BACKGROUND : In 1970, Noriega, was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to aid in the U.S. struggle against the spread of communism in Central America. Late in the 1970s, Noriega was involved in drug trafficking and he was removed from the CIA payroll in 1977. After the Marxist Sandinista government came to power in 1979, Noriega was brought back onboard CIA payroll as an aide to the US Government. In 1983, he was proclaimed military dictator of Panama. Then in 1984, Noriega committed fraud in Panama’s presidential election in favor of Nicolás Ardito Barletta, who became a puppet president for Noriega. In 1986, just before the Iran-Contra affair broke, allegations concerning Noriega’s history as a drug trafficker, money launderer, and CIA employee came into light. The U.S. government once again removed Noriega from the payroll, and in 1988 he was indicted by federal grand juries in on drug-smuggling and money-laundering charges. President George H.W. Bush ordered a build-up of U.S. troops in the Panama Canal Zone. On December 17, 1989, President Bush authorized Operation Just Cause (OJC) to overthrow Noriega. On December 20, 9,000 troops joined the 12,000 personnel already in Panama and were met with scattered resistance from the Panamanian Defense Force (PDF). By December 24, the PDF was crushed, and the United States held most of the country. Endara was made president by U.S. forces, and he ordered the PDF dissolved. On January 3, 1990, Noriega was arrested by U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agents.
INFRASTRUCTURE : The nation's infrastructure is relatively well developed. Roads in the urban areas are generally good, but in the rural areas of the nation they remain poor. The canal is capable of large ocean liner cargo travel and the port at Panama City is fully developed. There are 220 miles of railroad in the country but there are only two MSRs. Panama has five international airports. Panama has over 100 total airports and the Canal Zone airport (was Howard AFB, but renamed Enrique A. Jimenez International Airport) is C-5 capable. The largest is Tocumen International Airport (see Figure 1).
TERRAIN : Panama is a country located in Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica. Panama is located on the narrow and low Isthmus of Panama. This S-shaped isthmus is situated between 7° and 10° north latitude and 77° and 83° west longitude. Panama encompasses approximately 29,762 mi2, is 480 mi in length, and is between 37 and 110 mi in width. The area of focus is largely rolling hills with some plains, both filled with a mixture of tropical jungle and some scrubland vegetation.
WEATHER : Panama has a tropical climate. Temperatures are uniformly high, as is the relative humidity. There is little seasonal variation because of its proximity to the equator. A typical dry-season day in the capital city has early morning min. around 75 °F and the afternoon max. 84 °F. It has a long rainy season (May – January) and a short dry season (January – May).
DEMOGRAPHICS : The total population of Panama for this period is approximately 2,233,000, with the culture, customs, and language of Panama being predominantly Caribbean Spanish. The main ethnic groups are the Ngäbe (Guaymi) at 64% and the Kuna being 25% of the entire population. Panama has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and dedicates substantial funding to social programs, yet poverty and inequality remain prevalent overall.
ECONOMY : US economic sanctions, including elimination of sugar quotas and a trade embargo, contributed to Panama's economic decay in 1988. Unemployment is 23%, and underemployment affects over 1/3rd of the work force. Industries are manufacturing & construction activities, oil refining, cement and other construction material, sugar mills, paper products. Agriculture includes cash crops such as bananas, sugarcane, and coffee.
Figure 1: Military Installations in Panama at the time of the Invasion
TIMELINE :
September 1987
US Senate passes resolution urging Panama to re-establish a civilian government. Panama protests alleged US violations of the Torrijos–Carter Treaties
November 1987
US Senate resolution cuts military and economic aid to Panama. Panamanians adopt resolution restricting US military presence
February 1988
Noriega indicted on drug-related charges by US Attorneys. US forces begin planning contingency operations in Panama (OPLAN Blue Spoon)
March 1988
March 15: First deployment of additional US forces to Panama begins providing additional security to US installations in Panama
March 16: PDF officers attempt a coup against Noriega
April 1988
Regan administration imposes economic sanctions on Panama
April 5: Additional US forces deployed to provide additional security
April 9: Joint Task Force Panama activated
May 1989
May 7: Civilian elections are held in Panama; opposition alliance tally shows their candidate, Guillermo Endara, beating Noriega's candidate, Carlos Duque, by a 3 to 1 margin. The election is later declared invalid by Noriega
May 10: President George H.W. Bush orders 1,900 additional combat troops to Panama
May 22: Convoys conducted to assert US freedom of movement in and around Panama. Additional transport units travel from bases in the territorial US to bases in Panama, and back, for this express purpose
June–September 1989
U.S. begins conducting joint training and freedom of movement exercises Additional transport units continue repeatedly traveling from bases in the territorial US to bases in Panama, and back, for this express purpose
October 1989
October 3: PDF, loyal to Noriega, defeat second coup attempt
December 1989
December 15: Noriega refers to himself as leader of Panama and declares that the US is in a state of war with Panama
December 16: U.S. Marine Lieutenant Robert Paz shot and killed by PDF. One Marine wounded and a Navy lieutenant and wife detained and molested by PDF
December 17: NCA directs execution of Operation Just Cause
December 18: Joint Task Force South (JTFSO) advance party deploys. JCS designates D-Day/H-Hour as 0100, 20 December 1989
December 19: U.S. forces alerted, marshalled, and launched
D-Day, 0100 20 December 1989 (See Figure 2)
U.S. invasion of Panama begins. The operation was conducted as a campaign with limited military objectives. JTFSO objectives in PLAN 90-2 were to: protect U.S. lives and key sites and facilities, capture and deliver Noriega to competent authority, neutralize PDF forces, neutralize PDF command and control, support establishment of a U.S.-recognized government in Panama, and restructure the PDF.
Figure 2: US Military and their Objectives
January 3, 1990 (D-Day + 14)
Noriega surrenders to U.S. forces
January 31, 1990 (D-Day + 42)
Operation Just Cause ends
ACTIONS
Two Ranger BNs seized Rio Hato Airfield and another Ranger BN seized Tocumen Airfield
One BN from the 82nd ABN DIV and the 7th ID HQ land at Fort Sherman and attack Colón
TF Bayonet attack multiple targets around Panama City
TF Atlantic attacks El Renacer Prison to free political prisoners there
TF Semper Fidelis secures Bridge of the Americas across the canal and Howard AFB
TF Pacific attacks targets around Tocumen AF
TF Blue attacks and secures Paitilla Airfield where Noriega kept his private leer jet
TF Green attacked Modelo Prison to rescue Kurt Muse, a radio broadcaster accused by Noriega of operating an underground propaganda radio station that cost him the election
OUTCOMES
The entire operation went as planned. The only hang up was the CIA/NSA tracking team that was responsible for keeping track of Noriega lost him at 1800 on December 19. TF Green raided all of Noriega’s hideouts, but were unsuccessful at capturing him. Noriega turned himself in four days later on 24 December. A total of 3 American Soldiers and 3 civilians died, with 324 wounded. 314 PDF troops were killed and approximately 300 Panamanian citizens lost their lives
LESSONS & SIGNIFICANCE
What we learned from OJC was a successful coordination between all parties involved creates a nearly seamless execution of the plan. OJC was a successful employment of 27,000 US Servicemembers with only 23 fatalities. This staggering number was a direct result of the due diligence of the planers involved.