Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - History Other Operation Just Cause Operation Just Cause In 1988 relations with Panama and the U.S. Deteriorated. The commander of Southern Command, Gen. Frederick F. Woerner increased the number and strength of U.S. forces in Panama. This was in hopes of deterring the dictator, Noriega, from attacking U.S. citizens or the Panama Canal. Noriega overturned the results of the election of May 1989. President Bush was very upset, as a result Bush replaced Gen. Woerner with Gen. Thurman. Forces continued to buildup and Gen. Thurman pushed for even more troops. He received an additional taskforce of 22,000 soldiers, 3,400 airmen, 900 Marines, and 700 sailors. A fighting force this size could easily and quickly achieve operational objectives. Relations with Panama grew even worse. Noriega named himself “Maximum Leader”. And on December 15 1989 a state of war was declared with the United States. Not many people know this but Noriega actually declared war on the United States. A Panamanian soldier shot three American officers. On December 17, after reviewing the Facts, President Bush decided to act. Operation Just Cause began first thing December 20. Special forces attacked key installations in Panama that day. U.S. troops moved in to Panama City, to secure the U.S. Embassy and other strong holds. A battle between the Panimanian Defense Force and U.S. troops erupted in the city. The U.S. captured the Panimanian Defense Force (PDF) headquarters within three hours. As Noriega went into hiding and the PDF headquarters was overtaken the PDF collapsed. The remaining PDF were only in small pockets witch were taken out with little if any problems. Objectives to be secured were not only military bases and strongholds, but one objective was to liberate the Marriot Hotel. This was to ensure that no Americans would be taken hostage. Noriega was found hiding in a diplomatic compound called the Papal Nunciatura. U.S. troops played loud rock music to try to get him out. Unfortunately the only response were complaints from the Vatican and diplomatic community to Pres. Bush. Noriega was eventually captured and brought back to Florida for trial. Why Did we get involved? The panama area and specifically the canal are very important economic as well as strategic location. At the time the US still had juestiction over the canal area, and it is always important to protect what is physical property of our country. The United States was also in the midst of a long standing drug war. With Noriega in power this vital location would allow an easy transportation rout to be established, as well as money laundering opportunities. In theory one may dispute that this war was just a practice round for the Gulf War. This may seem obserd however marines who fought in panama would also later fight in the Gulf giving the marines a leg up with real battle experience. Not only that but the new hugely successful humvee mechanized calvary unites were used giving needed experience to a soldier who would use this weapon for how knows how many years to come. We got a lot out of this war that only the battle field can teach. It was unfortunate that the United States had to fight this war. But it gave american boys real battlefield experience which no amount of money can buy in training. Fighting this war also showed the world that the US would defend its positions, fight an unmoral dictator and succeed. This is especially important with the fall of the Berlin wall, breaking up the Warsaw Pact and eventually the fall of the Soviet Union. The US showed that even though there aren’t 2 superpowers ruling the world there will always be the United States fighting for what’s “right.” Bibliography: Word Count: 612
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