U.S. Intervention in Panama - Essay Example

This of course is a tapestry of stories that was later on exposed, together with the hubris of a presidency that did not want to be humiliated. Manuel Noriega swiftly came to power after a series of effective endeavors that included among other things being a confidant of no less than the United States government. He had strong ties with the government by proving himself a worthy ally and asset during the tension between the US and the then equally powerful USSR. Throughout the feud, Noriega became a trusted source that his link to the country was directly through the Central Intelligence Agency that was headed by George H. W. Bush himself.

Noriega came to power with his strong U.S. support after the death of Omar Torrijos which was just in time after he no longer has the superpower’s favour. Manuel Noriega remained included in the payroll of the agency and this very influence has led him to amass the confidence of many important people that apparently included drug dealers in lieu of their exportation transactions. He “was seen as a valuable "asset," as a ruthless man whose loyalty could be bought, who would do whatever was needed to serve U.S. interests” (Revcom.us). .

The Panama Canal serves as the gateway to a greater presence in South America and directly to Asia. Originally under the control of Colombia, the United States grabbed control in the early 1900s and established bases in it. After the Second World War the SOUTHCOM, responsible for intelligence and other schemes, created its epicenter there. Led by the tyrannical government of Noriega the suffering of the people Panama and especially of American residents was used to justify the need for his deposition.

Among other things, “He was involved in drug trafficking, arms smuggling, money laundering, and the ruthless oppression of his people. He also systematically violated the American-Panamanian Canal treaties and harassed U.S. forces and institutions in Panama” (Gilboa, p.539). The media played an important role in the execution of Operation Just Cause as utilized advantageously by the Bush government and it was the same venue that candidly exposed the controversies of the issue. It is by the very image of the president as a ‘wimp’ because of his inability to deal with the Panamanian dictator despite serious allegations of drug trafficking and other oppressions that further agitated George H.W. Bush’s presidency.

The final thread that validated the Panama invasion and its popular acceptance was the death of a Marine Lieutenant which was depicted as a definitive demonstration of unprovoked oppression. But this claim was soon probed by the media such as the Los Angeles Times that exposed that the marine actually belonged to a rogue group whose primary function was to rouse trouble that will ultimately provoke the PDF. This group, called ‘Hard Chargers,’ systematically engaged in acts and stratagems that will agitate the Panama