The Attack on the US

 Hello everyone! This is my final AP for this year, this time for my class Policy. In Policy, we've been going through what each of the branches of government does in detail, asking questions and trying to find a through line through it all. Because we were dealing with all of the branches, we had a lot of varied guests and outings, from Andre Vasquez, the 40th ward alderperson, to Deloitte, a company that helps makes policy in working spaces. We even went to NVAM, or the National Veterans Art Museum, which housed a bunch of interesting art from veterans grappling with different questions and ideas after coming back from war. Throughout all of the later half, we were asked the question: "what is a good/bad war?" It's a strange question, as you can come at it from a number of ways, but it's something to think about. It also leads into our AP questions, where we chose a war and asked if it was justifiable or not. I chose the U.S invasion of Panama, so hopefully you'll enjoy reading my thoughts on it.

 

A fire team leader from the 2nd Light Armored Infantry Battalion, attached to Marine Forces Panama, briefs his Marines before the start of a live-fire exercise at Empire Range, US Marine Corps, 1989

  

    America has had its hands in other countries throughout its history, for better and for worse. One country they had this relationship with was Panama, as the de facto leader, Noriega, was an information broker to intelligence agencies in the U.S. After a while, however, that relationship broke down, as Noriega’s drug dealings came to light. The leadership of Panama was also a big part of the invasion, as H.W Bush saw that the dictatorship Noriega had set up was becoming more restrictive. But I would say there’s more to this invasion. Panama, because of how it was a dictatorship, had soured its relationship with the U.S at the time. Alongside this, the information Noriega had wasn’t as useful to the U.S. The U.S knew Panama was a dictatorship, but didn’t do anything because Noriega was still useful to them for his information. But now that things had gone bad, the U.S decided to invade and take down Noriega. Because of these reasons, I wish to say the invasion of Panama was unjust, under Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution.

    Indictment of Noriega had actually started in 1988, under Reigan’s administration, though no charges went through. Noriega, as previously mentioned, had a relationship with intelligence agencies in the U.S, specifically with the CIA. But, after the aforementioned deterioration of the relationship between Panama and the U.S, H.W Bush (who had taken office), called for war against Panama. We’ve seen this use of power before with Vietnam and the Korean war, and like to those, it goes Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution, where it’s stated that only Congress may declare war. It also went against the War Powers Resolution, a resolution made to limit the president's power to declare war. Though, even if Congress wanted to do something against H.W Bush, a large majority of the population (80%) agreed with this war effort. They couldn’t do anything in the face of the majority.

    The two big operations that happened during the invasion were Operation Just Cause and Operation Promote Liberty. Just Cause had the final name given to the military invasion. Its objective was to capture Noriega and bring him to justice. Afterwards, as the invasion had caused major damage to the lives of many, Operation Promote Liberty was the operation to help restore stability and democracy to Panama.

    Hammer v Dagenhart was a Supreme court case in 1918 which ruled that the federal government could not control state commerce, as states had state sovereignty. A quote reads as follows:

“That the framers of the constitution did not intend to restrain the states in the regulation of their civil institutions, adopted for internal government, and that the instrument they have given us is not to be so construed may be admitted."

Why does this relate to the invasion of Panama? Because, even on the grounds that they were stopping drug trafficking, the U.S, in some way, would have been contradicting itself. How could it rule that it didn't have the rule to meddle in state commerce and then meddle in other country’s commerce?

    The invasion, even though it was stopping drug trafficking, is still wrong. The underlying reasons didn’t make it any stronger. The case Hammer v Dagenhart once further proves the U.S had no right to tell Noriega what to do. The U.S didn’t ever attempt peace talks or some other non-violent solution, so the invasion wasn’t something that is justifiable.

 

 

Works Cited

BBC. “In Pictures: Inside the US Invasion of Panama.” BBC News, 20 Dec. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50837024.

Britannica. “Operation Just Cause | Summary, Panama, Casualties, & Rock Music | Britannica.” Www.britannica.com, 2022, www.britannica.com/topic/United-States-invasion-of-Panama.

GLASS, ANDREW. “United States Invades Panama, Dec. 20, 1989.” POLITICO, 20 Dec. 2018, www.politico.com/story/2018/12/20/united-states-invades-panama-1989-1067072.

History.com Editors. “The U.S. Invades Panama.” HISTORY, 9 Feb. 2010, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-u-s-invades-panama.

Justia. “Hammer v. Dagenhart, 247 U.S. 251 (1918).” Justia Law, 1918, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/247/251/#tab-opinion-1927706.

U.S Department of Defense. “Defense.gov News Article: U.S. Coast Guard Defends against Terrorism Locally, Globally.” Web.archive.org, 30 Sept. 2017, web.archive.org/web/20170930032911/archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=14769. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Yates, Lawrence. “Wayback Machine.” Web.archive.org, 25 June 2007, web.archive.org/web/20070625010320/usacac.army.mil/CAC/milreview/download/English/MayJun05/yates.pdf. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Zinn Education Project. “Dec. 20, 1989: Invasion of Panama.” Zinn Education Project, 2008, www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/invasion-of-panama/.

‌

Works Cited

BBC. “In Pictures: Inside the US Invasion of Panama.” BBC News, 20 Dec. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50837024.

Britannica. “Operation Just Cause | Summary, Panama, Casualties, & Rock Music | Britannica.” Www.britannica.com, 2022, www.britannica.com/topic/United-States-invasion-of-Panama.

GLASS, ANDREW. “United States Invades Panama, Dec. 20, 1989.” POLITICO, 20 Dec. 2018, www.politico.com/story/2018/12/20/united-states-invades-panama-1989-1067072.

History.com Editors. “The U.S. Invades Panama.” HISTORY, 9 Feb. 2010, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-u-s-invades-panama.

Justia. “Hammer v. Dagenhart, 247 U.S. 251 (1918).” Justia Law, 1918, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/247/251/#tab-opinion-1927706.

U.S Department of Defense. “Defense.gov News Article: U.S. Coast Guard Defends against Terrorism Locally, Globally.” Web.archive.org, 30 Sept. 2017, web.archive.org/web/20170930032911/archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=14769. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Yates, Lawrence. “Wayback Machine.” Web.archive.org, 25 June 2007, web.archive.org/web/20070625010320/usacac.army.mil/CAC/milreview/download/English/MayJun05/yates.pdf. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Zinn Education Project. “Dec. 20, 1989: Invasion of Panama.” Zinn Education Project, 2008, www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/invasion-of-panama/.

‌

Works Cited

BBC. “In Pictures: Inside the US Invasion of Panama.” BBC News, 20 Dec. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50837024.

Britannica. “Operation Just Cause | Summary, Panama, Casualties, & Rock Music | Britannica.” Www.britannica.com, 2022, www.britannica.com/topic/United-States-invasion-of-Panama.

GLASS, ANDREW. “United States Invades Panama, Dec. 20, 1989.” POLITICO, 20 Dec. 2018, www.politico.com/story/2018/12/20/united-states-invades-panama-1989-1067072.

History.com Editors. “The U.S. Invades Panama.” HISTORY, 9 Feb. 2010, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-u-s-invades-panama.

Justia. “Hammer v. Dagenhart, 247 U.S. 251 (1918).” Justia Law, 1918, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/247/251/#tab-opinion-1927706.

U.S Department of Defense. “Defense.gov News Article: U.S. Coast Guard Defends against Terrorism Locally, Globally.” Web.archive.org, 30 Sept. 2017, web.archive.org/web/20170930032911/archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=14769. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Yates, Lawrence. “Wayback Machine.” Web.archive.org, 25 June 2007, web.archive.org/web/20070625010320/usacac.army.mil/CAC/milreview/download/English/MayJun05/yates.pdf. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Zinn Education Project. “Dec. 20, 1989: Invasion of Panama.” Zinn Education Project, 2008, www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/invasion-of-panama/.

‌

 

Works Cited

BBC. “In Pictures: Inside the US Invasion of Panama.” BBC News, 20 Dec. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50837024.

Britannica. “Operation Just Cause | Summary, Panama, Casualties, & Rock Music | Britannica.” Www.britannica.com, 2022, www.britannica.com/topic/United-States-invasion-of-Panama.

GLASS, ANDREW. “United States Invades Panama, Dec. 20, 1989.” POLITICO, 20 Dec. 2018, www.politico.com/story/2018/12/20/united-states-invades-panama-1989-1067072.

History.com Editors. “The U.S. Invades Panama.” HISTORY, 9 Feb. 2010, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-u-s-invades-panama.

Justia. “Hammer v. Dagenhart, 247 U.S. 251 (1918).” Justia Law, 1918, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/247/251/#tab-opinion-1927706.

U.S Department of Defense. “Defense.gov News Article: U.S. Coast Guard Defends against Terrorism Locally, Globally.” Web.archive.org, 30 Sept. 2017, web.archive.org/web/20170930032911/archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=14769. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Yates, Lawrence. “Wayback Machine.” Web.archive.org, 25 June 2007, web.archive.org/web/20070625010320/usacac.army.mil/CAC/milreview/download/English/MayJun05/yates.pdf. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Zinn Education Project. “Dec. 20, 1989: Invasion of Panama.” Zinn Education Project, 2008, www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/invasion-of-panama/.

Works Cited

BBC. “In Pictures: Inside the US Invasion of Panama.” BBC News, 20 Dec. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50837024.

Britannica. “Operation Just Cause | Summary, Panama, Casualties, & Rock Music | Britannica.” Www.britannica.com, 2022, www.britannica.com/topic/United-States-invasion-of-Panama.

GLASS, ANDREW. “United States Invades Panama, Dec. 20, 1989.” POLITICO, 20 Dec. 2018, www.politico.com/story/2018/12/20/united-states-invades-panama-1989-1067072.

History.com Editors. “The U.S. Invades Panama.” HISTORY, 9 Feb. 2010, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-u-s-invades-panama.

Justia. “Hammer v. Dagenhart, 247 U.S. 251 (1918).” Justia Law, 1918, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/247/251/#tab-opinion-1927706.

U.S Department of Defense. “Defense.gov News Article: U.S. Coast Guard Defends against Terrorism Locally, Globally.” Web.archive.org, 30 Sept. 2017, web.archive.org/web/20170930032911/archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=14769. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Yates, Lawrence. “Wayback Machine.” Web.archive.org, 25 June 2007, web.archive.org/web/20070625010320/usacac.army.mil/CAC/milreview/download/English/MayJun05/yates.pdf. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Zinn Education Project. “Dec. 20, 1989: Invasion of Panama.” Zinn Education Project, 2008, www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/invasion-of-panama/.

‌

Works Cited

BBC. “In Pictures: Inside the US Invasion of Panama.” BBC News, 20 Dec. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50837024.

Britannica. “Operation Just Cause | Summary, Panama, Casualties, & Rock Music | Britannica.” Www.britannica.com, 2022, www.britannica.com/topic/United-States-invasion-of-Panama.

GLASS, ANDREW. “United States Invades Panama, Dec. 20, 1989.” POLITICO, 20 Dec. 2018, www.politico.com/story/2018/12/20/united-states-invades-panama-1989-1067072.

History.com Editors. “The U.S. Invades Panama.” HISTORY, 9 Feb. 2010, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-u-s-invades-panama.

Justia. “Hammer v. Dagenhart, 247 U.S. 251 (1918).” Justia Law, 1918, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/247/251/#tab-opinion-1927706.

U.S Department of Defense. “Defense.gov News Article: U.S. Coast Guard Defends against Terrorism Locally, Globally.” Web.archive.org, 30 Sept. 2017, web.archive.org/web/20170930032911/archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=14769. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Yates, Lawrence. “Wayback Machine.” Web.archive.org, 25 June 2007, web.archive.org/web/20070625010320/usacac.army.mil/CAC/milreview/download/English/MayJun05/yates.pdf. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Zinn Education Project. “Dec. 20, 1989: Invasion of Panama.” Zinn Education Project, 2008, www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/invasion-of-panama/.

‌

Works Cited

BBC. “In Pictures: Inside the US Invasion of Panama.” BBC News, 20 Dec. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50837024.

Britannica. “Operation Just Cause | Summary, Panama, Casualties, & Rock Music | Britannica.” Www.britannica.com, 2022, www.britannica.com/topic/United-States-invasion-of-Panama.

GLASS, ANDREW. “United States Invades Panama, Dec. 20, 1989.” POLITICO, 20 Dec. 2018, www.politico.com/story/2018/12/20/united-states-invades-panama-1989-1067072.

History.com Editors. “The U.S. Invades Panama.” HISTORY, 9 Feb. 2010, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-u-s-invades-panama.

Justia. “Hammer v. Dagenhart, 247 U.S. 251 (1918).” Justia Law, 1918, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/247/251/#tab-opinion-1927706.

U.S Department of Defense. “Defense.gov News Article: U.S. Coast Guard Defends against Terrorism Locally, Globally.” Web.archive.org, 30 Sept. 2017, web.archive.org/web/20170930032911/archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=14769. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Yates, Lawrence. “Wayback Machine.” Web.archive.org, 25 June 2007, web.archive.org/web/20070625010320/usacac.army.mil/CAC/milreview/download/English/MayJun05/yates.pdf. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Zinn Education Project. “Dec. 20, 1989: Invasion of Panama.” Zinn Education Project, 2008, www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/invasion-of-panama/.

‌

Works Cited

BBC. “In Pictures: Inside the US Invasion of Panama.” BBC News, 20 Dec. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50837024.

Britannica. “Operation Just Cause | Summary, Panama, Casualties, & Rock Music | Britannica.” Www.britannica.com, 2022, www.britannica.com/topic/United-States-invasion-of-Panama.

GLASS, ANDREW. “United States Invades Panama, Dec. 20, 1989.” POLITICO, 20 Dec. 2018, www.politico.com/story/2018/12/20/united-states-invades-panama-1989-1067072.

History.com Editors. “The U.S. Invades Panama.” HISTORY, 9 Feb. 2010, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-u-s-invades-panama.

Justia. “Hammer v. Dagenhart, 247 U.S. 251 (1918).” Justia Law, 1918, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/247/251/#tab-opinion-1927706.

U.S Department of Defense. “Defense.gov News Article: U.S. Coast Guard Defends against Terrorism Locally, Globally.” Web.archive.org, 30 Sept. 2017, web.archive.org/web/20170930032911/archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=14769. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Yates, Lawrence. “Wayback Machine.” Web.archive.org, 25 June 2007, web.archive.org/web/20070625010320/usacac.army.mil/CAC/milreview/download/English/MayJun05/yates.pdf. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Zinn Education Project. “Dec. 20, 1989: Invasion of Panama.” Zinn Education Project, 2008, www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/invasion-of-panama/.

‌

Works Cited

BBC. “In Pictures: Inside the US Invasion of Panama.” BBC News, 20 Dec. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50837024.

Britannica. “Operation Just Cause | Summary, Panama, Casualties, & Rock Music | Britannica.” Www.britannica.com, 2022, www.britannica.com/topic/United-States-invasion-of-Panama.

GLASS, ANDREW. “United States Invades Panama, Dec. 20, 1989.” POLITICO, 20 Dec. 2018, www.politico.com/story/2018/12/20/united-states-invades-panama-1989-1067072.

History.com Editors. “The U.S. Invades Panama.” HISTORY, 9 Feb. 2010, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-u-s-invades-panama.

Justia. “Hammer v. Dagenhart, 247 U.S. 251 (1918).” Justia Law, 1918, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/247/251/#tab-opinion-1927706.

U.S Department of Defense. “Defense.gov News Article: U.S. Coast Guard Defends against Terrorism Locally, Globally.” Web.archive.org, 30 Sept. 2017, web.archive.org/web/20170930032911/archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=14769. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Yates, Lawrence. “Wayback Machine.” Web.archive.org, 25 June 2007, web.archive.org/web/20070625010320/usacac.army.mil/CAC/milreview/download/English/MayJun05/yates.pdf. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Zinn Education Project. “Dec. 20, 1989: Invasion of Panama.” Zinn Education Project, 2008, www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/invasion-of-panama/.

‌

Works Cited

BBC. “In Pictures: Inside the US Invasion of Panama.” BBC News, 20 Dec. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50837024.

Britannica. “Operation Just Cause | Summary, Panama, Casualties, & Rock Music | Britannica.” Www.britannica.com, 2022, www.britannica.com/topic/United-States-invasion-of-Panama.

GLASS, ANDREW. “United States Invades Panama, Dec. 20, 1989.” POLITICO, 20 Dec. 2018, www.politico.com/story/2018/12/20/united-states-invades-panama-1989-1067072.

History.com Editors. “The U.S. Invades Panama.” HISTORY, 9 Feb. 2010, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-u-s-invades-panama.

Justia. “Hammer v. Dagenhart, 247 U.S. 251 (1918).” Justia Law, 1918, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/247/251/#tab-opinion-1927706.

U.S Department of Defense. “Defense.gov News Article: U.S. Coast Guard Defends against Terrorism Locally, Globally.” Web.archive.org, 30 Sept. 2017, web.archive.org/web/20170930032911/archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=14769. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Yates, Lawrence. “Wayback Machine.” Web.archive.org, 25 June 2007, web.archive.org/web/20070625010320/usacac.army.mil/CAC/milreview/download/English/MayJun05/yates.pdf. Accessed 9 June 2023.

Zinn Education Project. “Dec. 20, 1989: Invasion of Panama.” Zinn Education Project, 2008, www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/invasion-of-panama/.