Maduro capture echoes Noriega takedown that used rock music as psychological warfare against dictator

The U.S. seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his woman connected Saturday is reviving memories of nan melodramatic 1989 takedown of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, which coincidentally took spot 36 years agone to nan time of Maduro's Jan. 3 capture.

Under erstwhile President George H.W. Bush, U.S. forces launched a surprise invasion of Panama successful nan early hours of Dec. 20, 1989, accusing Noriega of colluding pinch supplier traffickers to chimney cocaine into America. 

He had besides faced allegations of manipulating nan country's 1989 statesmanlike election.

"The extremity was to reconstruct nan democratically elected authorities of Guillermo Endara and apprehension Noriega connected supplier trafficking charges," arsenic noted connected nan U.S. Army's website. "At nan time, Operation Just Cause was nan largest and astir analyzable combat cognition since nan Vietnam War."

Similarly to Saturday's cognition involving Maduro, nan Panama invasion proceeded without definitive authorization from Congress, according to Axios. 

MADURO MET CHINESE ENVOY HOURS BEFORE US CAPTURE FROM CARACAS AS BEIJING SLAMS OPERATION

Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega astatine a ceremonial commemorating nan decease of nan nationalist hero, Omar Torrijo, successful Panama City.  (Bill Gentile/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

Noriega’s capture, however, unfolded complete respective weeks arsenic he evaded apprehension by taking refuge wrong nan Vatican’s embassy successful Panama City.

U.S. troops utilized psychological warfare to unit Noriega retired of hiding.

In a maneuver known arsenic "Operation Nifty Package," subject vehicles pinch loudspeakers blasted non-stop stone music, pinch a playlist that included songs by The Clash, Van Halen and U2, BBC News reported.

Noriega yet surrendered to U.S. forces connected Jan. 3, 1990, 36 years to nan time earlier nan U.S. seizure of Maduro, and was flown to America to guidelines trial, Axios reported.

MADURO-BACKED TDA GANG’S EXPANSION INTO US CITIES EMERGES AS KEY FOCUS OF SWEEPING DOJ INDICTMENT

Former Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega is pictured successful this Jan. 4, 1990, record photo. (Reuters/HO JDP)

The cognition resulted successful nan deaths of 23 U.S. work members and near 320 others wounded. The Pentagon estimated that astir 200 Panamanian civilians and 314 Panamanian subject unit were killed, according to nan Associated Press.

In 1992, Noriega was convicted connected supplier trafficking charges successful a Miami national court and received a 40-year situation sentence.

He was granted prisoner-of-war status, housed successful a abstracted bungalow distant from different inmates, and was allowed to deterioration his Panamanian subject azygous and insignia successful court, nan AP reported.

WASHINGTON POST PRAISES TRUMP'S VENEZUELA OPERATION AS 'UNQUESTIONABLE TACTICAL SUCCESS'

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro addresses supporters during a rally marking nan day of nan 19th-century Battle of Santa Ines successful Caracas, Venezuela, connected Dec. 10.  (Pedro Rances Mattey/Anadolu via Getty Images)

After serving 17 years successful a U.S. prison, he was extradited to France and later Panama. He died successful 2017, according to nan AP.

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that Maduro and his woman had been captured and flown retired of nan state arsenic portion of "Operation Absolute Resolve."

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In caller months, nan U.S. subject has carried retired a bid of strikes connected suspected supplier vessels allegedly tied to nan Venezuelan authorities successful nan Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific. 

Until a imperishable leader tin beryllium found, nan U.S. authorities will "run" Venezuela, Trump said, "until specified clip arsenic we tin do a safe, due and judicious transition."