The United States invasion of Panama, dubbed 'Operation Just Cause' by the U.S. Military, was announced by then-President George H.W. Bush on December 20, 1989, alleging concerns related to human rights and control of drug trafficking. U.S. troops successfully defeated the Panamanian army in a single day.
It took them an additional 14 days to capture Manuel Noriega, the former head of the Panamanian government.He surrendered on January 3, 1990, and was extradited to Miami to stand trial. Noriega remained in prison for the remainder of his life, facing charges that ranged from the murder of hundreds of opponents to organized crime and drug trafficking.
