Why did the United States invade Panama in 1989?

Hiber

Several reasons. One because Panamian Dictator Manuel Noriega was threating the death of 35'000 Americans also because the Panama Canal had become the cetre of drrug trafficing at the time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_invasion_of_Panama#Justification_for_the_invasion Jan 22 09, 7:40 PM

looney_tunes

The official United States justification for the invasion was articulated by President George H. W. Bush on the morning of December 20, a few hours after the start of the operation. * Safeguarding the lives of U.S. citizens in Panama * Defending democracy and human rights in Panama * Combating drug trafficking * Protecting the integrity of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties about the transfer of control over the Panama Canal from the US to Panama The first two statements are pretty much stock standard justifications for the invasion of any country. The third ignores the long-time relationship of Noriega with the US government, during which time he was officially working against drug trafficking while being known to be involved himself. Criminal charges relating to this were laid several times in US courts, then dropped when he 'cooperated'. Only the fourth reason, regarding concern at the loss of control over the Panama Canal Zone (which had ceased to officially exist in 1979), was probably a significant factor in the actual decision. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_invasion_of_Panama#Justification_for_the_invasion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal_Zone Jan 23 09, 12:02 AM