(no subject)
Francisco Gervacio
Overthrow Outline: Chapter 11
History 37 Honors
Chapter 11: You’re No Good
Introduction:
A. 1. Brief overview of the Panama events under George H. Bush’ s administration.
a. “The events in Panama that took place in the mid 1980s ended up with a US invasion of Panama and the overthrow of its government. How did this all start and why would the US be interested in a country such as Panama? It all begins with three key players who put the events into play.”
Body:
A. Key players who set the events.
a. The three players are General Manuel Antonio Noriega, Hugo Spadafora, and General Omar Torrijos.
1. Noriega was the commander of the Panama Defense Forces. From the streets he rose to become a collaborator with Colombia’s most powerful drug dealers as well as the US Drug Enforcement Administration; the Sadinista army in Nicaragua and the guerillas who were fighting to depose it; the CIA as well as the Cuban intelligence service. Prior to the US invasion, Noriega was extremely wealthy.
a. Noriega himself was not as imposing as his reputation would imply. According to Kinzer, Noriega “was short, stubby, had a diffident manner, a weak handshake, and a face so badly pockmarked that behind his back, people called him cara de pina-pineapple face. Although he was capable to extreme cruelty, he could collapse into tears when he thought danger was approaching.” He chose the military as his profession, and found success in counterintelligence.
2. Spadafora
a. Hugo Spadafora was the son of an Italian immigrant who owned a furniture factory. He went to a medical school in Bologna, and helped rebels in the New Guinean jungle with his medical services. He was soon jailed for helping an underground cell overthrow the Panamanian regime. General Omar Torrijos saw Hugo’s potential and offered him an ultimatum: go to prison or open a medical clinic. Hugo of course took the latter, and then rose and became director of medical services in Colón, and then the deputy minister of health.
b. Spadafora in physical terms was everything Noriega wasn’t. He was tall, fair-skinned, highly articulate, handsome, and immensely self-confident.
3. Torrijos
a. Torrijos nurtured the careers of both these men. For Torrijos, these men represented two sides of him. “[As] Spadafora was an idealist who scorned the ideologies of left to right, and looked everywhere for ideas that were practical enough to improve the lives of ordinary people,” so was Torrijos. And like Noriega, Torrijos had many enemies, and used amoral thugs like Noriega to cement his rule.
Intensified Rivalry
A. Spadafora destested Noriega
1. Torrijos, the force keeping Spadafora and Noriega from killing each other, dies.
2. Spadafora is murdered
The Panama Canal
1. The US had sovereignty over the canal, but later violence occurred as Panamanians struggled for sovereignty. When Torrijos died, and Noriega murdered Spadafora, he appealed the president of Panama, Nicolás Ardito Barletta, whom he had helped come into power. When he refused, Noriega forced him to resign.
B. More on Noriega
1. An ally and informer
a. Noriega was in the top military ranks when the CIA recognized him as an asset to the US. And since he had connections in the drug cartel industry, he would inform the Drug Enforcement Administration of valuable information. In the position, he seemed immune to anything. When he visited the US after the murder of Spadafora, he was let off the hook by the CIA director.
2. Why the US supported him
A. The US was so focused on overthrowing the Sadinistas, that they were willing to support Noriega as long as he helped the contras. The brother of Spadafora tried to get the US hold hearings on Panama, even though a man called Helms was against it on the terms that Noriega was useful and not a problem.
C. The beginning of the End
1. Media against Noriega
A. The hearings were nothing spectacular, but the following onslaught of media reports on the US’ extraordinary tolerance exposed the US to its own actions. Slowly, the movement against Noriega took hold
2. Diaz Herrera and his rivalry with Noriega
3. Snowball effect of opposition to Noriega
a. Senate resolution for Noriega to step down
b. Protests in the Panama streets
c. Florida courts charge Noriega with drug trafficking
d. Peace plan not supported by US
D. “Operation Blue Spoon” or “Just Cause”
1. Bush sends in troops
2. The Panamanian Coup
3. US Marine death
4. “Operation Blue Spoon”
5. Other mission objectives
Conclusion:
A. Noriega Surrenders
1. Noriega tries to get asylum
2. US encampment attempt to get him to surrender
3. Noriega’s surrender and fate in Miami
Slides for Cisco’s Part of Group 3’s Presentation
Slide 1
Chapter 11: You’re No good
George H. Bush and the overthrow of Panama
Slide 2
Questions to think about during this presentation: (Taken from the handout)
1. What were the official justifications given for the invasion on Panama?
2. Describe Panamanian leader(s) who were marked as enemies by the US.
3. Outline/Describe the invasion process
4. Do you think Americans were satisfied with the outcome?
Intro
“The events in Panama that took place in the mid 1980s ended up with a US invasion of Panama and the overthrow of its government. How did this all start and why would the US be interested in a country such as Panama? It all begins with three key players who put the events into play.”
Slide 3
Events begin to be set into motion starting with three men:
Noriega
Spadafora
Torrijos
Slide 4
General Manuel Antonio Noriega
Noriega was the commander of the Panama Defense Forces. From the streets he rose to become a collaborator with Colombia’s most powerful drug dealers as well as the US Drug Enforcement Administration; the Sadinista army in Nicaragua and the guerillas who were fighting to depose it; the CIA as well as the Cuban intelligence service. Prior to the US invasion, Noriega was extremely wealthy.
Noriega himself was not as imposing as his reputation would imply. According to Kinzer, Noriega “was short, stubby, had a diffident manner, a weak handshake, and a face so badly pockmarked that behind his back, people called him cara de pina-pineapple face. Although he was capable to extreme cruelty, he could collapse into tears when he thought danger was approaching.” He chose the military as his profession, and found success in counterintelligence.
Slide 5
Hugo Spadafora
Hugo Spadafora was the son of an Italian immigrant who owned a furniture factory. He went to a medical school in Bologna, and helped rebels in the New Guinean jungle with his medical services. He was soon jailed for helping an underground cell overthrow the Panamanian regime. General Omar Torrijos saw Hugo’s potential and offered him an ultimatum: go to prison or open a medical clinic. Hugo of course took the latter, and then rose and became director of medical services in Colón, and then the deputy minister of health.
Spadafora in physical terms was everything Noriega wasn’t. He was tall, fair-skinned, highly articulate, handsome, and immensely self-confident.
Slide 6
General Omar Torrijos
Torrijos nurtured the careers of both these men. For Torrijos, these men represented two sides of him. “[As] Spadafora was an idealist who scorned the ideologies of left to right, and looked everywhere for ideas that were practical enough to improve the lives of ordinary people,” so was Torrijos. And like Noriega, Torrijos had many enemies, and used amoral thugs like Noriega to cement his rule.
Slide 7
The key event that sets things into motion:
The murder of Hugo Spadafora
He was taken by force from a bus and is later found in a US postal bag with his head
detached
Slide 8
Before moving on, please remember:
US had sovereignty over the Panama Canal, through means of a US coordinated coup
Panamanians were indignant to the US for exploiting their land
--1964 Uprisings signal new Panamanian nationalism
US agrees to withdraw by 2000
Slide 9
Things indicated that Panama seemed to be on the road to stability…
Slide 10
…But the murder of Spadafora changed things
Noriega appeals to the President of Panama, Nicolás Ardito Barletta (whom he had helped come into power through fraudulent means) to pardon him
When the President refuses, Noriega forces him to resign
Slide 11
Before moving on, there are a few more things you need to know about Noriega
1. Noriega is a man of extreme wealth, powerful friends and groups including: dictators, guerillas, drug smugglers, and high-ranking American officials. Noriega thought himself invulnerable.
Why would the US support such as man as Noriega?
2. Even though he was corrupt, he was seen as an invaluable asset to the US because he gave up info on rival drug cartels to the Drug Enforcement Administration. This won him recognition by US officials and he even met with President Bush for a commendation for his good work. The US also loved him because he was helping the Nicaraguan contra forces.
Slide 12
The beginning of the end for Noriega
Slide 13
Winston Spadafora, brother to the recently murdered Hugo Spadafora, manages to persuade Senater Jesse Helms of North Carolina to hold hearings on Panama in 1986. It becomes big news and soon opinion turns against Noriega.
Slide 14
Back in Panama…
Slide 15
Noriega and a man named Roberto Diáz Herrera had both wanted to succeed the late Torrijos. They agreed on a compromise, that Noriega would be in power until 1987 when Herrera would take over.
However it became clear that Noriega would not give up his place of power.
Slide 16
Noriega dismisses Herrera from his role in the defense forces.
Herrera retaliates, and exposes Noriega for all his evil deeds-including Noriega’s involvement in Spadafora’ murder, the 1984 electoral fraud that put Barletta into office, and the close work with the Medellín drug cartel.
The effects are instantaneous:
Days of Anti-Noriega Protests
…followed by Noriega soldiers dispersing them with tear-gas grenades
Slide 17
The US response was damning to say the least. Indictments ensued and American Noriega supporters fell from power due to being involved with such a scandal. The US was turning against Noriega for another reason as well. He supported a peace plan for Central America which the US opposed. Politics were involved as well. Bush was seen as weak and indecisive, and so the announcement that he would send 1,800 troops to Panama (intended as a message to Noriega) was meant to imply power.
Slide 18
A Panamanian Solution
Slide 19
Major Moisés Giroldi, a senior officer of the Panama Defense Forces, sent word to the newly appointed Southcom (Southern Command) leader that he would be staging a coup against Noriega, provided that the US block roads where Noriega’s troops might rescue him.
The Americans weren’t interested in a “Panamanian Solution”-they wanted the destruction of the Panama Defense Forces. They blocked no roads.
The coup is a success and the Panamanians capture Noriega. Instead of killing Noriega, they decide they let the Americans decide what to do with him. The Americans, however, will only accept him under a certain set of conditions. Meanwhile, the unblocked roads allowed Noriega’s forces to liberate him and kill the people who had captured him.
Slide 20
The Americans had already drawn up a plan called “Operation Blue Spoon”, which described a full-scale invasion Panama. An excuse to execute it arrived when a group of marines who got lost were murdered by Noriega’s elite Machos del Monte near La Comandancia.
Slide 21
“Execute Blue Spoon.”
Slide 22
The outline of the American invasion of Panama started on D-day, December 20th at H-hour, oh-one-hundred. The general gist was to strike twenty-seven objectives, destroy the Panama Defense Force, capture Noriega, and see a quick return to civilian rule, with the iron hand of 25,000 troops from the Canal and from the US. Military bases from California to Carolina mobilized, Navy Seals, and air force commanders with 285 planes prepared for the operation. It did not start however, until the name of the mission was changed to Operation Just Cause.
Slide 23
The Panama Defense Forces were no match to the superior American forces, whose airdrop of 3,000 Rangers that day rivaled that of WWII airdrops. The chaos that ensued left flaming buildings and terrified residents running out of their flimsy wooden homes.
Slide 24
Military Objectives
Destroy La Comandancia with tanks and armored cars
Seize targets across Panama
Destroy Noriega’s private Learjet (to prevent escape)
Free an American from prison who had been arrested for collaborating with the CIA
Capture and swear into oath the men who were elected and should have been in power
Slide 25
The President tells the Americans he ordered the invasion “only after reaching that every other avenue was closed…”
However one question still remained:
Slide 26
Where is Noriega?
Slide 27
Noriega had gotten word beforehand that the US invasion was imminent. He was hiding in an apartment on the edge of Panama City, morose. Noriega sought asylum at the nunciatura, the Vatican embassy, with the help of Monsignor José Sebastián Laboa, the papal nuncio in Panama City.
When the Americans found out where Noriega was, a convoy of armored cars surrounded the building as closely as possible, even onto adjacent sidewalks with engines running continuously. Nearby they burned off brush and created a helicopter landing. They then resorted to blasting deafening rock music intended as message to Noriega.
Slide 28
A stalemate
Slide29
Americans pack up, and Laboa encourages Noriega to surrender.
Jan 3
Noriega comes to grip with reality, attends Mass that evening, and walks out captured by solders who will take him by helicopter to a cell in the Metropolitan Correction Center in Miami.
Slide 30
End
Overthrow Outline: Chapter 11
History 37 Honors
Chapter 11: You’re No Good
Introduction:
A. 1. Brief overview of the Panama events under George H. Bush’ s administration.
a. “The events in Panama that took place in the mid 1980s ended up with a US invasion of Panama and the overthrow of its government. How did this all start and why would the US be interested in a country such as Panama? It all begins with three key players who put the events into play.”
Body:
A. Key players who set the events.
a. The three players are General Manuel Antonio Noriega, Hugo Spadafora, and General Omar Torrijos.
1. Noriega was the commander of the Panama Defense Forces. From the streets he rose to become a collaborator with Colombia’s most powerful drug dealers as well as the US Drug Enforcement Administration; the Sadinista army in Nicaragua and the guerillas who were fighting to depose it; the CIA as well as the Cuban intelligence service. Prior to the US invasion, Noriega was extremely wealthy.
a. Noriega himself was not as imposing as his reputation would imply. According to Kinzer, Noriega “was short, stubby, had a diffident manner, a weak handshake, and a face so badly pockmarked that behind his back, people called him cara de pina-pineapple face. Although he was capable to extreme cruelty, he could collapse into tears when he thought danger was approaching.” He chose the military as his profession, and found success in counterintelligence.
2. Spadafora
a. Hugo Spadafora was the son of an Italian immigrant who owned a furniture factory. He went to a medical school in Bologna, and helped rebels in the New Guinean jungle with his medical services. He was soon jailed for helping an underground cell overthrow the Panamanian regime. General Omar Torrijos saw Hugo’s potential and offered him an ultimatum: go to prison or open a medical clinic. Hugo of course took the latter, and then rose and became director of medical services in Colón, and then the deputy minister of health.
b. Spadafora in physical terms was everything Noriega wasn’t. He was tall, fair-skinned, highly articulate, handsome, and immensely self-confident.
3. Torrijos
a. Torrijos nurtured the careers of both these men. For Torrijos, these men represented two sides of him. “[As] Spadafora was an idealist who scorned the ideologies of left to right, and looked everywhere for ideas that were practical enough to improve the lives of ordinary people,” so was Torrijos. And like Noriega, Torrijos had many enemies, and used amoral thugs like Noriega to cement his rule.
Intensified Rivalry
A. Spadafora destested Noriega
1. Torrijos, the force keeping Spadafora and Noriega from killing each other, dies.
2. Spadafora is murdered
The Panama Canal
1. The US had sovereignty over the canal, but later violence occurred as Panamanians struggled for sovereignty. When Torrijos died, and Noriega murdered Spadafora, he appealed the president of Panama, Nicolás Ardito Barletta, whom he had helped come into power. When he refused, Noriega forced him to resign.
B. More on Noriega
1. An ally and informer
a. Noriega was in the top military ranks when the CIA recognized him as an asset to the US. And since he had connections in the drug cartel industry, he would inform the Drug Enforcement Administration of valuable information. In the position, he seemed immune to anything. When he visited the US after the murder of Spadafora, he was let off the hook by the CIA director.
2. Why the US supported him
A. The US was so focused on overthrowing the Sadinistas, that they were willing to support Noriega as long as he helped the contras. The brother of Spadafora tried to get the US hold hearings on Panama, even though a man called Helms was against it on the terms that Noriega was useful and not a problem.
C. The beginning of the End
1. Media against Noriega
A. The hearings were nothing spectacular, but the following onslaught of media reports on the US’ extraordinary tolerance exposed the US to its own actions. Slowly, the movement against Noriega took hold
2. Diaz Herrera and his rivalry with Noriega
3. Snowball effect of opposition to Noriega
a. Senate resolution for Noriega to step down
b. Protests in the Panama streets
c. Florida courts charge Noriega with drug trafficking
d. Peace plan not supported by US
D. “Operation Blue Spoon” or “Just Cause”
1. Bush sends in troops
2. The Panamanian Coup
3. US Marine death
4. “Operation Blue Spoon”
5. Other mission objectives
Conclusion:
A. Noriega Surrenders
1. Noriega tries to get asylum
2. US encampment attempt to get him to surrender
3. Noriega’s surrender and fate in Miami
Slides for Cisco’s Part of Group 3’s Presentation
Slide 1
Chapter 11: You’re No good
George H. Bush and the overthrow of Panama
Slide 2
Questions to think about during this presentation: (Taken from the handout)
1. What were the official justifications given for the invasion on Panama?
2. Describe Panamanian leader(s) who were marked as enemies by the US.
3. Outline/Describe the invasion process
4. Do you think Americans were satisfied with the outcome?
Intro
“The events in Panama that took place in the mid 1980s ended up with a US invasion of Panama and the overthrow of its government. How did this all start and why would the US be interested in a country such as Panama? It all begins with three key players who put the events into play.”
Slide 3
Events begin to be set into motion starting with three men:
Noriega
Spadafora
Torrijos
Slide 4
General Manuel Antonio Noriega
Noriega was the commander of the Panama Defense Forces. From the streets he rose to become a collaborator with Colombia’s most powerful drug dealers as well as the US Drug Enforcement Administration; the Sadinista army in Nicaragua and the guerillas who were fighting to depose it; the CIA as well as the Cuban intelligence service. Prior to the US invasion, Noriega was extremely wealthy.
Noriega himself was not as imposing as his reputation would imply. According to Kinzer, Noriega “was short, stubby, had a diffident manner, a weak handshake, and a face so badly pockmarked that behind his back, people called him cara de pina-pineapple face. Although he was capable to extreme cruelty, he could collapse into tears when he thought danger was approaching.” He chose the military as his profession, and found success in counterintelligence.
Slide 5
Hugo Spadafora
Hugo Spadafora was the son of an Italian immigrant who owned a furniture factory. He went to a medical school in Bologna, and helped rebels in the New Guinean jungle with his medical services. He was soon jailed for helping an underground cell overthrow the Panamanian regime. General Omar Torrijos saw Hugo’s potential and offered him an ultimatum: go to prison or open a medical clinic. Hugo of course took the latter, and then rose and became director of medical services in Colón, and then the deputy minister of health.
Spadafora in physical terms was everything Noriega wasn’t. He was tall, fair-skinned, highly articulate, handsome, and immensely self-confident.
Slide 6
General Omar Torrijos
Torrijos nurtured the careers of both these men. For Torrijos, these men represented two sides of him. “[As] Spadafora was an idealist who scorned the ideologies of left to right, and looked everywhere for ideas that were practical enough to improve the lives of ordinary people,” so was Torrijos. And like Noriega, Torrijos had many enemies, and used amoral thugs like Noriega to cement his rule.
Slide 7
The key event that sets things into motion:
The murder of Hugo Spadafora
He was taken by force from a bus and is later found in a US postal bag with his head
detached
Slide 8
Before moving on, please remember:
US had sovereignty over the Panama Canal, through means of a US coordinated coup
Panamanians were indignant to the US for exploiting their land
--1964 Uprisings signal new Panamanian nationalism
US agrees to withdraw by 2000
Slide 9
Things indicated that Panama seemed to be on the road to stability…
Slide 10
…But the murder of Spadafora changed things
Noriega appeals to the President of Panama, Nicolás Ardito Barletta (whom he had helped come into power through fraudulent means) to pardon him
When the President refuses, Noriega forces him to resign
Slide 11
Before moving on, there are a few more things you need to know about Noriega
1. Noriega is a man of extreme wealth, powerful friends and groups including: dictators, guerillas, drug smugglers, and high-ranking American officials. Noriega thought himself invulnerable.
Why would the US support such as man as Noriega?
2. Even though he was corrupt, he was seen as an invaluable asset to the US because he gave up info on rival drug cartels to the Drug Enforcement Administration. This won him recognition by US officials and he even met with President Bush for a commendation for his good work. The US also loved him because he was helping the Nicaraguan contra forces.
Slide 12
The beginning of the end for Noriega
Slide 13
Winston Spadafora, brother to the recently murdered Hugo Spadafora, manages to persuade Senater Jesse Helms of North Carolina to hold hearings on Panama in 1986. It becomes big news and soon opinion turns against Noriega.
Slide 14
Back in Panama…
Slide 15
Noriega and a man named Roberto Diáz Herrera had both wanted to succeed the late Torrijos. They agreed on a compromise, that Noriega would be in power until 1987 when Herrera would take over.
However it became clear that Noriega would not give up his place of power.
Slide 16
Noriega dismisses Herrera from his role in the defense forces.
Herrera retaliates, and exposes Noriega for all his evil deeds-including Noriega’s involvement in Spadafora’ murder, the 1984 electoral fraud that put Barletta into office, and the close work with the Medellín drug cartel.
The effects are instantaneous:
Days of Anti-Noriega Protests
…followed by Noriega soldiers dispersing them with tear-gas grenades
Slide 17
The US response was damning to say the least. Indictments ensued and American Noriega supporters fell from power due to being involved with such a scandal. The US was turning against Noriega for another reason as well. He supported a peace plan for Central America which the US opposed. Politics were involved as well. Bush was seen as weak and indecisive, and so the announcement that he would send 1,800 troops to Panama (intended as a message to Noriega) was meant to imply power.
Slide 18
A Panamanian Solution
Slide 19
Major Moisés Giroldi, a senior officer of the Panama Defense Forces, sent word to the newly appointed Southcom (Southern Command) leader that he would be staging a coup against Noriega, provided that the US block roads where Noriega’s troops might rescue him.
The Americans weren’t interested in a “Panamanian Solution”-they wanted the destruction of the Panama Defense Forces. They blocked no roads.
The coup is a success and the Panamanians capture Noriega. Instead of killing Noriega, they decide they let the Americans decide what to do with him. The Americans, however, will only accept him under a certain set of conditions. Meanwhile, the unblocked roads allowed Noriega’s forces to liberate him and kill the people who had captured him.
Slide 20
The Americans had already drawn up a plan called “Operation Blue Spoon”, which described a full-scale invasion Panama. An excuse to execute it arrived when a group of marines who got lost were murdered by Noriega’s elite Machos del Monte near La Comandancia.
Slide 21
“Execute Blue Spoon.”
Slide 22
The outline of the American invasion of Panama started on D-day, December 20th at H-hour, oh-one-hundred. The general gist was to strike twenty-seven objectives, destroy the Panama Defense Force, capture Noriega, and see a quick return to civilian rule, with the iron hand of 25,000 troops from the Canal and from the US. Military bases from California to Carolina mobilized, Navy Seals, and air force commanders with 285 planes prepared for the operation. It did not start however, until the name of the mission was changed to Operation Just Cause.
Slide 23
The Panama Defense Forces were no match to the superior American forces, whose airdrop of 3,000 Rangers that day rivaled that of WWII airdrops. The chaos that ensued left flaming buildings and terrified residents running out of their flimsy wooden homes.
Slide 24
Military Objectives
Destroy La Comandancia with tanks and armored cars
Seize targets across Panama
Destroy Noriega’s private Learjet (to prevent escape)
Free an American from prison who had been arrested for collaborating with the CIA
Capture and swear into oath the men who were elected and should have been in power
Slide 25
The President tells the Americans he ordered the invasion “only after reaching that every other avenue was closed…”
However one question still remained:
Slide 26
Where is Noriega?
Slide 27
Noriega had gotten word beforehand that the US invasion was imminent. He was hiding in an apartment on the edge of Panama City, morose. Noriega sought asylum at the nunciatura, the Vatican embassy, with the help of Monsignor José Sebastián Laboa, the papal nuncio in Panama City.
When the Americans found out where Noriega was, a convoy of armored cars surrounded the building as closely as possible, even onto adjacent sidewalks with engines running continuously. Nearby they burned off brush and created a helicopter landing. They then resorted to blasting deafening rock music intended as message to Noriega.
Slide 28
A stalemate
Slide29
Americans pack up, and Laboa encourages Noriega to surrender.
Jan 3
Noriega comes to grip with reality, attends Mass that evening, and walks out captured by solders who will take him by helicopter to a cell in the Metropolitan Correction Center in Miami.
Slide 30
End