Operation Just Cause was the invasion of Panama by the United States, taking place between December 20 1989 and January 31 1990
10 Years after thee Torrijos-Carter Treaties were ratified transferring control of the Panama Canal from the U.S. to Panama by 2000. The invasion resulted in in the then current Panamanian leader A dictator named Manuel Noriega being deposed and replaced with President Elect Guillermo Endara, and the Panamanian Defence force being dissolved.
In 1986 Ronald Reagan attempted to negotiate with Noriega, requesting that he step down peacefully after being exposed in the Iran Contra Affair. Noriega was pressured with drug related indictments. Extradition laws between Panama and the U.S. however were weak, and Noriega thought the threat to lack credibility. After May of 1989 when Endara was elected president, defeating Noriega's preferred man Noriega supporters attacked Endara's motorcade and beat him. Noriega declared the election Null and took over