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8/7/2019 Bush and the Invasion of Panama
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4/5/20
POLS 4339: U.S.-Latin American
Relations
Professor Schmidt
Spring 2011
April 6: Bush and the Invasion of
Panama (Study Guide 25)
This material will be on the second
exam.
(Q1) Background
Panamas very existence is due to U.S.
Relatively prosperous
But widespread resentment
Also major class and racial cleavages:
Small mostly white elite: cosmopolitan & wealthy
Black and indigenous majority
(Q2) In 1968 General Omar Torrijos took power.
Reformist military not tied to traditional elite.
Paid particular attention to people outside of major cities.
His major accomplishment was the negotiation of the
Panama Canal Treaty (1977).
Specter of riots during the 1960s.
Temporary seat on U.N. Security Council.
Expanded ties to Cuba.
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(Q3) Manuel Noriega:
Protg of Torrijos
Chief of intelligence
Torrijos killed in suspicious plane crash 1981
Noriega gained control of National Guard (renamed
Panamanian Defense Forces) in 1983.
Became de facto ruler of Panama.
Populist political orientation like Torrijos
Links to U.S.
Evidence that on CIA payroll in 1970s
Cooperated with Reagan against Sandinistas in Nicaragua
during 1980s.
Also became involved in money laundering and with
Medelln cartel in 1980s.
The U.S. tolerated these illicit activities in exchange for
support of its anti-communist policies.
(Q3) Estrangement from the U.S.
1987 denounced by second-in-command (Gen. Roberto Daz
Herrera) for electoral fraud, corruption, assassination of
opponents.
1988 indicted by U.S. grand jury for protecting Medelln
cartel.X
Shortly after the indictment, President Eric Arturo Delvalle
dismissed Noriega from command of PDF; Delvalle soon
replaced by pro-Noriega legislature.
All of this happened as the Cold War was coming to an end,
making Noriega expendable.
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U.S. Sanctions Against Noriega:
Continued to recognize Delvalle government.
U.S. payments deposited in escrow.
Panamanian GDP contracts by 15.8% in 1988.
Sanctions very effective because Panama so dependent.
There were also covert CIA plots against Noriega.
(Q5) The Panamanian President Election (May 1989)
Quick count: Carlos Duque (pro-Noriega) lost to Guillermo
Endara (opposition) 3:1
Official results favored Noriega
Opposition denounced fraud, calls for international
intervention
Dignity Battalions went on rampage; beat up the
opposition vice-presidential candidate, Billy Ford.
Reaction of the OAS
Denounced result but reluctant to support military
intervention
Dispatched mission to negotiate a peaceful transition of
power
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(Q6) December 1989
Noriega formally became president (12-15-89)
National Assembly declared war on U.S. (12-15-89)
Panamanian Defense Force fired on U.S. officers, killing 1
(12-16-89)
U.S. invaded (12-20-89)
Note the different takes on Bush by Weeks (overcoming the
wimp factor) and Robert Pastor in video (pushed to invade).
The Invasion
23 U.S. soldiers killed
Civilian death toll probably higher than official figures
According to U.S. 202 Panamanian civilians killed
Probably at least 300
Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark at least a
thousand
Some slum areas (Chorillo & San Miguelito) were bombed
Condemned by most Latin American countries, the OAS, and
the UN.
Noriega surrounded in Papal Nuncio and surrendered after
psychological pressure (see video).
(Q7) Impacts
Popular in U.S.; very unpopular in Latin America
Minimal impact on illicit drugs
Economic recovery; international trade center
Successful transfer of canal
Panamanian democracy did become broader and more
institutionalized:
Mireya Moscoso (1999)
Martin Torrijos (2004)
Ricardo Martinelli (2009)
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(Q8) Legacy of the Cold War (Discussion)