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

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

Under erstwhile President George H.W. Bush, U.S. forces launched a astonishment penetration of Panama successful the aboriginal hours of Dec. 20, 1989, accusing Noriega of conspiring with cause traffickers to funnel cocaine into America. 

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

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

Similarly to Saturday's cognition involving Maduro, the Panama penetration proceeded without explicit 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 the decease of the nationalist hero, Omar Torrijo, successful Panama City.  (Bill Gentile/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

Noriega’s capture, however, unfolded implicit respective weeks arsenic helium evaded apprehension by taking refuge wrong the Vatican’s embassy successful Panama City.

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

In a maneuver known arsenic "Operation Nifty Package," subject vehicles with loudspeakers blasted non-stop stone music, with 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 the time earlier the U.S. seizure of Maduro, and was flown to America to basal 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 the 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 the Associated Press.

In 1992, Noriega was convicted connected cause trafficking charges successful a Miami national tribunal 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, the AP reported.

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

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro addresses supporters during a rally marking the day of the 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, helium was extradited to France and aboriginal Panama. He died successful 2017, according to the AP.

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

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

Until a imperishable person tin beryllium found, the U.S. authorities volition "run" Venezuela, Trump said, "until specified clip arsenic we tin bash a safe, due and judicious transition."