Bush and the Invasion of Panama

8/7/2019 Bush and the Invasion of Panama

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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)

Bush and the Invasion of Panama

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