FILE – General Manuel Antonio Noriega (AP Photo)
The last time the US deposed a Latin American leader was in 1989, when US forces captured Gen Manuel Noriega in Panama. That episode holds some striking parallels to the capture of Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela on Saturday. In Dec 1989, President George HW Bush sent US troops into Panama to capture Noriega, who had been the country’s military dictator for about six years.Noriega, like Maduro, had been indicted on federal drug-trafficking charges. Months before both leaders were captured, the US built up its military presence around their countries. The two Latin American leaders, however, had very different responses. In Panama, Noriega declared war with the US. Maduro, however, said last week that he was eager to work with the US to avoid conflict, which was rejected by Trump. Around 27,000 troops participated in the operation in Panama, and 23 US troops were killed. Since Nov, the US has had around 15,000 military personnel in the Caribbean. According to Trump, no American troops were killed in Saturday’s operation. NYT
