James A. Baker
U.S. secretary of state

The United States, under international law, has an inherent right of self-defense.

On December 20, 1989, the United States invaded Panama in an attempt to overthrow military dictator Manuel Noriega, who had been indicted in the U.S. on drug trafficking charges and was accused of suppressing democracy in Panama and endangering U.S. nationals. Noriega's Panamanian Defense Forces were promptly crushed, forcing the dictator himself to seek asylum in the Vatican annunciate in Panama City, where he surrendered on January 3, 1990. During the 1960s, Noriega, a rising figure in the Panamanian military, was recruited by the CIA to assist in the U.S. struggle against the spread of communism in Central America. During the 1970s, Noriega became involved in drug trafficking and the U.S. government distanced itself from the general. However, as the effective ruler of Panama after 1981, Noriega supported U.S. initiatives in Central America, and in turn was praised by the White House, although a Senate committee concluded in 1983 that Panama was a major center for drug trafficking. In 1984, Noriega employed violence to prevent the election of Arnulfo Arias, a presidential candidate who opposed the domination of Noriega and the U.S. government in Panama. In the late 1980s, as the spread of communism became less of a threat, Noriega fell out of favor with the U.S. government. In February of 1988, Noriega was indicted on drug trafficking charges, and in May of 1989, he defrauded another presidential election and defeated Guillermo Endara, a candidate from the business opposition. Endara, far more likely than Noriega to respect American economic interests, immediately replaced Noriega as the Panamanian leader favored by the U.S. government. Noriega's long history of drug trafficking and human rights abuse were made public and economic sanctions were imposed against Panama. In December, U.S. President George Bush ordered an invasion of Panama, Noriega was arrested and extradited to the United States, and Guillermo Endara was declared president. In 1992, Noriega was found guilty on drug trafficking charges and sentenced to forty years in a U.S. federal prison.