Battle Analysis US Invasion of Panama Research Paper

      Battle analysis US invasion of Panama Name Institution Date     Identifying main subjects Identify main subject  On December 20th 1989, the US invaded Panama in Central America to overthrow the country’s President Manuel Noriega a drug trafficker and dictator, who also threatened democracy US interests in the region. Under the George H. W Bush administration officials highlighted that the invasion was necessary to bring about change in the region and support transition to democracy. The US had long used the country as a military base after having help built the Panama Canal (Cole, 1995). Even though, the Panamanians had long sought to nationalize the Canal the US wielded power in a region with Communist sympathizers. The US public was enthusiastic in its support for the ousting of General Noriega, and the invasion named “Operation Just Cause” while the seizure, trial and imprisonment of the dictator in the US signaled the willingness of American leaders to intervene in its backyard (Cole, 1995). Main points             The US invasion of Panama was the latest attempt to bring democracy in Latin America and extend her influence in the region. The ouster of Noriega had been carefully planned as the US sought to charge him for drug offences.  The US forces already in Panama as  well as those based in the US worked together to accomplish the mission and they removed Noriega from power, ushering in democracy and furthering US interests in the region. The decision to invade Panama and influence the political system was a long time coming with Noriega having threatened the peace and security of his fellow countrymen and the US. The success of the mission highlights adequate preparation should be prioritized in missions to accomplish the stated objectives.   Rated Area  Strategic/ organization overview The US invasion of Panama had been preplanned over time as the US already had ground forces in the country compared to the 1983 invasion of Grenada. The US forces first captured the Panama City headquarters of Noriega and then added enforcements that affected the ability of the Panama defense forces to respond o the attacks. The invasion mostly targeted the urban areas surrounding Panama City, and this strategic move meant that Panama’s forces and paramilitaries were at a disadvantage having been driven away from the capital city. Subsequently, the US moved swiftly to support a new political order in the country after the ouster of Noriega  Study/ area of operation Weather / terrain Fighting in Panama City and near the Panama Canal meant that the country was cut off from strategic positions with fewer supplies, as the US controlled the main routes of the urban territory during the invasion.  The Canal was  a  strategic assets or the country even as the US exercised some form of control and before the invasion there were already White  zones in Panama where military excises and maneuvers were already prohibited while the US had taken control of Green zones of the Panama Canal and surrounding areas (Cole, 1995). Even as the US forces had already been briefed about the weather and the terrain of the Panama, the strategic review failed to consider logistics, the civic population and economic areas. The antagonists Under the leadership of General Maxwell R. Thurman the Commander in Chief, Southern Command the US led invasion was carried out before the Christmas of 1989, with President Bush having authorized the attack.  General Stiner commanded four conventional forces, Semper Fi, Atlantic, Pacific and Bayonet with the air component command under Major Wayne A. Downing. Manuel Noriega and the PDF tried defending the country but were overwhelmed (Cole, 1995). Cuba had been the main US antagonist for more than four decades, and as Noriega was increasingly reluctant to cooperate with the US. The surprise attack in Panama affected the ability of Noriega to respond adequately. Mission and...