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Ghosts of.... #2
Ghosts of Panama: A Strongman Out of Control, A Murdered Marine, and the Special Agents Caught in the Middle of an Invasion
Panama, 1989. The once warm relationship between United States and Gen. Manuel Noriega has eroded dangerously. Newly elected President George Bush has declared the strongman a drug trafficker and a rigger of elections. Intimidation on the streets is a daily reality for U.S. personnel and their families. The nation is a powder keg.
Naval Investigative Service (NIS) Special Agent Rick Yell has worked the job in Panama since 1986, and lives there with his wife Annya and infant child. Like most NIS agents, he’s a civilian with no military rank with a specialty in working criminal cases. The dynamic changes suddenly when Yell inadvertently develops an intelligence source with unparalleled access to the Noriega regime. Now the agent is thrust into a world of spy-versus-spy, of secret meetings and hidden documents.
Yell’s source – known as “The Old Man” – warns when Cuban military personnel arrive and identifies anti-American officers within the Panamanian Defense Forces, provides information about an imprisoned CIA asset and helps track Noriega’s movements, agitating for the dictator’s kidnapping. The reports created by Yell and his NIS colleagues shape the decisions made in Washington D.C., CIA headquarters in Langley and the innermost sanctums of Pentagon.
The powder keg is lit on December 16, 1989, when a young U.S. Marine is gunned down at a checkpoint in Panama City. Yell and his cadre of trusted agents deploy immediately to investigate the killing, and what they determine will decide the fate of two nations. When President Bush hears the details they uncover, he orders an invasion that puts Yell’s family, informants and fellow agents directly in harm’s way.
Using a blend of research and interviews with the NIS agents who were directly involved, Ghosts of Panama reveals the untold, clandestine story of counterintelligence professionals placed in a pressure cooker assignment of historic proportions.
Naval Investigative Service (NIS) Special Agent Rick Yell has worked the job in Panama since 1986, and lives there with his wife Annya and infant child. Like most NIS agents, he’s a civilian with no military rank with a specialty in working criminal cases. The dynamic changes suddenly when Yell inadvertently develops an intelligence source with unparalleled access to the Noriega regime. Now the agent is thrust into a world of spy-versus-spy, of secret meetings and hidden documents.
Yell’s source – known as “The Old Man” – warns when Cuban military personnel arrive and identifies anti-American officers within the Panamanian Defense Forces, provides information about an imprisoned CIA asset and helps track Noriega’s movements, agitating for the dictator’s kidnapping. The reports created by Yell and his NIS colleagues shape the decisions made in Washington D.C., CIA headquarters in Langley and the innermost sanctums of Pentagon.
The powder keg is lit on December 16, 1989, when a young U.S. Marine is gunned down at a checkpoint in Panama City. Yell and his cadre of trusted agents deploy immediately to investigate the killing, and what they determine will decide the fate of two nations. When President Bush hears the details they uncover, he orders an invasion that puts Yell’s family, informants and fellow agents directly in harm’s way.
Using a blend of research and interviews with the NIS agents who were directly involved, Ghosts of Panama reveals the untold, clandestine story of counterintelligence professionals placed in a pressure cooker assignment of historic proportions.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 19, 2024
595 people are currently reading
13399 people want to read
About the author
Mark Harmon
3 books106 followersThomas Mark Harmon is an American actor and producer who has worked in television, film, and theater. Born on September 2, 1951 in Burbank, California, Harmon turned down professional football to pursue acting. He worked odd jobs between acting gigs, including as a carpenter and shoe company rep, and appeared in Coors beer commercials. Harmon is best known for his role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the CBS crime series NCIS from 2003 to 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
September 4, 2024
Turns out you shouldn't trust drug dealers. Authors Leon Carroll and Mark Harmon tell the story of how the U.S. broke up with General Manual Noriega and set Panama free. The story follows various characters but mainly focuses on NIS (no, not NCIS, they didn't get named that yet) Special Agent Rick Yell. Yell and his wife Annya serve as the focal point, but there are a lot of other people mentioned including CIA agents.
Carroll is a former NCIS agent and, of course, Harmon is the former lead of the very popular NCIS TV show. This book unfolds very much like their first book, Ghosts of Honolulu, which was centered on the attack on Pearl Harbor. Both books are written for general audiences. They are short, to the point, and don't linger too long on any one person or event.
The writing style depends on your personal preference. For something like Panama, I would have preferred a bit more background since I am not well versed on Operation Just Cause. If you are looking for something you can knock out in a few hours with little fuss, then this is right up your alley. I should mention for the history nerds, there are sections where the authors mention they "recreated" some dialogue. This is not something I am a fan of and have railed against it in the past. However, it happens very little and the conversations are not entirely made up but pulled from documents which were not written as conversations. The rest of the book is well sourced. I would tell readers that this book would work well for most audiences, but for history nerds you may need another book after this to fill in some gaps.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Harper Select.)
Carroll is a former NCIS agent and, of course, Harmon is the former lead of the very popular NCIS TV show. This book unfolds very much like their first book, Ghosts of Honolulu, which was centered on the attack on Pearl Harbor. Both books are written for general audiences. They are short, to the point, and don't linger too long on any one person or event.
The writing style depends on your personal preference. For something like Panama, I would have preferred a bit more background since I am not well versed on Operation Just Cause. If you are looking for something you can knock out in a few hours with little fuss, then this is right up your alley. I should mention for the history nerds, there are sections where the authors mention they "recreated" some dialogue. This is not something I am a fan of and have railed against it in the past. However, it happens very little and the conversations are not entirely made up but pulled from documents which were not written as conversations. The rest of the book is well sourced. I would tell readers that this book would work well for most audiences, but for history nerds you may need another book after this to fill in some gaps.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Harper Select.)
December 26, 2024
one of the very first footnotes in this just says "[insert information from nyt article]" with a link. a lot of the others are just links. and i'm imagining what would happen if i tried to submit an undergrad history paper with sources done this poorly. it doesn't have to be this bad!! i am available if yall need some help proofreading the next one!
December 26, 2024
This book was a disjointed hodgepodge. I lived in Panama 1981-1983 and lived on Albrook Air station and worked on Howard Air Force Base. I moved around Panama extensively and found the book hard to follow-
but then, it’s hard to follow our own domestic politics
as well. I recommend you spend your valuable time
elsewhere!
but then, it’s hard to follow our own domestic politics
as well. I recommend you spend your valuable time
elsewhere!
February 26, 2025
I highly considered using PTO to sit home and finish this book. It’s super fast paced and tells the story of the US overthrowing Noriega and the Panamanian government in 1989. The authors are not traditional academic/authors but military and intelligence guys which can be obvious in the writing but I think adds to the story. A really good page turner where you learn so much about a mission and US power in overthrowing a dictator. I also appreciate how they constantly shared the opposing viewpoints in how the invasion was an overreach.
October 10, 2024
I now understand the appeal of this author. A not commonly told history that built well. Would recommend.
December 21, 2024
The invasion of Panama in 1989 remains controversial to this day.
Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll, Jr. has written a detailed account on the events that led to the war in Panama.
Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll, Jr. has written a detailed account on the events that led to the war in Panama.
October 19, 2025
I have to be honest … I really didn’t care for this book at all. It wasn’t very well written and tended to drone on and on. It took forever to go through only a few years.
I couldn’t figure out why it took so long to capture the notorious Manuel Noriega. They knew the laws he was breaking and even had a warrant issued at one point. Yet, they continued to follow him and even act like his friend at times. Why didn’t they just arrest him? The only reason I can come up with after reading this book is that he had information against the U.S. and some of our agencies and they didn’t want him to give that intelligence away.
Whatever.
I couldn’t figure out why it took so long to capture the notorious Manuel Noriega. They knew the laws he was breaking and even had a warrant issued at one point. Yet, they continued to follow him and even act like his friend at times. Why didn’t they just arrest him? The only reason I can come up with after reading this book is that he had information against the U.S. and some of our agencies and they didn’t want him to give that intelligence away.
Whatever.
December 21, 2024
This was a very informative book about the invasion of Panama that deposed Manual Noriega and ended his narco-state. It is told from the perspective of a NIS agent stationed in Panama who participated in intelligence gathering prior to the invasion and describes his experiences. It is a bit muddled and a bit dry for such a short book. This kept me from rating it higher. Overall, it was a decent book.
January 6, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Book Reflection: Ghosts of Panama by Mark Harmon
Rating: 3.5 stars
The book provides a concise history of the U.S. invasion of Panama and the subsequent takedown of General Noriega, while also offering a good overview of the history of the Panama Canal. This historical recap was particularly enlightening for me, as I was in high school at the time and geopolitics wasn’t something I gave much attention.
The book starts off slow, with some noticeable editing errors in the early chapters. Additionally, the footnotes feel lacking in quality and come across as somewhat immature in tone. However, the storylines improve about a third of the way through, making it more engaging as it progresses.
Interesting side note- I had no idea the Vatican embassy sheltered Noriega for a while before he gave himself up to US authorities.
Harmon concludes with a thoughtful reflections from the individuals highlighted through this account of Operation Just Cause. I would have liked to have heard their thoughts about the current state of Panama 🇵🇦 35 years after their involvement in the invasion. Was it worth it? Did the US have just cause? Did the US violate Panama’s sovereignty? Did this impact the drug cartels in Latin America?
Despite its rough start, the book offers valuable insights into Panama’s past.
Book Reflection: Ghosts of Panama by Mark Harmon
Rating: 3.5 stars
The book provides a concise history of the U.S. invasion of Panama and the subsequent takedown of General Noriega, while also offering a good overview of the history of the Panama Canal. This historical recap was particularly enlightening for me, as I was in high school at the time and geopolitics wasn’t something I gave much attention.
The book starts off slow, with some noticeable editing errors in the early chapters. Additionally, the footnotes feel lacking in quality and come across as somewhat immature in tone. However, the storylines improve about a third of the way through, making it more engaging as it progresses.
Interesting side note- I had no idea the Vatican embassy sheltered Noriega for a while before he gave himself up to US authorities.
Harmon concludes with a thoughtful reflections from the individuals highlighted through this account of Operation Just Cause. I would have liked to have heard their thoughts about the current state of Panama 🇵🇦 35 years after their involvement in the invasion. Was it worth it? Did the US have just cause? Did the US violate Panama’s sovereignty? Did this impact the drug cartels in Latin America?
Despite its rough start, the book offers valuable insights into Panama’s past.
February 16, 2025
I would like to first mention the authors of Ghost of Panama. Mark Harmon is not only an award winning actor, but also served as executive producer of NCIS. On the new series, NCIS:Origins, Harmon will serve as narrator in addition to executive producer. Harmon also wrote Ghosts of Honolulu. The co-author, Leon Carroll, Jr. of Ghosts of Panama, also served as technical advisor on NCIS for 21 seasons and is currently working on the new show NCIS:Origins. He was previously a commissioned officer in the US Marine Corp, attaining the rank of Major. He then began a 21 year career as a Special Agent with NCIS. How can you go wrong with a book written by 2 such accomplished gentlemen?
I found this book extremely interesting, and learned so much about what occurred in 1989 in Panama. Something that might be helpful to future readers of this book is that there are quite a few acronyms throughout. I found it very helpful to make a list of the acronyms as they were mentioned, and wrote down the acronyms and their meanings, so that when they were mentioned in the book again, I could refer to my notes.
Bravo to Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll, Jr., and thank you for your service Major Carroll! Next on my list of “to read” is Ghosts of Honolulu.
Thank you so much to the authors, Goodreads, the the publisher for gifting me this book.
I found this book extremely interesting, and learned so much about what occurred in 1989 in Panama. Something that might be helpful to future readers of this book is that there are quite a few acronyms throughout. I found it very helpful to make a list of the acronyms as they were mentioned, and wrote down the acronyms and their meanings, so that when they were mentioned in the book again, I could refer to my notes.
Bravo to Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll, Jr., and thank you for your service Major Carroll! Next on my list of “to read” is Ghosts of Honolulu.
Thank you so much to the authors, Goodreads, the the publisher for gifting me this book.
May 7, 2025
2.5. Attempts to be sweeping & page-turning, comes out irrelevant. Why so much about Collin Powell & direct quotes of GW Bush? I guess some people get off on hearing about specific weaponry & aircraft used in the invasion, though fail to see the relevance. Also attempts to be balanced by quoting some opposing American/international org’s views though there’s no analysis/reflection. Skims a tiny bit of history w/out acknowledging how we ended up in the situation. It’s all very American-centric, literally no voice from any Panamanians (besides the Old Man, who is “useful” as a source).
Pros: Hearing the dependents’ experiences was pretty interesting. We’d prob never put dependents in situations like this anymore, for good reason. I did learn some historical facts I wasn’t aware of.
This book is for the Zero Dark Thirty military-intelligence thriller vibes. This book is not for understanding Panama’s people/history, or US foreign affairs.
Sidebar, audiobook version - sometimes very awkward prosody esp in conversational quotes. Why, sir? You are an actor.
Pros: Hearing the dependents’ experiences was pretty interesting. We’d prob never put dependents in situations like this anymore, for good reason. I did learn some historical facts I wasn’t aware of.
This book is for the Zero Dark Thirty military-intelligence thriller vibes. This book is not for understanding Panama’s people/history, or US foreign affairs.
Sidebar, audiobook version - sometimes very awkward prosody esp in conversational quotes. Why, sir? You are an actor.
August 10, 2025
I’m gonna say this both as a compliment and as a critique: this book should have been a documentary or a docuseries
October 25, 2025
2.5/5
This is maybe a case of mismatched expectations because I was really expecting a book that went in depth into the political situation in Panama at the time--how they got to this point (sounds like the US was cool with Noriega until he was no longer politically convenient? Did we help install him? It was not explained very well) and how it escalated to the invasion--and the experiences of the Panamanian people at the time and this is... not that. It's probably mean but I did not find the people followed all that interesting, but I think that's because these were people in another country at a military base (which, should we have even had one? who knows, the authors didn't go into that) who were largely protected and not in nearly as much real danger as the Panamanian civilians who didn't ask for *any* of this. Military personnel who are sort of tangentially involved in this whole thing were just not the people I wanted to hear from, and the way the story was told was just kind of disjointed and not incredibly engaging. The couple of interesting flashpoints such as the gripping opening and the murder of Lt. Paz were never really followed up on, and the actual meat of the invasion and capture of Noriega is almost completely glossed over. This seemed really promising, but if you want to read about this chapter of history, I'd personally suggest a different book.
This is maybe a case of mismatched expectations because I was really expecting a book that went in depth into the political situation in Panama at the time--how they got to this point (sounds like the US was cool with Noriega until he was no longer politically convenient? Did we help install him? It was not explained very well) and how it escalated to the invasion--and the experiences of the Panamanian people at the time and this is... not that. It's probably mean but I did not find the people followed all that interesting, but I think that's because these were people in another country at a military base (which, should we have even had one? who knows, the authors didn't go into that) who were largely protected and not in nearly as much real danger as the Panamanian civilians who didn't ask for *any* of this. Military personnel who are sort of tangentially involved in this whole thing were just not the people I wanted to hear from, and the way the story was told was just kind of disjointed and not incredibly engaging. The couple of interesting flashpoints such as the gripping opening and the murder of Lt. Paz were never really followed up on, and the actual meat of the invasion and capture of Noriega is almost completely glossed over. This seemed really promising, but if you want to read about this chapter of history, I'd personally suggest a different book.
December 23, 2025
Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll Jr. have written a fast moving, real history espionage book that has accomplished my gold standard of making want to learn more about the US invasion of Panama and making me want to read their previous book Ghosts of Honolulu.
While this is yet another espionage/military history book that will have lots of names that you might not be able to keep track of too much, it is put together in a way that the reader can empathize and understand what the individuals involved are going through. It is also helpful that the overarching story of Operation Just Cause makes sense through what was probably a great research effort.
To be clear, this is a book on the intelligence officers of the NIS and the various military and intelligence efforts to box General Manuel Noriega into an untenable position. This is not a full blown political or military history book on the invasion of Panama, so do not go into this book thinking that. But it does have a decent if quick overview of the invasion, especially the battle for Panama City. But it is effective at its core mission to tell the basically untold story of those who prepared the ground for invasion, and it is a fun and quick read.
A recommend from me to anyone who is interested in intelligence and US involvement in Latin America.
While this is yet another espionage/military history book that will have lots of names that you might not be able to keep track of too much, it is put together in a way that the reader can empathize and understand what the individuals involved are going through. It is also helpful that the overarching story of Operation Just Cause makes sense through what was probably a great research effort.
To be clear, this is a book on the intelligence officers of the NIS and the various military and intelligence efforts to box General Manuel Noriega into an untenable position. This is not a full blown political or military history book on the invasion of Panama, so do not go into this book thinking that. But it does have a decent if quick overview of the invasion, especially the battle for Panama City. But it is effective at its core mission to tell the basically untold story of those who prepared the ground for invasion, and it is a fun and quick read.
A recommend from me to anyone who is interested in intelligence and US involvement in Latin America.
January 8, 2025
Incredibly well written. The way it tells the story surrounding the invasion is concise and descriptive at the same time, and isn't bogged down in overt politics or messaging - it's just the events as they unfolded.
On occasion, there is language that laymen may not understand and isn't clarified in the subnotes(one instance that springs to mind is the term G8 crimes, which I had to look up myself), although those are far and few between.
On occasion, there is language that laymen may not understand and isn't clarified in the subnotes(one instance that springs to mind is the term G8 crimes, which I had to look up myself), although those are far and few between.
June 19, 2025
Told from the fascinating perspective of the intelligence community, this book does a great job at describing the extensive preparation and the political debates that came with the American invasion of Panama in 1989. Such a small but exciting chapter in history has been overlooked for decades and makes for a good read and a good Call of Duty mission.
November 19, 2024
Ghosts of Panama by Mark Harmon & Leon Carroll. Jr.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The story of Operation Just Cause and the apprehension of Gen. Manuel Noriega.
I was actually excited to read this one as this was the first conflict the US was involved in after I left home after high school. Being a young man at the time, I didn’t really pay too much attention to the conflict but as the years went on, I became more curious. Some of the events were familiar but others were not and I didn’t realize some of the things that were part of the events leading up to OJC.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The story of Operation Just Cause and the apprehension of Gen. Manuel Noriega.
I was actually excited to read this one as this was the first conflict the US was involved in after I left home after high school. Being a young man at the time, I didn’t really pay too much attention to the conflict but as the years went on, I became more curious. Some of the events were familiar but others were not and I didn’t realize some of the things that were part of the events leading up to OJC.
December 31, 2024
Short and interesting non-fiction read about the lead up to the invasion of Panama. I feel like it helped fill a gap in my knowledge about the conflict. 4 stars just because of the consistent grammar and spelling errors throughout.
April 10, 2025
A very quick, easy read. I like how the authors balanced the many different characters, locations, and dates in order to tell the story. Their passion for sharing the important work of the agents involved was very apparent. I highly recommend “Ghosts of Panama” for anyone looking for a book that is difficult to put down.
December 10, 2025
This was a Goodreads giveaway win for me, written & told by Mark Harmon & NCIS Special Agent Leon Carroll, Jr. The history & untold story of the invasion of Panama make this story worth reading especially if you are a history buff. Thank you Goodreads!
December 19, 2025
Interesting book that gives you a feel for what was going on with the invasion of Panama. It really does try to be neutral and let you decide for yourself on American policy. I wish the fighting was covered in a bit more depth.
January 26, 2025
An enjoyable and informative book.
February 2, 2025
Gift from my brother in law. He received a more detailed and fiery review.
I am not the target audience for this type of book but it did stimulate my interest in the invasion of Panama. Get this for the dad in your life.
I am not the target audience for this type of book but it did stimulate my interest in the invasion of Panama. Get this for the dad in your life.
dropped-it-like-its-hot
April 28, 2025*Dropped at 24%*
August 18, 2025
I tuned it out quite often. I can recall names and specific events but I’m still not entirely sure of the point of the Panama invasion. Oops.
May 21, 2025
“If you’re going to get tarred with a brush, you might as well take down the whole PDF,” Powell said. “Pull it up by the roots.” The arrest of Noriega had blossomed into a full invasion.
WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?
- Panama, 1989. The once warm relationship between United States and Gen. Manuel Noriega has eroded dangerously. Newly elected President George Bush has declared the strongman a drug trafficker and a rigger of elections. Intimidation on the streets is a daily reality for U.S. personnel and their families. The nation is a powder keg.
- The powder keg is lit on December 16, 1989, when a young U.S. Marine is gunned down at a checkpoint in Panama City. Yell and his cadre of trusted agents deploy immediately to investigate the killing, and what they determine will decide the fate of two nations. When President Bush hears the details they uncover, he orders an invasion that puts Yell’s family, informants and fellow agents directly in harm’s way.
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES DETERIORATED
- President Reagan and his advisors finally soured on Noriega on December 12, 1985, when White House national security advisor John Poindexter was rudely rebuffed by the strongman during an attempted face-to-face meeting.
- In Panama, the Iran-Contra scandal claimed Manuel Noriega’s scheme to leverage the conflict in Nicaragua to cling to power…As more details about Panama’s involvement in the scandal came to light, Noriega’s position with the United States would become much more contentious.
CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR PANAMA TO REMOVE NORIEGA
- Reagan’s national security team saw the situation heading downhill. They needed an operational plan to remove Noriega, and in late March they directed SOUTHCOM to make one. The result received the meaningless code name Blue Spoon. It was more of an extended show of force, a psychological operation with a goal of internal regime change. Blue Spoon planned a gradual increase in U.S. troops in Panama, ratcheting up pressure on Noriega’s men to overthrow him.
INCREASING CONFLICT WITHIN PANAMA BEFORE INVASION
- The Marine company had been probed by as many as forty armed men, who were detected by the seismic sensors. A listening post had been set up along a streambed and the Marines ambushed them, trading small arms fire with the force…The firefight ended after two hours with a ceasefire brokered by a Panamanian captain who graduated from West Point.
- PDF soldiers were stopping American school buses filled with children, declaring them “registered improperly,” and holding the vehicles, drivers, and passengers at gunpoint…“an internal Defense Department document last month that charted almost 1,000 incidents where U.S. personnel were attacked physically or subjected to psychological intimidation.”
PLAN DEVELOPS INTO ENTIRE REGIME CHANGE
- “If you’re going to get tarred with a brush, you might as well take down the whole PDF,” Powell said. “Pull it up by the roots.” The arrest of Noriega had blossomed into a full invasion.
CHANGE IN COLD WAR DYNAMICS HURT NORIEGA
- But without the influence of the Soviet Union, things in Latin America were poised to change…At Bush’s inauguration, he declared “the day of the dictator is over.” In Panama, many hoped he meant Manuel Noriega.
- Noriega’s geopolitical role against Communists was also now less important than his role as a drug smuggler and enemy of proper democracy.
“JUST GIMME A REASON”
- In the Pentagon, Chairman Colin Powell remained committed to a forcible removal of Noriega and the destruction of his military. All Blue Spoon needed was a trigger.
- a U.S. Marine officer had been shot and killed by the PDF at a Panama City checkpoint…Haddad didn’t want to comply with their orders to get out of the car, and when it seemed they might tear them from the vehicle, he punched the accelerator and darted away from the roadblock.
- After the sudden violence, the PDF turned their attention to them [a family in a car behind the one with the Marine that had just been shot]. The couple was dragged from their car and detained. Adam Curtis was tied up and beaten with a hose. His wife was groped in front of him and threatened with rape.
- The military’s job was to take down the Panamanian military, and [U.S. diplomat] Bushnell’s job was to produce a civilian government.
CHANGE IN THE NAME OF THE MILITARY OPERATION
- By the time the troops arrived, Lt. Gen. Thomas Kelly had heard enough negative feedback about the operation’s name and had suggested a new one. Blue Spoon made no sense and conveyed no emotion, so he offered a more bold, righteous moniker. The name was sent up the chain of command and approved at the top: Operation Just Cause.
U.S. FORCES LOST TRACK OF NORIEGA FOR SEVERAL DAYS
- Military officials later said they lost track of Noriega the afternoon of December 19. “They had tabs on him until late afternoon,” said one official. As the invasion clock ticked inexorably forward, the military operation’s chief target had slipped out of sight.
THE BATTLE FOR PANAMA WAS NOT EASY
- The battle for the airport was more intense than expected—the PDF were not taken by surprise.
- the battle for Río Hato was underway. It took all night to secure the airfield, ending in room-to-room fighting with small arms and grenades. Four U.S. servicemen were killed and more than forty injured.
- The PDF’s headquarters had been pounded with 152mm shells from Sheridan tanks and various cannons aboard the AC-130 gunships, but by 3:45 p.m. La Comandancia was still not under U.S. control. After fifteen hours of punishment, the PDF soldiers inside were still not surrendering.
- there were two separate incidents of the AC-130 gunships firing on the U.S. forces attacking the PDF headquarters. These attacks wounded twenty-one men. It took until 6:00 p.m. to fully clean out the PDF from the remains of La Comandancia. Four U.S. soldiers were killed during the effort.
DEATH TOLL DURING THE OPERATION AND AMOUNT OF U.S. FORCES USED
- The U.S. invasion of Panama ultimately cost the lives of twenty-three U.S. soldiers and wounded three hundred. Just three U.S. civilians were killed. An estimated 314 PDF soldiers were killed.
- But the urban fighting took the steepest toll on Panamanian civilians. There was a debate over the numbers: the U.S. military claimed 202, the United Nations cited 500, and the Central American Human Rights Commission tallied more than 2,500. While even Human Rights Watch didn’t think the actual number was that high, the group rebuked the thinking behind Powell’s dedication to using overwhelming force in conflicts
- the final tally of U.S. forces in Panama for Just Cause topped off at 27,000.
VATICAN DIPLOMAT OFFERED NORIEGA SANCTUARY
- A nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomat, serving as a representative of the Holy See. Accepting his plea for sanctuary, the Vatican embassy had granted him asylum.
- But Noriega had found one place that would take him—the Vatican embassy.
- The invasion had been reduced to a surreal siege of a single building.
- Negotiations have brought “a Mexican standoff,” the official said, with church authorities rebuffing the request and trying—unsuccessfully so far—to find a country to take Noriega.
DEFINITE DIPLOMATIC NO-NO
- Colin Powell seethed as he watched the report from Panama on CNN. U.S. troops had forced their way into the home of Nicaraguan ambassador Antenor Ferrey.
ARGUMENTS THAT THE INVASION WAS WRONG TO DO
- The invasion was wrong because it violated Panama’s rights of national sovereignty and self-determination. It violated the principle, sacred in Latin America because of the history of U.S. intervention in another nation’s internal affairs.
- The invasion was wrong because it was illegal. It demonstrated yet again that the United States regards itself as above international law. The invasion violated the U.N. charter, the Rio Pact of 1947, the Bogota Charter of 1948, and the Panama Canal treaties of 1977. The Organization of American States condemned the invasion by a 20–1 vote.
NAVAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS
- [Now known as NCIS] Crim agents worked felony offenses directed against Department of the Navy property or personnel—and those committed by sailors and Marines—no matter where in the world they occurred. Any unattended or suspicious death fell into their investigative purview.
*** *** *** *** ***
FACTOIDS
- The Panamanian independence movement began in 1903 after the Colombians said no to a treaty transferring the canal project to Americans…On November 13, 1903, over Colombia’s impotent protests, the U.S. formally recognized the country of Panama and the term “gunboat diplomacy” had a new gold standard.
- Panama Canal Treaty in 1977. The document, signed by President Jimmy Carter, ended the company by 1979 and agreed to hand the Panamanian government control of the canal on December 31, 1999. Signed with it, and less cited, was the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, in which the U.S. retained the permanent right to defend the canal from any threat that might interfere with its neutral service.
- Panama adopted the dollar as currency when the nation split from Colombia, making them a preferred provider of U.S. currency for Latin America. That drew the attention of cartels in Colombia and Peru.
- With Stiner’s approval, a psychological operations group set up speakers and blasted the nunciature with rock music, played ceaselessly at an earsplitting volume. The playlist was inspired: “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses, “Wanted Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi, “The End” by The Doors, “No More Mr. Nice Guy” by Alice Cooper, and “Give It Up” by KC and the Sunshine Band.
HAHA
- Staggering into the airport, Muse [rescued U.S. hostage] saw an immigration booth and cringed. “Bob,” he said. “I don’t have any papers.” The immigration officer laughed. “I wouldn’t worry about it.” Bob approached the Customs station first. “Do you have anything to declare?” the Customs officer asked. The CIA officer hooked a thumb at Muse. “Just him.”
*** *** *** *** ***
BONUS
- Building the Panama Canal: https://youtu.be/uE_UuHRtXCY?si=myHKL...
- Capture of American from downed CIA supply plane in Nicaragua helped expose Iran-Contra story: https://youtu.be/EepCK_FMXj4?si=v_NPT...
- Operation JUST CAUSE and mission to rescue Kurt Muse (ACID GAMBIT) explained: https://youtu.be/Zv9qJ63URSQ?si=nLKV4...
- Pres Bush address following invasion: https://youtu.be/wsIKRG0P6tk?si=Hhv4U...
- Capture of Noriega: https://youtu.be/UfKaMY4rDVY?si=k2M7m...
- M113 armored personnel carrier: https://youtu.be/rLBY212SWbg?si=0qMYQ...
- M551 Sheridan tank: https://youtu.be/JrdCzGsPCrk?si=nZvsw...
- M61 20mm Vulcan cannon: https://youtu.be/K3Dp6Fass2Y?si=bOgTI...
WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?
- Panama, 1989. The once warm relationship between United States and Gen. Manuel Noriega has eroded dangerously. Newly elected President George Bush has declared the strongman a drug trafficker and a rigger of elections. Intimidation on the streets is a daily reality for U.S. personnel and their families. The nation is a powder keg.
- The powder keg is lit on December 16, 1989, when a young U.S. Marine is gunned down at a checkpoint in Panama City. Yell and his cadre of trusted agents deploy immediately to investigate the killing, and what they determine will decide the fate of two nations. When President Bush hears the details they uncover, he orders an invasion that puts Yell’s family, informants and fellow agents directly in harm’s way.
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES DETERIORATED
- President Reagan and his advisors finally soured on Noriega on December 12, 1985, when White House national security advisor John Poindexter was rudely rebuffed by the strongman during an attempted face-to-face meeting.
- In Panama, the Iran-Contra scandal claimed Manuel Noriega’s scheme to leverage the conflict in Nicaragua to cling to power…As more details about Panama’s involvement in the scandal came to light, Noriega’s position with the United States would become much more contentious.
CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR PANAMA TO REMOVE NORIEGA
- Reagan’s national security team saw the situation heading downhill. They needed an operational plan to remove Noriega, and in late March they directed SOUTHCOM to make one. The result received the meaningless code name Blue Spoon. It was more of an extended show of force, a psychological operation with a goal of internal regime change. Blue Spoon planned a gradual increase in U.S. troops in Panama, ratcheting up pressure on Noriega’s men to overthrow him.
INCREASING CONFLICT WITHIN PANAMA BEFORE INVASION
- The Marine company had been probed by as many as forty armed men, who were detected by the seismic sensors. A listening post had been set up along a streambed and the Marines ambushed them, trading small arms fire with the force…The firefight ended after two hours with a ceasefire brokered by a Panamanian captain who graduated from West Point.
- PDF soldiers were stopping American school buses filled with children, declaring them “registered improperly,” and holding the vehicles, drivers, and passengers at gunpoint…“an internal Defense Department document last month that charted almost 1,000 incidents where U.S. personnel were attacked physically or subjected to psychological intimidation.”
PLAN DEVELOPS INTO ENTIRE REGIME CHANGE
- “If you’re going to get tarred with a brush, you might as well take down the whole PDF,” Powell said. “Pull it up by the roots.” The arrest of Noriega had blossomed into a full invasion.
CHANGE IN COLD WAR DYNAMICS HURT NORIEGA
- But without the influence of the Soviet Union, things in Latin America were poised to change…At Bush’s inauguration, he declared “the day of the dictator is over.” In Panama, many hoped he meant Manuel Noriega.
- Noriega’s geopolitical role against Communists was also now less important than his role as a drug smuggler and enemy of proper democracy.
“JUST GIMME A REASON”
- In the Pentagon, Chairman Colin Powell remained committed to a forcible removal of Noriega and the destruction of his military. All Blue Spoon needed was a trigger.
- a U.S. Marine officer had been shot and killed by the PDF at a Panama City checkpoint…Haddad didn’t want to comply with their orders to get out of the car, and when it seemed they might tear them from the vehicle, he punched the accelerator and darted away from the roadblock.
- After the sudden violence, the PDF turned their attention to them [a family in a car behind the one with the Marine that had just been shot]. The couple was dragged from their car and detained. Adam Curtis was tied up and beaten with a hose. His wife was groped in front of him and threatened with rape.
- The military’s job was to take down the Panamanian military, and [U.S. diplomat] Bushnell’s job was to produce a civilian government.
CHANGE IN THE NAME OF THE MILITARY OPERATION
- By the time the troops arrived, Lt. Gen. Thomas Kelly had heard enough negative feedback about the operation’s name and had suggested a new one. Blue Spoon made no sense and conveyed no emotion, so he offered a more bold, righteous moniker. The name was sent up the chain of command and approved at the top: Operation Just Cause.
U.S. FORCES LOST TRACK OF NORIEGA FOR SEVERAL DAYS
- Military officials later said they lost track of Noriega the afternoon of December 19. “They had tabs on him until late afternoon,” said one official. As the invasion clock ticked inexorably forward, the military operation’s chief target had slipped out of sight.
THE BATTLE FOR PANAMA WAS NOT EASY
- The battle for the airport was more intense than expected—the PDF were not taken by surprise.
- the battle for Río Hato was underway. It took all night to secure the airfield, ending in room-to-room fighting with small arms and grenades. Four U.S. servicemen were killed and more than forty injured.
- The PDF’s headquarters had been pounded with 152mm shells from Sheridan tanks and various cannons aboard the AC-130 gunships, but by 3:45 p.m. La Comandancia was still not under U.S. control. After fifteen hours of punishment, the PDF soldiers inside were still not surrendering.
- there were two separate incidents of the AC-130 gunships firing on the U.S. forces attacking the PDF headquarters. These attacks wounded twenty-one men. It took until 6:00 p.m. to fully clean out the PDF from the remains of La Comandancia. Four U.S. soldiers were killed during the effort.
DEATH TOLL DURING THE OPERATION AND AMOUNT OF U.S. FORCES USED
- The U.S. invasion of Panama ultimately cost the lives of twenty-three U.S. soldiers and wounded three hundred. Just three U.S. civilians were killed. An estimated 314 PDF soldiers were killed.
- But the urban fighting took the steepest toll on Panamanian civilians. There was a debate over the numbers: the U.S. military claimed 202, the United Nations cited 500, and the Central American Human Rights Commission tallied more than 2,500. While even Human Rights Watch didn’t think the actual number was that high, the group rebuked the thinking behind Powell’s dedication to using overwhelming force in conflicts
- the final tally of U.S. forces in Panama for Just Cause topped off at 27,000.
VATICAN DIPLOMAT OFFERED NORIEGA SANCTUARY
- A nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomat, serving as a representative of the Holy See. Accepting his plea for sanctuary, the Vatican embassy had granted him asylum.
- But Noriega had found one place that would take him—the Vatican embassy.
- The invasion had been reduced to a surreal siege of a single building.
- Negotiations have brought “a Mexican standoff,” the official said, with church authorities rebuffing the request and trying—unsuccessfully so far—to find a country to take Noriega.
DEFINITE DIPLOMATIC NO-NO
- Colin Powell seethed as he watched the report from Panama on CNN. U.S. troops had forced their way into the home of Nicaraguan ambassador Antenor Ferrey.
ARGUMENTS THAT THE INVASION WAS WRONG TO DO
- The invasion was wrong because it violated Panama’s rights of national sovereignty and self-determination. It violated the principle, sacred in Latin America because of the history of U.S. intervention in another nation’s internal affairs.
- The invasion was wrong because it was illegal. It demonstrated yet again that the United States regards itself as above international law. The invasion violated the U.N. charter, the Rio Pact of 1947, the Bogota Charter of 1948, and the Panama Canal treaties of 1977. The Organization of American States condemned the invasion by a 20–1 vote.
NAVAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS
- [Now known as NCIS] Crim agents worked felony offenses directed against Department of the Navy property or personnel—and those committed by sailors and Marines—no matter where in the world they occurred. Any unattended or suspicious death fell into their investigative purview.
*** *** *** *** ***
FACTOIDS
- The Panamanian independence movement began in 1903 after the Colombians said no to a treaty transferring the canal project to Americans…On November 13, 1903, over Colombia’s impotent protests, the U.S. formally recognized the country of Panama and the term “gunboat diplomacy” had a new gold standard.
- Panama Canal Treaty in 1977. The document, signed by President Jimmy Carter, ended the company by 1979 and agreed to hand the Panamanian government control of the canal on December 31, 1999. Signed with it, and less cited, was the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, in which the U.S. retained the permanent right to defend the canal from any threat that might interfere with its neutral service.
- Panama adopted the dollar as currency when the nation split from Colombia, making them a preferred provider of U.S. currency for Latin America. That drew the attention of cartels in Colombia and Peru.
- With Stiner’s approval, a psychological operations group set up speakers and blasted the nunciature with rock music, played ceaselessly at an earsplitting volume. The playlist was inspired: “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses, “Wanted Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi, “The End” by The Doors, “No More Mr. Nice Guy” by Alice Cooper, and “Give It Up” by KC and the Sunshine Band.
HAHA
- Staggering into the airport, Muse [rescued U.S. hostage] saw an immigration booth and cringed. “Bob,” he said. “I don’t have any papers.” The immigration officer laughed. “I wouldn’t worry about it.” Bob approached the Customs station first. “Do you have anything to declare?” the Customs officer asked. The CIA officer hooked a thumb at Muse. “Just him.”
*** *** *** *** ***
BONUS
- Building the Panama Canal: https://youtu.be/uE_UuHRtXCY?si=myHKL...
- Capture of American from downed CIA supply plane in Nicaragua helped expose Iran-Contra story: https://youtu.be/EepCK_FMXj4?si=v_NPT...
- Operation JUST CAUSE and mission to rescue Kurt Muse (ACID GAMBIT) explained: https://youtu.be/Zv9qJ63URSQ?si=nLKV4...
- Pres Bush address following invasion: https://youtu.be/wsIKRG0P6tk?si=Hhv4U...
- Capture of Noriega: https://youtu.be/UfKaMY4rDVY?si=k2M7m...
- M113 armored personnel carrier: https://youtu.be/rLBY212SWbg?si=0qMYQ...
- M551 Sheridan tank: https://youtu.be/JrdCzGsPCrk?si=nZvsw...
- M61 20mm Vulcan cannon: https://youtu.be/K3Dp6Fass2Y?si=bOgTI...
November 25, 2025
3.5 STARS
January 9, 2025
Location was everything for me in this book. I spent most of my teenage and young adult years as a Zonian and Army brat. Panama was an amazing place to spent those years and The Canal Zone was a form of Paradise.
I found this to be a very white-washed version of American history.
The authors seemed to skip over the aspect that our own CIA handpicked Noriega and helped him dispose of his predecessor in a plane crash. Noriega was America’s darling until he got selfish…. Then we invaded a beautiful country and innocent citizens to get him out of power.
If it weren’t for my personal connection to this story, I might have made this a DNF. The material reads like an encyclopedia and lacks the flair/passion of Panamanians.
If you want a more accurate view of our involvement in Panama, read THE NEW CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HITMAN
I found this to be a very white-washed version of American history.
The authors seemed to skip over the aspect that our own CIA handpicked Noriega and helped him dispose of his predecessor in a plane crash. Noriega was America’s darling until he got selfish…. Then we invaded a beautiful country and innocent citizens to get him out of power.
If it weren’t for my personal connection to this story, I might have made this a DNF. The material reads like an encyclopedia and lacks the flair/passion of Panamanians.
If you want a more accurate view of our involvement in Panama, read THE NEW CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HITMAN
September 6, 2025
Disjointed.
December 11, 2024
History — Military — Intelligence — Espionage
Panama 1989. General Manuel Noriega and the US relationship is on a downhill slide.
If you enjoy the original TV show NCIS with Jethro Gibbs ( aka Mark Hartman), you will want to read this book. Mark Harman and Leo Carroll, Jr. (NCIS Special Agent Retired) are co-authors. Delve into the accounting of the story that made history in the late 1980’s.
Panama 1989. General Manuel Noriega and the US relationship is on a downhill slide.
If you enjoy the original TV show NCIS with Jethro Gibbs ( aka Mark Hartman), you will want to read this book. Mark Harman and Leo Carroll, Jr. (NCIS Special Agent Retired) are co-authors. Delve into the accounting of the story that made history in the late 1980’s.
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