Just after midnight on December 20, 1989 the U.S. launched a massive attack on the tiny Republic of Panama or, more correctly, on her dictator, Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega and his army. The story of the invasion and the events leading up to it is laced with international intrigue, dirty deeds, abuse of power, Latin American political strife; and has a cast of characters even featuring a Brazilian witch who escaped from the clutches of U.S. soldiers. This book is a factual and pictorial account of events which, had they been presented in the form of a novel, would scarcely have been believable. In order to understand why the U.S.A. invaded Panama's sovereign territory, causing severe loss of life and risking international censure, it is necessary to trace Panama's history from the Republic in 1903. It is clear that Uncle Sam, apart from an undeniable responsibility for paternity, has always maintained his role of disciplinarian over the problematic republic. Uncle Sam was negligent in recent years, however, and had allowed his own secret agent, Manuel Noriega to rise to dictatorship of Panama. Using his army, the Panama Defense Forces, beefed up by U.S. funds, and backed by corrupt local politicians, Noriega browbeat his opposition and thumbed his nose at the U.S., finally instructing his compliant assembly to declare itself at war with the U.S.A. The U.S. responded in a dramatic fashion and achieved all their objectives, including the hide of General Noriega who has been tried and convicted in Florida on drug trafficking charges. U.S. soldiers probing Noriega's military lairs and opulent homes uncovered illuminating facets of his character, his megalomania and his predilection for the dark forces of the occult.