Operation Just Cause

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During the 1980s, just after the Cold War began to wind down and only six weeks after the collapse of the Berlin Wall, tensions between the United States and Panama were growing to an all time high. The United States had a history of intervening on behalf of the region in order to help ensure stability long before the Panama Canal was created. Due to threats from Panama’s leader against, not only, the United States, but also the viability of the region through the peaceful operation of the canal, the United States stepped-in to intervene once again. Operation JUST CAUSE was born and has become one of the shortest, successful, yet complicated conflicts in United Stated history. During the 24-hour conflict, it was the significant amount of organization, planning and swift execution between Joint Operations that eradicated Panama from their ruthless leader Noriega.
Operation JUST CAUSE was a conflict that ensued between the United States and Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) led by Manuel Antonio Noriega. Between 1987 and 1989, there was a steady shift in U.S. foreign policy due to the constant problems with the Panamanian military and its political climate (Grant, 1992, p. v). In 1977, the United State’s original intention was to sign over sovereignty of the Panama Canal to Panama in its entirety by the year 2000 in order to help stabilize the nation while improving the anti-American sentiment within the country. By the late 1980s, Noriega became heavily involved in drug trafficking. It was evident that the US’s strategy to build stability within the country through the treaty was threatened. The United States attempted to indict Noriega on drug charges as well as imposed sanctions on the country – neither, which was succe...

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... troops from the 82nd Airborne Division, 75th Ranger Regiment, and five Battalions worth of Special Operations Forces (SOF). A second wave of another 7,000 troops followed, which consisted of the 7th ID and the 16th MP Brigade. The end state of OPLAN 90-2 was to engage and/or seize 27 predetermined targets. Nearly half of the targets were to be assaulted concurrently, the other half were to be seized within hours later. The swift apprehension of these targets would allow the US to takeover Noriega’s forces and control the country within 24 hours.

Works Cited

United States Army Center of Military History (CMH). (2006). Operation Just Cause: The
Incursion into Panama [Data file]. CMH Publication 70-85-1. Retrieved from http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Just%20Cause/JustCause.htm Grant, Rebecca. (1992). Operation Just Cause and the U.S. Policy Process.

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