President George H.W. Bush said he ordered a military strike in Panama during an address to the nati

(20 Dec 1989) In a televised address from the Oval Office President George H.W. Bush said he ordered the military strike in Panama to seize Manuel Antonio Noriega and end threats and attacks against Americans. Reaction from Congress, both Democratic and Republican, was mostly favorable. Bush, hoping to break a nearly two-year-old stalemate with Noriega, dispatched 9,500 soldiers and Marines to back up the 13,000 U.S. troops already in Panama for a 1 a.m. assault against army bases and the general's headquarters. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...