of spite, by the Americans. I am no apologist for American military intervention, and protested the Vietnam war, but this scenario just doesn't ring true.
I don't know what to make of this book. If half of this stuff is true, you would think no American would dare show his face in Panama ever again. One thing I am sure of: no pipe-wielding Dingbats were charging heavily armed US military personnel. Also, I think Noriega did a pretty good job of demonizing himself. One more problem here: the reason the US invaded, according to the author(s), was to prevent the loss of the canal in 2000 and to maintain a US military presence there in perpetuity, ie., to negate the Carter treaty. So.....that sure didn't work out, did it? Americans didn't find out about all these atrocities because there was a news blackout, and on and on. I just don't know what to think. On the other hand, why would anyone make all this up? I don't know. I wasn't there. Very disturbing, especially as the authors are anonymous.

11 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Truth is The Truth, October 24, 2006

By 

T. Curry (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The U.S. Invasion of Panama: The Truth Behind Operational 'Just Cause' (Paperback)

Stationed on Howard AFB 1yr before, during and 1yr after Just Cause. This book is completely true. If you were not there and only came in for the invasion you have no idea what really went on leading up to the invasion, during the invasion, and after the invasion. There is a little thing called propoganda that the U.S. likes to use to display "Just Cause".