In the Aftermath of War: U.S. Support for Reconstruction and Nation-Building in Panama Following Just Cause
Abstract
What factors led to the decision to use force in Panama? President George Bush listed four reasons: to protect American citizens abroad, to defend democracy in Panama, to combat drug trafficking, and to protect the integrity of the Panama Canal treaties. For Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Colin Powell, six criteria had to be satisfied: Was there sufficient provocation? Powell thought yes. Has the PDF (Panamanian Defense Force) changed and gone out of control? Again yes. Would Blue Spoon (the military plan for intervention) resolve the problem? Yes. would the plan minimize damage and casualties? Yes. Would it bring democracy? Yes. And public and press reaction? Probably positive. These statements coincide with four guidelines for using force in the aftermath of the cold war detailed in chapter 1. First, there was an identifiable threat to US interests on three counts. The killing of a US Marine officer on 16 December 1989 and the physical abuse of a Navy lieutenant and his wife had put Americans at risk. Noriega and the Panamanian Defense Force (PDF) appeared to be going out of control. By extension, this situation was seen as threatening the Panama Canal. PDF violence might put the canal at risk. Finally, there was Noriega's involvement in international drug trade, an increasingly important US national security issue. However, the decision to intervene entailed more than the defense of US interests. It included the normative objective of supporting democratization in Panama.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA269074
Entities
People
- Richard H. Shultz Jr.
Organizations
- Air University