Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This January marks the anniversary of the conclusion of Operation Just Cause, which began days before Christmas, on December 20, 1989, when about 27,000 US troops deployed to Panama. Their mission was to capture Panama’s notorious dictator, General Manuel Noriega, whom the US had indicted for drug trafficking. Noriega had also been suppressing unarmed demonstrators, gathering intelligence on the local population, and harassing Americans - wielding weapons from the Soviet bloc. In this episode, SpyCast Host Sasha Ingber sits down with International Spy Museum Executive Director Chris Costa, who was an intelligence officer on the ground during the invasion, and he takes us from the first mortar to the moment when Noriega surrendered to US forces.
Learn about:
➡️ The factors that led the US to invade Panama
➡️ Chris Costa’s counterintelligence role in interviewing Panamanian detainees
➡️ What events happened during the invasion in the early morning hours of December 20, 1989
➡️ General Noriega’s surrender
➡️ Similarities and differences between the operation in Panama and the recent operation in Venezuela to capture Nicolás Maduro
Follow us:
Facebook: facebook.com/IntlSpyMuseum
Twitter: x.com/intlspymuseum
Instagram: instagram.com/spymuseum
The International Spy Museum® is an independent nonprofit organization. Generous support from viewers like you fuel our nonprofit mission and make our collection, exhibits, and educational programs like this possible. DONATE here: bit.ly/3NUqU9C
Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: sashaingber.substack.com
This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, N2K Networks, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs.
The Spy Museum does not endorse, approve, or support the opinions stated by guest speakers. Statements made by speakers do not represent the position or opinion of the International Spy Museum.
This January marks the anniversary of the conclusion of Operation Just Cause, which began days before Christmas, on December 20, 1989, when about 27,000 US troops deployed to Panama. Their mission was to capture Panama’s notorious dictator, General Manuel Noriega, whom the US had indicted for drug trafficking. Noriega had also been suppressing unarmed demonstrators, gathering intelligence on the local population, and harassing Americans - wielding weapons from the Soviet bloc. In this episode, SpyCast Host Sasha Ingber sits down with International Spy Museum Executive Director Chris Costa, who was an intelligence officer on the ground during the invasion, and he takes us from the first mortar to the moment when Noriega surrendered to US forces.
Learn about:
➡️ The factors that led the US to invade Panama
➡️ Chris Costa’s counterintelligence role in interviewing Panamanian detainees
➡️ What events happened during the invasion in the early morning hours of December 20, 1989
➡️ General Noriega’s surrender
➡️ Similarities and differences between the operation in Panama and the recent operation in Venezuela to capture Nicolás Maduro
Follow us:
Facebook: facebook.com/IntlSpyMuseum
Twitter: x.com/intlspymuseum
Instagram: instagram.com/spymuseum
The International Spy Museum® is an independent nonprofit organization. Generous support from viewers like you fuel our nonprofit mission and make our collection, exhibits, and educational programs like this possible. DONATE here: bit.ly/3NUqU9C
Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: sashaingber.substack.com
This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, N2K Networks, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs.
The Spy Museum does not endorse, approve, or support the opinions stated by guest speakers. Statements made by speakers do not represent the position or opinion of the International Spy Museum.
