ABSTRACT
The use of American military power to overthrow Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega is worth examining in some detail because it is the first major post-Cold War crisis. The invasion of Panama had nothing to do with communism, or the threat of communism, or any American treaties or promises to contain that threat. In the aftermath of the invasion, Panama rapidly withdrew from the limelight of American foreign policy. American action against Noriega involved several critical presidential decisions in both the Reagan and Bush administrations. The decisions by Presidents Reagan and Bush to impose economic sanctions and order an invasion of Panama were not controversial. George Bush had personal reasons to be concerned about the trade-offs made in America's early dealings with Noriega. According to one report, the major issue raised by Bush in December 1976 was not bombs, or spies and counter spies, or illegal activities, but whether or not Torrijos was a communist.
