U.S. Detains Venezuelan Leader Nicolas Maduro
The recent detention of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife on Saturday brings to mind the dramatic events surrounding the overthrow of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega back in 1989. Interestingly, this incident coincides with the exact date, January 3, marking 36 years since Noriega’s capture.
Under the leadership of former President George H.W. Bush, the U.S. military initiated a surprise invasion of Panama early on December 20, 1989. The rationale was to apprehend Noriega, who was accused of collaborating with drug traffickers to smuggle cocaine into the U.S., among other charges, including manipulating the presidential election that year.
The official goal, as stated on the Army’s website, was to reinstate the democratically elected government of President Guillermo Endara and apprehend Noriega on drug charges. It noted that Operation Just Cause was the largest and most intricate military operation since the Vietnam War.
Interestingly, like the recent operation involving Maduro, the invasion of Panama was executed without explicit authorization from Congress.
Maduro’s Capture and Historical Parallels
In the hours leading up to his capture, Maduro met with a Chinese envoy as part of what was termed Operation Beijing Slums.
Meanwhile, Noriega evaded capture for several weeks by seeking refuge in the Vatican embassy in Panama City, which is quite a fascinating twist, really. The U.S. military resorted to psychological tactics, using loudspeakers mounted on military vehicles to play rock music day and night, featuring songs from well-known bands like The Clash and U2, which, I suppose, sounds almost surreal.
Eventually, on January 3, 1990, Noriega surrendered to American forces and was flown to the U.S. for a trial. Coincidentally, this was just a day before Maduro’s capture, according to some reports.
Consequences Following the Operations
The U.S. operations, while aimed at restoring order, didn’t come without cost. The Panama invasion resulted in the deaths of 23 U.S. soldiers and injuries to 320 more, alongside a significant toll on Panamanian civilians and military personnel, estimated at about 200 and 314, respectively, according to reports. Noriega faced a series of legal battles, ultimately being convicted of drug trafficking in Miami and sentenced to 40 years in prison.
He ended up serving 17 years in a U.S. prison before being extradited to France and later to Panama. He passed away in 2017, marking a long and convoluted legacy.
On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that Maduro and his wife had been captured as part of “Operation Absolute Solution.” This action aligns with recent U.S. military efforts targeting suspected drug trafficking vessels associated with the Venezuelan regime.
In a bold statement, Trump mentioned that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela until a stable and acceptable leader is found, aiming for a smooth transition of power. This raises a lot of questions about what that might entail moving forward.
