On this day in 1989, President George H. W. Bush ordered the U.S. invasion of Panama. The relationship between the United States and Panama had been deteriorating since the mid-1980s, when President Reagan pressured Noriega with several drug-related charges in the U.S. In response, Noriega leaned closer to the Soviets.

After the Panamanian government announced that the U.S. had created a state of war within the Latin American country and fire had been exchanged at U.S. roadblocks, President Bush made the call to invade Panama at 0100 hours on December 20.

You can read on at the link to learn more about the decision to invade Panama and “Hard Rock Hotel Panama.”