Customer Reviews

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

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1 star:		(9)

 

 

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.

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.

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".

Well,I really am speechless at the level of bull. As gunner in the lead aircraft on the initial assault and a key participant in the police actions thereafter, it pains me to see such false accusations of attrocities. In actuality the Battalion 2000, Guardia National and PDF were burning homes and killing civilians in hopes of turning the public against the troops. Troops had also setup firing positions in apartment buildings and other structures that were poorly constructed. True there were indviduals who acted inappropriately as there were many friendly fire incidents that luckily did not end up as catastrophes. Despite the glint tape, I personally was faced with the decision of not returning fire on US troops who engaged our aircraft (I won't mention any names but those who were there know exactly who I am referring to) despite a direct order to return fire, I chose not to as I had positively identified the target, we had the advantage of firepower and could climb out of small arms range. Also after the initial phase of the invasion US aircraft were used to medevac the wounded Panamanians to Cocosolo hospital and holding facility where humanitarian aid was given. We even had the task of guarding the very enemy soldiers that we wounded in the taking of the compound. This proves that there are professionals out there that this book insults with its release. If they want to slam someone slam the media for giving away the operation well in advance of it's execution. Or the mastermind that took our ammo away and forced us to play show and tell with empty weapons a week into the operation. They obviously didn't notice that the El Salvadorian Mechanizados had joined the fray evidenced by a V300 we knocked out the night before that was shooting into houses. In that situation a national was on the phone guiding us to the target. That is a bit of history that sets the mood for my disagreement and hopefully clarifies the perspective. I agree with the previous post that the author owes all the servicemen and women who participated in the operation an apology.

As a former military officer and unit commander serving in Panama during Operation Just Cause, I have no idea where the author obtained the "facts" for this publication. I have lived in Panama for three years, worked on the US-sponsored program to help rebuild the Panamanian economy post-Just Cause, have done business in the region for ten years, my wife is originally from Panama and I know Panamanians who both supported and opposed the US action. The vast majority of Panamanians I have encountered have nothing but praise for US efforts both during and after Just Cause.

I see some liberal whack jobs will believe anything as long as it paints us in a bad light. I have to wonder why some people are so ready to believe dirt and so quick to reject truth. I was stationed there in the finest military organization that I ever had the HONOR (a word that liberals have to look up in a dictionary) to serve with. Troopers from the 193rd were injured risking their lives to save civilians that were taking fire from the PDF and DigBats. I was there, I know it because I fired on those that were firing on the civilians. The Panamanian people by and large loved us. I was treated to home cooked food and smiles the entire operation. And when everyone went home-reporters included-and forgot about the operation my brothers and I were still there. Never heard of any mass killings by any one but their own people.

I am sorry so many people were offended by the book, but the truth is the truth. My family lives in Panama- not on a military base- but as Panamanian nationals and they have witnessed these things first hand that the media doesn't cover. Of course the US media is not going to display it's military killing civilians- innocent poor people- they targeted the poorest areas. There are plenty of PANAMANIANS with missing limbs who can tell you all about it. Wake up!

As an officer in SouthCom here in Miami, who participated in Operation Just Cause, I can only say that there were some soldiers who showed a lack of professional discipline while the invasion took place. This book goes too far, however, in labeling the entire campaign as criminal.

If you need a place to start when researching the United States invasion of Panama, the is a terriffic primary source.

I've known a lot of Panamanians who experienced the invasion first hand, and I'm married to one. I have been to Panama many times. Sorry to all those who hate the US and the US military, but the invasion was pretty innocuous...as invasions go. One Panamanian told me the worst part afterwards was the curfew because some people got stuck in discos overnight. My wife said the soldiers were very nice, and they gave a lot of their MREs away. She also said a lot of babies were conceived during the occupation because many of the women wanted an American father. Not exactly the sort of thing that happens when a populace hates the occupiers. Sure some people died in the invasion, but if anyone cares to recall, Noriega declared war on the US! Our soldiers are brave people, and they aren't the Viking barbarians who pillage, plunder, and kill innocent civilians. On the other side, I have yet to meet one Panamanian who doesn't despise Noriega and his Batallones de la Dignidad.