The Complex Legacy of Bush's Invasion of Panama

In December 1989, then-President George H.W. Bush made the controversial decision to invade Panama in an effort to capture dictator Manuel Noriega. The operation, known as Operation Just Cause, had a number of intended goals, but its outcomes were a mix of successes and failures.

One of the main reasons cited for the invasion was Noriega's involvement in drug trafficking, which was seen as a threat to the United States. Noriega's surrender and subsequent imprisonment in the US was seen as a success in that regard, as it removed a major player in the drug trade from power.

However, despite Noriega's capture, drug trafficking did not decrease as expected. In fact, some argue that his imprisonment only led to more drugs being sent to the United States as other criminals stepped in to fill the void left by his absence.

Another goal of the invasion was to win back control of the Panama Canal, which had been under Panamanian control since the signing of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties in 1977. The successful capture of Noriega did lead to the US regaining control of the canal, which was seen as a major victory for the Bush administration.

On the other hand, Noriega's ability to close the canal before his capture was seen as a major failure of the operation. The closure had a significant impact on global trade and demonstrated the vulnerability of the canal to external threats.

Overall, the invasion of Panama had a lasting impact on US foreign policy and relations with Latin America. It highlighted the complexities of military intervention and the challenges of achieving desired outcomes in such situations.