Operation Just Cause
analytical Essay
1280 words
Observing the political path of Manuel Noriega from being a paid CIA operative and ally of the American government, to military governor of Panama, to ousted dictator, to convicted American prisoner, exposes a series of political interactions that culminated in Operation Just Cause on December 20, 1989. Coming in the shadow of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and preceding Operation Desert Storm, this brief military action is often overshadowed by the other world conflicts of the time. How does a county the size of America justify invasion of the tiny Panamanian isthmus? How does a dictator such as Manuel Noriega justify declaring war on the United States. Given the great disparity between these two nations, understanding these questions can help interpret their nature. In order to answer these questions, the events leading up to the violent confrontation help establish each nations’ political position and offer insight into their own justifications to engage in military action. The realist and Marxist political perspective theories can be used by analyzing and different levels the justification of armed action involving these two nations.
Throughout the 1970s and early 80s, Manuel Noriega was an asset to the United States as he worked closely with the Central Intelligence Agency (The Associated Press). As Noriega’s political strength increased in the early 80s, so did the tensions with the Reagan Administration. These increased tensions led to increasing encounters between Noriega’s Panama Defense Forces and American servicemen and civilians stationed in Panama (Phillips). According to the U.S. Army Center of Military History, “there were over 300 incidences of U.S. military personnel and family members' having experienced...
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...including removing Noriega and his regime from power and re-establishing a democratic government, which may be justifiable from an American perspective, however the 20,000 displaced Panamanian citizens may not concur (Phillips). So justification is subjective only to one’s perspective.
Works Cited
Mingst, Karen A. Essentials of International Relations. New York : W.W. Norton & Co., 2008.
Operation Just Cause. 06 April 2012 .
Phillips, R. Cody. "Operation Just Cause: The Incursion into Panama." 1990.
Rosenthal, Andrew. "The Attack: U.S. Troops Gain Wide Control in Panama." The New York Times 21 December 1989.
The Associated Press. Key dates for ex-Panama dictator Manuel Noriega. 27 April 2010. 7 April 2012 .
In this essay, the author
- Explains that military leaders changed the name of operation just cause because they thought it appeared facile and did not describe the essence of the military operation.
- Explains mingst, karen a. essentials of international relations. new york : w.w. norton & co.
- Analyzes the political path of manuel noriega from being a paid cia operative to military governor of panama, to ousted dictator, and convicted american prisoner.
- Argues that operation just cause had more radical theories behind from the american perspective. the panama canal is critical to the support of the united states economy.
- Cites rosenthal, andrew, and the associated press. key dates for ex-panama dictator manuel noriega.
Related
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In this essay, the author
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- Analyzes how noreiga's orders to organize drug trafficking and support the nicaraguan sandinista rebels ensured that the canal, a cocaine pipeline that funded so many cia black ops around the world, was unfettered.
- Explains that the pentagon spokesman featured in the film denied observers claims of soldiers firing upon civilians and residential and commercial real estate, asserting that united states forces only targeted panamanian defense forces and military facilities. the government-driven mainstream media concealed the operation’s failure to install democracy in panama.
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the united states has carried a tainted record in conducting just operations involving regime changes.
- Explains that operation just cause was the invasion of panama by the united states in december 1989. it was spearheaded by president george h. w. bush and its goal was to replace general noriega with guillermo endara.
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- Opines that the united states followed the principles of just war theory when they invaded panama to replace general noriega's regime.
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- Explains that the first rule under jus ad bellum that must be satisfied is just cause.
- Explains that the u.s. was justified in invading panama based on the principle of aggression.
- Explains that the u.s. had the right intention in invading panama, mainly for the defense of their people and to uphold the rights of others in response to the aggression from noriega.
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- Explains that the fourth rule that must be satisfied under jus ad bellum is last resort. the u.s. made the just decision in going to war after years of diplomatic efforts to obtain peace.
- Explains that the united states had the advantage of planning the invasion and superior military technology over noriega and his soldiers.
- Explains that proportionality is the last rule that needed to be met in order to show that the u.s. resorted to war in a just manner.
- Opines that the controversy over the number of civilian casualties should not obscure the important debate on the manner in which those people died.
- Analyzes how walzer responds to the claims on proportionality by asking how to measure the value of a country's independence against defeating an aggressive regime.
- Explains that the united states followed the principles of jus in bello, which is adhering to the right conduct in the midst of battle.
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- Analyzes the historical significance of the noriega story through the context of american foreign diplomacy. america never had a clear outline or strategy of what it wanted accomplished.
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