The U.S. Invasion of Panama: The Truth Behind Operation 'Just Cause'

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Summary: A different viewpoint is always neccesary
Review: As an officer in SouthCom here in Miami, who participated in Operation Just Cause, I can only say that there were some soldiers who showed a lack of professional discipline while the invasion took place. This book goes too far, however, in labeling the entire campaign as criminal.

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Summary: Everyone deserves a word.
Review: Everyone does deserve a word to be heard, but I do have a problem with people who lie just to be heard. Like the other people who reviewed the book, I too was also there on the ground and doing something for which I believed. I was not only there for the invasion but I was there 5 months prior to the invasion. I saw how Noriega treated the people of Panama if they spoke out. They were lucky to see the next day or they just lived in fear.
"Yes", innocent people were killed, but not even close to the numbers that the book reports. Not even that many people were killed for the whole invasion. I am in no way saying that accidental killing of innocent people is acceptable in any way in a military action (people are held accountable), but it is a reality. Entire areas and neighborhoods being burned? We saw first hand of how Noriega's Dignity Battalion (nothing but a bunch of thugs who were already criminals) PDF, and other members of Noriega's little "Gestapo Like" units burn down their own countrymen's houses even BEFORE the invasion.
What reason did the US have for invading the country from within? Well, other than the drug shipments that moved freely through the canal going unchecked because Noriega was lining his pockets with Drug money, US citizens being harassed, beaten and killed by Noriega's hench men, Panamanian citizens being rapped, harassed, beaten and killed for speaking out, basic Human rights being violated for a long time by the Panamanian Govt., your right... we didn't have a reason to invade. War [stinks], and no matter what reason we had to go in, good people are going to lose their lives because of one person.

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Summary: Oooookay
Review: Jane Franklin must be a fantasy writer or maybe she works for Fidel Castro. The Truth Behind Operation Just Cause was anything but the truth. Since the research was done by an "Independent Commission of Inquiry" it gives the false impression that it is an unbiased fact based report, it is not. This report is pure garbage. I will never buy another book by this author.

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Summary: Lying for dollars!
Review: Jane Franklin owes everyone who has bought her book an apology, and a refund. Never before have I seen such a collection of outright fabrications. As a participant in Operation Just Cause I can tell you that the Panamaian people were nothing but glad to us. They hugged us in the streets, and invited us into their homes, even offered to share meals with us. Is this the way you treat U.S. soldiers who have just "Machine gunned" your Neighbors in the street? The American people should be proud of how the U.S. military conducted itself in Panama. Ms Franklin owes every U.S. service member who participated in Just Cause an apology. There are many other books about this Operation that are based on the truth, buy one of them instead. Leave this one in the trash bin where it belongs, with the other garbage.

Rating:
Summary: Oooookay
Review: Well,I really am speechless at the level of bull. As gunner in the lead aircraft on the initial assault and a key participant in the police actions thereafter, it pains me to see such false accusations of attrocities. In actuality the Battalion 2000, Guardia National and PDF were burning homes and killing civilians in hopes of turning the public against the troops. Troops had also setup firing positions in apartment buildings and other structures that were poorly constructed. True there were indviduals who acted inappropriately as there were many friendly fire incidents that luckily did not end up as catastrophes. Despite the glint tape, I personally was faced with the decision of not returning fire on US troops who engaged our aircraft (I won't mention any names but those who were there know exactly who I am referring to) despite a direct order to return fire, I chose not to as I had positively identified the target, we had the advantage of firepower and could climb out of small arms range. Also after the initial phase of the invasion US aircraft were used to medevac the wounded Panamanians to Cocosolo hospital and holding facility where humanitarian aid was given. We even had the task of guarding the very enemy soldiers that we wounded in the taking of the compound. This proves that there are professionals out there that this book insults with its release. If they want to slam someone slam the media for giving away the operation well in advance of it's execution. Or the mastermind that took our ammo away and forced us to play show and tell with empty weapons a week into the operation. They obviously didn't notice that the El Salvadorian Mechanizados had joined the fray evidenced by a V300 we knocked out the night before that was shooting into houses. In that situation a national was on the phone guiding us to the target. That is a bit of history that sets the mood for my disagreement and hopefully clarifies the perspective. I agree with the previous post that the author owes all the servicemen and women who participated in the operation an apology.