U.S. invasion of Panama (1989-90) - Op. 'Just Cause'

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The United States invasion of Panama in late 1989 was an intervention carried out with the aim to maintain Washington's dominance in Latin America. Among other countries in the region, Panama was of particular importance to the United States. It was primarily because of the Panama Canal that connects the Atlantic with the Pacific Ocean and was significant for both American military and economic interests.
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Credit:
Show Created by Daniel Turner (B.A. (Hons) in History, University College London)
Narrator: Bryan 'Lazlo' Beauregard
sources pastebin.com/vbVWAmjW

[@redjaypictures4528]

My favorite part of this story is the part where when Noriega was holed up in the Vatican embassy, the US army set up loudspeakers and began to play rock music out of them, music which Noriega allegedly despised, effectively weaponizing the “annoying neighbor at 2AM” trope just to agitate noriega

[@aj3751]

Imagine if they played "Panama" by Van Halen LMAO

[@24tanksalot]

I was there for that

[@NoodleBoi-jf9ng]

The one that broke Noriega was when they played never gonna give you up. They Rick rolled him into submission. This means the US military had the first Rick roll in history.

[@lasombra1469]

@@aj3751 they did and even played Rick Astley’s Never gonna give you up

[@mr.fishmanman]

​@@lasombra1469 That Song Should Be Classified as a Weapon of Mass Destruction and Rick astley Should be charged with war crimes

[@chris.76256]

Fun fact: the game series "Just Cause" is named after operation just cause.

[@cfiber_inc]

That Game series cool

[@chris.76256]

​@@cfiber_inc i have just cause 3 and 4, both are really fun

[@nomoretears_]

They really missed the chance of putting a soldier with a grappling hook as an Easter egg 😂

[@neofulcrum5013]

Seems legit

[@chris.76256]

​@@nomoretears_ damn that wouldve been great, or a soldier with a wingsuit

[@myankoZuluTango3613]

Fun fact: One of those US soldiers talked about rumors of a special forces group tasked to capture noriega with one of those men saying there was aa CIA case officer with glasses, a guy with a bandana and a "numbers" guy who went in covertly to secure Manuel.

[@kars372]

Real

[@jakerichardson6296]

He even has people in the cia

[@sdgaming9561]

Cod black ops 2 makes sense with this whole paragraph, undercover Cia spy, Menendez, and finally the numbers which haunted Mason

[@Ramschat]

I'm calling it, it was Archer, Ray, and Cyril as the numbers guy

[@__dolphin__]

​@@Ramschat who?

[@corrupto018ninja8]

I'm from Panama. I was at a family reunion and I was listening to my mom, my aunt and my grandmother talk about the Noriega days. The economy was filthy. There was a great shortage of food. We were pretty much screwed in those days. The night of the invasion my mother was asleep and she suddenly heard an explosion and she says that she looked out the window to see what it was and said that she suddenly saw something in the sky. and that began to shoot towards the command post after that the United States military arrived and they were taken out of there because there were small skirmishes between United States forces and Panamanian forces. After several hours they returned to the neighborhoods and found many burned houses, destroyed cars, but after all that they were relocated while they rebuilt, and in those days they caught Noriega and when that happened, everyone celebrated that he was gone.

[@Fulcrox]

If only they knew what was happening they wouldn't have celebrated that much tho

[@whonow3486]

@@MissCleo24yeah… that’s how it’s always kind of been sadly

[@arithgutierrez]

​@@whonow3486is Noriega really a better option?

[@redthegamer12]

​@@arithgutierrezno

[@CarlosAM1]

Well, everyone who didnt have their family members and homes burnt down during the invasion...

[@heavyjuggernaut3912]

My uncle served in the invasion, He even got put on a newspaper. Still have it to this day and he's still around

[@basierterberber6345]

wie alle deiner Vorfahren Mörder, Kriegsverbrecher und Besatzer unschuldiger Völker - den vereinigten Staaten von Amerika ist das heuchlerischste Imperium aller Zeiten!

[@neofulcrum5013]

That’s awesome

[@chris.76256]

Thank him for his service, he had probably seen chaotic stuff, though i hope he hasnt.

[@spiderhussain8795]

How's that awesome. Modern day colonialism. Using drugs as an excuse to invade a country and control a canal that doesn't belong to them

[@TexasGreed]

​@@spiderhussain8795 isn't it weird how one guy will say "we did all this horrible stuff." And other come along like "awesome work" It like they are GENUINELY blind and have been brainwashed.

[@BeanManolo]

As a brazilian I was surprised to find out we had civilians taken as hostages by the PDF during the operation.

[@GoldenOfHue]

same.

[@nicholasgrossman3194]

Did you watch the video? That was the event that allowed us to start the invasion. I'm almost certain that was set up by the three letter agencies in order to go to war.

[@thiagobernardino5165]

but not much when the subject is USA invanding middle and south america

[@LuisFelipe-cz7uw]

Exatamente snake.

[@SniperFallen06]

We did not take hostages, we were protecting the civies from the attack

[@jevonjordan681]

My mom, uncles and grandparents fled to the U.S. right as fighting began. She told me how areas and schools she remembered so fondly were just completely eradicated. It may have been a relatively short conflict, but the impact was felt.

[@luisa.espinoza48]

Eradicated? They might have been a little bit dramatic. Almost all buildings from the canal zone still exists. The eradicated areas where in low income neighborhoods where civilians were massacred, just because they lived close to a panamenian army base.

[@flamingrubys11]

ah yes more or less destroyed than they alrwady were?

[@jevonjordan681]

I like how everyone here is just assuming that my parent came from higher income communities where the effects were minimal. Respectfully, those were there stories, they were there in that era, don’t try and tell it for them🤙🏿

[@johnconnors993]

My uncle was one of the Navy Seals who died during the attack at the hangar to disable Noriega’s Lear Jet. He was 25. I grew up going to memorial events. Losing a family member during wartime really makes a mark on one’s family for a lifetime and beyond, as it happened before I was born. Thank you to all who served.

[@ermining1]

Thanking them for what? For serving corrupt politicians and agencies?

[@Dennis-nc3vw]

@@ermining1 For facing down an army that declared war on the US and restoring democracy to Panama, maybe?

[@ermining1]

@@Dennis-nc3vw a country that the US hasd already a decent military presence in and with the guy taking power being a CIA asset... Yeah sure, a worthwhile war...

[@Dennis-nc3vw]

@@ermining1 Are you just trying to take a jab at the US by mentioning he was a former CIA asset, or are you really suggesting that he wasn't a threat even though he freaking declared war on the US and killed Americans? The fact he was a former CIA operative was just one more reason America was justified in taking him out.

[@patwxdaddy]

We arrived there about four hours later to secure that airfield. in that time looters had stripped the metal from the walls and roof of the hangar. Taken the sinks and toilets from the bathroom and were half way to prying up all the one inch tiles off the floor. All the very badly hurt casualties were sent to Fort Sam Houston for long term treatment. We had a guy shot up badly, some guys from his platoon went down to see him. There was a SEAL from that raid in the bed next to him. He said as they were running accost the runway the opening gun fire had blown the muscle off of his thighs and he fell on his face. Their medic ran over and started tying off the meat with tourniquets as he continued suppressing fire with his short M-60, until he belt ran out and then passed out.

[@blockmasterscott]

I had literally just gotten out of the Marines when this happened. I had family members calling me asking if I was ok lol I had to tell them several times I was a civilian now lol.

[@jarreddobbs6800]

Thank you for your service

[@SchlopFlopper]

Talk about timing. I wonder how it felt to be that guy who got out right before Pearl Harbor or 9/11.

[@blockmasterscott]

@@SchlopFlopper this reminds me of back in the 90s when I read an excerpt from a guy on a carrier at Okinawa when he saw the Bunker Hill get hit. He said that him and his buddies were on their flight deck looking at the Bunker Hill on fire and thinking “that could have been us”.

[@teapotserving6975]

@blockmasterscott Russia is also doing a good job in Ukraine, too. Didn't you know? You should team up with the Russians, no?

[@kreepr]

@@teapotserving6975 what you smoking i want some

[@ScapularSet]

My mom was still living in Panama when the invasion happened but she was still young and she didn’t move to the city yet. But she tells me before the invasion happened that her dad would go protest and that Noriega had these lists and her dad was the highest on the list in her province and I think he was really lucky that he didn’t get kidnapped and tortured by Noriegas men

[@musofir2204]

My grandfather told me stories about this as well. I believe he was also on a list because of his relation to American soldiers (my father and an uncle) but they couldn't find him because he was far from the city, in the mountains. The same mountains Victoriano Lorenzo fought in during the thousand day war. He loved his history and passed that love of it down to me. May he rest in peace, he passed away just over a year ago at 96. He was proud at how far his country had come compared to the days of Noriega

[@Dejaelvicio0emiliomelendez5072]

Noriega was made president by the CIA (double agent) he killed Torrijos (best president in history according to Panamanians) it can be interpreted as revenge for the canal's sovereignty treaty. Noriega was captured by the Panamanian police themselves but the US never sent transport, the plan failed and the rest is history. He was sentenced to death but was tried in the USA and they pardoned him because he served them

[@musofir2204]

@Emilio Melendez 507 ★ It's true that he may have had a role to play in Torrijos' death, but he was well on his way to becoming a leader before he helped the CIA. Also, I know some Panamanians say that Torrijos was a good leader but the reality is he was a dictator of Panama that seized control of the country and implemented many policies that were the building blocks for Noriega. Most people that claim he was great say that because Torrijos did a lot to prop up his public image, like how Pablo Escobar used his drug money to donate all the time. I've never heard of him being considered for the death penalty but I do know that he served only half the time in the US as a POW. But he was also extradited and tried in France, who did not recognize his POW status and then sent to serve his sentence in Panama where he died in 2017. Also, he definitely WAS NOT captured by Panamanian police. He was in the Vatican embassy until he surrendered and released into US forces custody. Should he have received the death penalty? Honestly perhaps but it's good to know he spent the rest of his days behind locked bars where he belonged. He didn't deserve freedom after his crimes

[@soccerandtrack10]

So culbia still being a dystopia.

[@Knight30884]

@@musofir2204 What emilio was refering to when he said that noriega was catured by panamenian police force is an event prior to the invasion of panama. This event was the coup d'état of 1989 know as "the Albrook massacre".

[@saucygrandpa8128]

I have a neighbor across the street from me who served during this invasion. It’s insane that this video just got recommended to me after learning that. It’s nice to learn more about these types of things.

[@joseferrer8738]

I was born in Panama but moved to the US shortly before the invasion. What the video didn't really explain is that the country was effectively in the middle of a civil war. Yes, it was egged on by the US, but the coup attempt was not a Bay of Pigs type of event. There were a number of opposition members that were murdered by Noriega and his supporters, in particular one whose decapitated body was left as a message to the rest. During the protests prior to the invasion I saw police firing into crowds and even into apartment buildings if the people living there seemed to be protesting. Unless you were directly benefitting from Noriega and his cronies you were happy about the invasion.

[@Heavywall70]

Thanks for saying this. I had the honor of fighting with the 82nd in Cerro Tigre and Colon. On January 1st we walked into Sabanita outside Colon. We were met by a mob of Panamanians celebrating the invasion, they invited us into their homes , fed us and explained why they were so happy. I will never forget that.

[@mitchyoung93]

Many ethnic Russians have celebrated the Russian invasion of the Ukraine.

[@datboi_gfx5504]

Us Panamenians have a lot of mixed feelings about the invasion since it was obviously a very dark event for us but so was Noriega's dictactorship. Saddest thing is lots of Noriega's people are still in positions of power and are a still a big cause of corruption here to this day. We fought hard against foreign occupation in Panama for our leaders to sell us yet again for a mining deal. Its like nothing ever changed in terms of both foreign control and our government's repression.

[@datboi_gfx5504]

​@@Heavywall70 Thats very cool, my grandmother always tells me about the time she took food to some US troops during the invasion

[@tur3xpa475]

Fun fact: When he took refuge in the Vatican Embassy. The us army tried to demoralize him with rock n' roll (because he hates rock & is an opera fan) so the army began using blasting 80's hits which includes Panama - Van Halen, Never gonna give you up and some Guns and roses songs

[@lasombra1469]

Also You got another thing coming by Judas Priest and Don’t fear the reaper by Blue Oyster Cult

[@jacaredosvudu1638]

Dude got Rick Rolled lol

[@Chinothebad]

Literally rick-rolled into surrender.

[@frederickoftheartic2209]

The US Army is surprisingly progressive, they were rickrolling people way before the 2000s.

[@Complete_Stranger7050]

Mf got rick rolled, instant demoralized

[@justingregory2279]

My Father did two tours in Panama as an electrician in the US Air Force. He told me stories of watching the AC-130 circling around and how his bucket truck has bullet holes from when he and his convoy got attacked.

[@oliversherman2414]

I didn't know about this event until now. You guys never fail to teach me something new

[@anthonyrufino9271]

Noriega: Nobody must know I betrayed him

[@Wolf-wc1js]

I was looking for a Black Ops 2 reference

[@radjadawamindra697]

"Him?"

[@yberturk]

@@Wolf-wc1js exactly

[@ShushnSilver]

"What are you looking So smug for?" -Woods

[@josuemartinez4376]

Woods: No mason

[@chheinrich8486]

FYI: this was also the combat debut of both the blackhawk and apache helicopters

[@ledgaming6489]

That’s awesome

[@SniperFallen06]

One of my Lifeguard Coordinators was a PDF soldier and survived the Apache attack on his base, he lost 2 close friends in front of his eyes

[@stamariagerardjimelsolano8146]

Now I wanna see Simple History to make a Operation Gothic Serpent/Battle of Mogadishu video.

[@Dejaelvicio0emiliomelendez5072]

No casualties from these 2 models only minor damage from flying low (some OH-6s were prone to wire traps and electrical wires from flying too low)

[@Dejaelvicio0emiliomelendez5072]

@@SniperFallen06 My father was a soldier during the Torrijos era. He retired when Noriega took office. His best friend from the battalion died when he knocked out an M551 with a ZPU cannon in the Santa Ana neighborhoo d. He died from shrapnel. (there are undocumented casualties for unknown reasons)

[@ColonelRoseru]

I was always interested in this, wonderful video!

[@TheCerebralDude]

RIP Jerry Scott Daves, 82nd Airborne and Corporal Gareth Isaak USMC. I don’t know why I can never forget the names of these two guys who were both KIA in the early hours of the attack. I remember hearing their names in media reports I was watching at the time, 34 years later I still can’t forget their names

[@J--12]

Rest in piss both of them and everyone else who died for US capitalists interests in this and every other war they started.

[@SniperFallen06]

Rip Sld1 Lynnels, the first Panamanian soldier killed in the invasión, his father was in the US army but he joined the Panamanian National Guard then PDF in the early 80s, he was KIA protecting his friends in Amador

[@skypher7936]

The Invasion of Panama is depicted in COD Black Ops 2 which lead to Noriega himself sues Activision, a move which ended unsuccessfully

[@NorthWirld]

It is also depicted in Just Cause 2

[@Jupiter.141]

Weird how did he even know that he was put into a game wherein fact he was inside the prison

[@Razgriz_01]

@@Jupiter.141 Probably saw it on TV or saw guards playing it in some break-room? Who knows.

[@Jupiter.141]

@@Razgriz_01 you are not allowed to play. Games in workplace. Especially on a prison facility. Noriega was put into maximum security and by standards of every maximum security around the globe television is not allowed

[@Razgriz_01]

@@Jupiter.141 Then he must've overheard it then. It is funny how he even found out about BO2 like you said.

[@Newdivide]

Manuel Noriega actually sued Activision for adding him in call of duty: black ops ii. The suit was dismissed

[@Wolf-wc1js]

So did the family of Jonas Savimbi

[@coleman4840]

I know this is partially unrelated but Jonas Savimbi also sued Activision and even the late Fidel Castro during the development of black ops one after the operation 40 mission

[@thelonewanderer2550]

​@Coleman 48 Jonas savimbi was already dead long before Bo2 was released. His children sued Activision

[@War_Daddy103]

I'm glad it got dismissed. Tin pot dictators and their "military" (It's a stretch to even call it that) need to be reminded of their place in the food chain every now and then, whether that be on the field of combat or in the digital space.

[@coleman4840]

@@thelonewanderer2550 ah I see. It appears that I misread it, thank you for the correction

[@dominicmiller7866]

I just want to say that your art style is just so realistic but simple

[@stealthynaxo]

Thanks for this! It was a very significant moment in Panama's history. If possible, you think you guys could cover the Chilean Coup on september 11, 1973.

[@chris.76256]

Hehe 9/11

[@keylessgaming]

Mi general, augusto pinochet

[@AmericanGrunt.]

The first 9/11

[@thegreatplebe8152]

Chile's 9/11

[@rosaria8384]

This! This should be the next video of the cruelest dictators in history series that this channel has: Augusto Pinochet

[@DavidMarcus1525]

Can't believe that a mission from CoD black ops 2 was actually based on a real event. Thanks Simple History.

[@kingmichealthefirstofroman2278]

You suffer with me?

[@MrSviggels]

HUDSON?! WHO IS NEXUS TARGET?!... HUDSON?!

[@Gillan1220]

@@MrSviggels It's Menendez You should have told us. YOU. SHOULD. HAVE. TOLD. US.

[@yohannesaklilu2697]

​@@Gillan1220 He even has people in the CIA

[@julesbenedictcatalan4904]

@@yohannesaklilu2697 "Bullshit! This guy's fucking with us!" *Kravchenko gets his head shot by Woods*

[@skitzomunkyx4437]

Amimation is getting better with every episode, good job team 👏

[@ruttiger500]

I’m Panamanian born but raised in the U.S. and my adopted dad was in the service he was stationed In Balboa . I do remember this on the news while I was in high school and my relatives always kept us informed when this broke out . I also liked to mention that I went back to panama for the first time back in 2009 and there were buildings I was shown that still had been half destroyed but people still living in them. In Chorrio where Noriega was from . Thanks for the video

[@teapotserving6975]

Tell your adopted dad that he is a traitor to his own people in Panama.

[@W.Stryker]

I remember balboa. I went to balboa HS before rotating back to the states

[@ruttiger500]

@@W.Stryker I went to kindergarten on base.

[@W.Stryker]

@@ruttiger500 which base?

[@ruttiger500]

@@W.Stryker I think Albrook or Balboa I only finished kindergarten and first grade on the base but it was so long I can’t remember which base. We moved to the States when I was going into second grade. My Dad was in the Airforce at the time so not sure if that makes any difference

[@DavidAWA]

I remember as a kid when this invasion happened. I had no idea it was so involved. Thanks you educating me on this.

[@landonbrown9943]

Gotta love simple history

[@kdsowen2882]

Yep , it's 'Simple' all right

[@banban22222]

yessir been watching them since 2019, banger history videos

[@REPOMAN24722]

Sure is simple, should be called propaganda history.

[@DTHPR542]

@@REPOMAN24722 Ammerimut low iq race mixed bloodthrsty history

[@josephwolf488]

I am from Panama, and I see that they did not report the Bombings to the province of Colon and the chorrillo where Thousands died and they did not count other war crimes, this Channel is propaganda.

[@ju87stuka97]

My favorite part was when Sergeant Woods killed Captain Mason by friendly fire

[@Torbjorn_Main]

Or you can shoot on his legs. It’s actually unconfirmed if he’s dead in the canon way. We’ll have a confirmation in the CoD 2024.

[@Torbjorn_Main]

@@YonIon996 it’s going to be Gulf War. CW Zombies basically confirmed it via the forsaken Easter egg ending where you’ll see Dr Peck in Japan.

[@bloodysimile4893]

Expect Wood is a lousy shot. Don't know what Mason was doing over 30 years? Guessing Reznov's personality took over during that time, could make a cod game or two with Reznov in twenty first.

[@Torbjorn_Main]

@@bloodysimile4893 it’s highly unlikely that Alex Mason will come back, because if Menendez find out that Alex Mason is alive, then he will come for David (Alex Mason’s son). So, Alex Mason is hiding in the safe place where he can’t be spotted by Menendez’s spies. For Reznov, he’s not really a good friend to Alex Mason, because he used him for his agenda to kill Dragovich, Kravchenko and Steiner as a part of his revenge over his best friend Dimitri’s death in 1945.

[@Bravo_delta.hote1]

The video I have been waiting for!!

[@UNSC-Saratoga]

My dad was in Bravo Company, 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division when he was sent into Panama. He said they lost more guys to heat stroke on the first few days than to enemy fire.

[@teapotserving6975]

I don't care about your dad. Why are you justifying your birth cause too much

[@teapotserving6975]

Your dad is my servant.

[@CameronCobb]

@@teapotserving6975 what?

[@Frisher1]

I live here so I can believe the heat stroke part, it gets very hot here very quickly sometimes

[@UNSC-Saratoga]

@@teapotserving6975 what drugs are you on?

[@Sir_Miles_Riley]

Just cause 1 = literally raiding esperito. Just cause 2 = literally raiding panau. Just cause 3 = going back home and taking back the country from dictatorship Just cause 4 = *literally goes rogue with a expensive grappler* Edit: naw wtf this got alot of likes 💀

[@weskerkings651]

4 feels weird

[@ajsanchez9913]

Just cause 5 = about to take the whole agency

[@LuisMane1]

@@ajsanchez9913 just cause 6: chilling with the chaos army

[@Cocoshielie]

​@@LuisMane1 Just cause 7:Coming -never- soon

[@SweatyUnderwear69]

@@Cocoshielie Just Cause 8: coming to a certain level of hyponamanomosistic paledestrians. 😤😤😤🤨🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@nicholasdigaetano]

During the operation it was the first time female soldiers in the us military saw combat as one female mp was on a combat mission to attack Panamanian special forces base guarded by dogs

[@desperado8605]

So our women are tougher than Panamanian SF is what you're saying

[@War_Daddy103]

@@desperado8605 Tougher than the panamanian military isn't a very high bar. I'd wager terror groups like ISIS have the same level of military force projection as panama had then and now nevermind an ACTUAL military force.

[@snowroaches]

"Hey, we got dogs!". Send the female!

[@SniperFallen06]

@@desperado8605 Most of the SF units were already dead when the bombs were dropped, only a few remained and got shot afterwards, US Troops killed the dogs either by poison or shoot them inside their cages, not sure if warcrimes apply to animals too

[@Ttegegg]

@@SniperFallen06 look if Koreans are considering using a auto shooting robot. I think this is fine

[@jacobbeauvais4760]

My mother was the Federal Court Reporter for Noriega’s trial. Her name at the time was Sabrina Cheaney before meeting my father in 1990. My mother is still a Stenographer in FL.

[@tektronixv1682]

Thanks simple history for bring this piece of history of my country.

[@CamoGuy76239]

I learned about this from Black Ops 2; neat to see a Simple History video about it.

[@ED-es2qv]

I got a purple heart there in the first hours . I was in 1st Batt out of HAAF. The 82nd was supposed to be a couple hours behind us but arrived about 5 hours late due to snow. We felt justified, and we had been there a year before for jungle training and had trouble then. We still called it operation just because, for fun.

[@darkclownKellen]

And barrock osama is my nephew

[@fragout9575]

I was with 3rd Battalion C Co when we jumped in! It was actually a ceiling of 600 ft, not 500, but 50 cal tracers coming through our C-130s and C-141s was no fun for sure!!

[@jarreddobbs6800]

Thank you for your service

[@andrescubillo7824]

Snow?

[@americanidiot6580]

@@fragout9575 dude C-141 don’t do combat drops only H.A.L.O

[@bruno8126]

Wow. Good informative video. My dad served in this war as a marine

[@WestTNConfed]

My grandad in law was a marine attached to one of the SEAL teams (he was a rigger and high-hazard environment instructor) who took part in the preliminary infiltration, mapping out points of drop ins and attack. Has an entire folder of awards, citations, and qualifications, and even the paper document of assignment for the mission. Really cool. It was the only conflict he was directly involved in.

[@gosudar388]

You should be ashamed of him. After all, he participated in an illegal invasion of a foreign country. You're kind of for International Law? Filthy Hypocrites

[@TurtleMC1993]

Thar is pretty cool tbf

[@matthewsmiley3630]

That’s really cool!

[@Aqueox]

Whoah, hard r bro. It's "rigga".

[@typed9551]

Hey man, I just want to say keep doing what your doing. I love your work and hope to see your channel grow in the following years.

[@corymorimacori1059]

“Don’t you know she’s coming home with me, you’ll lose her in the town. I get high. PANAMA! PANAMA!” Van Halen

[@teapotserving6975]

Be quiet, you hypocrites!

[@defiantpheasant5458]

My father was in the 82nd during the initial invasion of Panama and took part in the seizing of the airports to stop Noriega from fleeing the country. To this day he still has the pair of OG-107 pants he wore, along with the ALICE pack he had. But not the jacket because the pack wore holes in the shoulders of it.

[@matthewsmiley3630]

It’s crazy how fast the U.S. was able to get all this done. Just a little over a year

[@mkay1967]

Inspiration for the Just Cause games

[@Isir2204]

Thank you for making a video about this! I really needed a video about the invasion! 😊

[@joshuaforbus5853]

You've earned the name simple history. Semper Fi

[@Kurshkovv]

Finally! Simple History makes OP Just Cause!

[@bryanwaggoner1819]

I was there as a kid. My father was stationed at ft. Kobbie. I remember we were confined to our house for several days. We had Christmas morning with a bunch of Air Force guys that crashed in our living room

[@W.Stryker]

I was in Panama from 1992 to 1994, the remnants of the battle were everywhere.

[@BPD1586]

I was at Howard from 1996 to 1999, the remnants were still there then. Kind of a sore topic with local nationals working on base.

[@W.Stryker]

@@BPD1586 I was on Ft.Kobbe, my father was XO of the 536th combat engineer battalion. Then be transferred to Ft.Clayton where he become S-3 and division.

[@balej83]

Was there in 91-92 on Atlantic side. I remember going to pacific side to play youth flag football against those bases.

[@emmanuelperez8094]

Fun Fact: Delta Operator Larry Vickers Participated in Operation Acid Gambit to Rescue Kurt Muse in Modelo Prison during Operation Just Cause

[@azimisyauqieabdulwahab9401]

Yes

[@joshm8926]

My dad served in the US Army as a infantry mortar man where he met my mother. I’m half Panamanian, so this is an amazing video to me.

[@SgtFluffytheoriginal]

A friend of mine has flags from one of the Compounds there. His parents were teachers at the US Base. He took it upon himself to "liberate" them after everything had calmed down.

[@musofir2204]

My father was stationed in Panama before the invasion. That's where he met my mother. Since I was born, I have lived between both the US and Panama. My large family in Panama is grateful for deposing Noriega, I grew up hearing their stories about how freedoms were being restricted. Today the country is doing much better. The economy is up and the capital has developed so much. I'm so happy to see this channel make video on Just Cause as it is a very important part of the history between Panama and the US. Thank you for making this for more people to learn. 🇵🇦

[@donatopirrod]

yeah, panama really did flourish after the US fucking left after a century of colonialism.

[@tetraxis3011]

Yea It did get better economy wise, but you lost your sovereignty. Panama is no essentially a US protectorate. Also, the US propped up Noriega. Classic US moment.

[@musofir2204]

@@tetraxis3011 We had lots of problems before Noriega. Torrijos was also a dictator. And if you think Panama's a protectorate now, then you haven't heard how it was back then. The Panama Canal zone wasn't even Panamanian territory, it was all US owned. We are much more of a sovereign nation now then we were then, but we choose to have good relations with the US.

[@brandoncortezemmanuel357]

My family in Panama is glad of the US intervention, they told me stories of the PDF beating people in the streets and tying them to light posts, kidnapping women, and executing those who protested the government.

[@donatopirrod]

@@tetraxis3011 not worse than the blatant Apartheid state and colonization, believe.

[@kursk_kuku141]

“Fucking Hudson. I should have smoked him on Nam’!” -Frank Woods, 2025

[@moscowvicent831]

Thank you so much i've been carried out this topic for so long Because in my town there is memorial war Mention this And I was so confused by head Because school and most books don't even talk about This Have you in the history channel never mentioned this so it's nice to know finally

[@sharonrigs7999]

The PDF knew they were screwed. But they still fought bravery and resisted. I can respect that.

[@stephenjenkins7971]

Eh, blind loyalty to a dictator isn't really laudable imho. If he was a democratic leader resisting imperialism then that's one thing, or even an enlightened dictator.

[@Frisher1]

I'm from here and I'm surprised by these stories in the video, as far as I was told most people ran away when the soldiers showed up, didn't know there was any resistance of the "No surrender" type

[@hamie7624]

​​@@stephenjenkins7971 fighting for some corrupt politician who lied and cheated his way to winning an election, like every is president, isnt laudable either. Democracy is a joke. And it wasnt just blind loyalty to Noriega. Theu were actually defending their home from an invading foreign army after all.

[@jonathanwilliams1065]

I have mixed feelings, on the one hand I can admire their bravery but on the other I know exactly how evil they were during peacetime and what they did to my first cousin once removed and what they almost did to my second cousin, his daughter who was 15 at the time, to mess with him but she thankfully got away

[@SniperFallen06]

​@@stephenjenkins7971they dint fight for him, they fought to protect our country, the régimen was evil but even so the love for the Nation is greater and paid the ultimate sacrifice

[@mymicrowaveisonfire25]

Dude you guys animation has improved so much over the years I mean look at this

[@rootin222]

2:09 He actually never cooled relations with the Soviets what happened was that he received token aid from Cuba and other left-leaning countries

[@rinaldostampatori1834]

Good video 👍❤

[@elanmartin2495]

When this video initially came out, I went in blind thinking it was Operation “Just Because”, implying we invaded Panama for no reason. Later on I realized it was “A Just Cause”

[@jonathanwilliams1065]

And it absolutely was a just cause, more so than other interventions we’ve done

[@mandalorian_guy]

The name was an invention by Colin Powell so that the press and even the invasions critics had to call it a "just cause". Remember folks, Persuade, Change, and Influence.

[@bluestealth7559]

Never thought I would see my own country on this channel, I still remember the stories of my family when it happened, Good video!

[@sethhowerton1489]

How old are you? I'm assuming you were either not around or too young to remeber?

[@bluestealth7559]

@@sethhowerton1489 Not around, I am referring to the stories of my parents during the invasion.

[@NoodleBoi-jf9ng]

The reason Noriega left the church is because US psy ops played Never Gonna Give You Up over and over again. The first rickroll ever was done by the US military.

[@nursestoyland]

Wait they played Rick Roll fr?

[@NoodleBoi-jf9ng]

@@nursestoyland yeah it’s the same strategy they use to break terrorists in Guantanamo. The only difference is that they play Metallica there.

[@yoboikamil525]

nah it was rock music

[@nursestoyland]

@@yoboikamil525 what I mean is that did they play Never Gonna Give You Up?

[@Dejaelvicio0emiliomelendez5072]

So many crimes and there was no death sentence for noriega simply because he worked for the CIA.

[@LeatherLaceStudios]

My first combat deployment as an AF Combat Controller with JSOC.. I was there two weeks before we invaded for pre invasion reconnaissance and preparation and I left March 17 1990… and in a matter of a few months we were on the way to the deserts of Saudi Arabia for our next big show

[@Dynamicavi8907]

nice video by the way, will you please upload a video on indo-pak kargil war?

[@normalplayer7377]

I have waited years for y'all to make a video on the Operation.

[@VCPDDetective]

Great video as usual Simple History. And I am curious if there will be a video on Operation Urgent Fury.

[@majormojo9830]

I never knew this. Thanks

[@edennguyen7766]

Should have gone somewhat in depth on Operation Nifty Package, where they forced Noriega out by playing Guns n Roses and AC/DC

[@radjadawamindra697]

And don't forget "Never Gonna Let You Down"

[@PenguinNoodleSoup]

@@radjadawamindra697 you mean "Never gonna give you up"?

[@radjadawamindra697]

@@PenguinNoodleSoup yes, Noriega was quite literally gets Rickrolled into surrendering.

[@lasombra1469]

@@radjadawamindra697 the first person to get Rickrolled in history lol

[@dylantriantis6005]

Nice video, I never knew about this event until now. How about you guys do a video on the Suez Canal Crisis in 1956?

[@Hamzakhan-dt3gv]

Interesting video 😮

[@Snepsi]

If you are curious about the mission of the Seal team, look up Untold Stories of the Navy Seals and there is a full documentary about their mission in particular.

[@calebbrekken4218]

Great video

[@luxembourg7682]

So why was the invasion condemned if it started with Panama declared war with the US? If the US attempted diplomacy would it have been more supported?

[@fiyahquacker2835]

Probably because the u.s went beyond overkill and drastically lowered the estimated civ causalities because apparently committing war crimes is OK when away with it while pretending to be the good guys.

[@Dennis-nc3vw]

@@fiyahquacker2835 92% of Panamanians approved of the invasion according to a poll by CBS.

[@SniperFallen06]

It wasnt a "Real" declaration of war, Noriega did not signed any proper declaration papers to do That so it was invalid

[@jonathanwilliams1065]

Because the UN hates America

[@abdiel.]

Noriega declaró la guerra si, pero la mayoría del pueblo panameño rechazaba su dictadura, hoy en día es una de las personas más odiadas en la historia panameña. La invasión es condenada por el exceso de fuerza aplicada, además del bombardeo a una comunidad llamada "El Chorrillo" donde murieron muchas personas inocentes.

[@skyr4tMusic]

The mismatch is so heavy that this is literally the you vs the guy she tells you not to worry about meme.

[@tommydotyjr.2966]

I don't see how the UN Assembly could say the invasion "violated international law". Noriega literally declared war on the US and attacked stationed US troops, we just gave him what he asked for 🤷‍♂️

[@justvincent2083]

Take's me back to Black Ops 2.

[@drkinferno72]

Josefina!!

[@aarontactical]

WOODS!!!!!!

[@musofir2204]

WHO IS NEXUS TARGET?????

[@mohrproductions9534]

Black Ops 2 Vibes

[@KingofPlans]

Yeah bo2 still a masterpiece

[@benjauron5873]

I was in the 82nd back in the 90s. My first platoon sergeant had a mustard stain and CIB from Panama.

[@chr1642]

You should do an informative video on the invasion of Grenada too

[@hilmust6278]

Watched a documentary on Noriega a few hours ago and some videos like 10 minutes ago, really good timing with this upload 😂

[@TexasGreed]

Want to go down a fun rabbit hole look up ole boy Lee Christmas and the story of the "banana republic"

[@musofir2204]

You should also look into Omar Torrijos. He was the ruler before Noriega and took him under his wing. Torrijos was a dictator as well but he died in a helicopter crash to Coclesito in Panama.

[@nicholasgrossman3194]

​@@TexasGreed yeah this is one of those Cia projects that's probably for the better right? At least Panama is rich now, even if they're a vassal state

[@hilmust6278]

@@musofir2204 did that too

[@aaroncabatingan5238]

​@@nicholasgrossman3194 They're not a vassal state. Just because they're under US protection doesn't mean they're a vassal state.

[@CanILaughInYourFace]

Those hoodies yall got are wicked cool just bought 4 of em 😅

[@DandifiedToe]

Fun fact for those who know about the Call of Duty series. So as many may now know there is a mission in Black Ops 2 where the player takes part in this invasion and Manuel Noriega is depicted. Noriega was upset with how he was depicted and tried to sue Activision for this but the case was quickly dismissed.

[@kaboom-ff6bu]

Interesting video

[@mjsock284]

A family friend was there. good video

[@miguelmoran9705]

Thanks fot this video! I live in Panamá, and i hear the stories of my parents and grandfather when that happens, they say it was pretty faster operation, thanks fot the video!

[@brunovb2650]

I was taken aback by the music, architecture and nature in your country.

[@stephenjenkins7971]

Hope Panama is doing well since then, friend ❤

[@miguelmoran9705]

@@brunovb2650 oh that's great, the culture here is pretty beautiful and more the food

[@miguelmoran9705]

The most impressive thing, was the dead of 4 SEAL soldiers, because the PDF was actually just civilian with weapons, not so trained in combat

[@brunovb2650]

@@miguelmoran9705 Yes, they did great!

[@daniel-qc8pq]

Such a great video! And Does everyone here learn about this operation from Black ops 2

[@AnthonySmith-ru8in]

Great video is important you mention this The 1989 Panamanian coup d'état attempt was a failed coup d'état which occurred in Panama City on 3 October. The attempt was led by Major Moisés Giroldi, supported by a group of officers who had returned from a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia.[1] Although the plotters succeeded in capturing Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, the coup was quickly suppressed. Giroldi, together with nine other members of the Panamanian Defense Forces, was executed on 3 and 4 October 1989. An eleventh participant died in prison after being tortured. These events became known as the "Albrook massacre". Albrook Massacre is result the US didn’t want to take Noriega and give their back to Panamenians soldiers.

[@SniperFallen06]

The CIA betrayed them cause the invasión planes were already made

[@shan9usfc]

SEALS: 4 killed 8 wounded, "More unnecessary casualties than expected." Meanwhile the VDV...

[@ThePolishBader]

Any chance we can get another video but on the US invasion of Grenada since it's almost more lesser-known then the invasion of Panama and I really like learning about it.

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@thurahtetaung5600]

Love your video can you do something about Myanmar plz?

[@Ghost23455]

When Activision wanted to make a mission on this operation in 2012

[@andresdelaguardia1536]

I love you channel and I was gladly surprised when you made a video about Panama. I was a 10-year old Panamanian during. Operation Just Cause. I lived though it and was old enough to remember. You got most of the details right; but you give too much credit to the PDF forces in the animations. The PDF was really a most incompetent military organization: the PDF was Noriega’s opression tool to Panama’s civilian population; but when it came to fight the Americans, most choose to fled or surrendered without a fight. In most cases the USA casualties arised from friendly fire, and not PDF fire. Monsignor Laboa was personally instrumental in convincing Noriega to voluntarily turn himself in. If Monsignor Laboa had not convinced Noriega to go voluntarily, we could have ended with a situation similar to Julian Assange’s prolonged stay at the Ecuadorian embassy in the UK from 2012 to 2019.

[@albertb.7147]

The " American freedom and democracy ".

[@Dennis-nc3vw]

Erm...yeah, that's exactly what this is. We removed a guy who nullified their elections, and replaced him with the guy they actually voted for. If that's not "freedom and democracy", there's not a thing in this world that is freedom and democracy.

[@b-wing9906]

Wow, this was converted into my favorite franchise

[@thenewongoam2486]

Can you make the Video of The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

[@localextremist2839]

Rico Rodriguez from just cause mustve been involved there!

[@arsenalxa4421]

I have two connections to Panama, one tangential, the other personal. My mom was born in the Panama Canal Zone when my grandfather was stationed there in 1955, so she's got dual citizenship. My tangential connection is from the ship I served in in the Navy, USS McFaul(DDG-74.) She is an Arleigh Burke class Guided Missile Destroyer named for Chief Engineman Donald L. McFaul who was a SEAL that was KIA during Operation Just Cause. His unit and another were tasked with taking an airfield to prevent Noriega from flying out. McFaul was fatally wounded when he dragged a wounded teammate to safety, his sacrifice inspiring the rest of his team to fight harder to achieve their objective. I've been tasked with spreading my mom's ashes down there when she passes. I have a personal theory regarding US military ops in the eighties. Granada was the proof of concept for new tactics post-Vietnam, Panama was the dress rehearsal, Desert Shield/Desert Storm was the real deal.

[@Intraz_pr]

Could you do one of the US Invasion of Puerto Rico??? And about the crimes committed by the US against the island of Puerto Rican Independence Movement, it’s one that no one talks about

[@afellawithrubella]

My old history teacher served in the invasion, he was an intelligence officer I believe

[@Brwigames]

The kinda intelligence officer who kidnaps people to be sent to Guantanamo Bay for "interrogation and detention"?