U.S. Invades Panama: Noriega Falls From Power
Noriega walked into the Vatican embassy in Panama City wearing his general's uniform. American forces had been hunting him for three days. They surrounded the building. Then they started playing music. Van Halen. The Clash. AC/DC. Volume cranked to maximum. For ten days straight. The papal nuncio complained about the noise. Noriega's face was scarred from teenage acne. He'd been a CIA asset for 20 years. He knew too much about American operations in Central America. The music wasn't torture—it was negotiation. He surrendered when the U.S. promised him a trial instead of a bullet. The psychological warfare worked perfectly.
January 3, 1990
36 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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