European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 21, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Inside stripes d Europe faces Tough sledding no Snow Page 2 q Fri suspects racists in series of bomb attacks Page 5 o Sacramento gives sack to Russell Page 17 o move of choppers delayed again Page 24 the  authori2cg unofficial publication for the . Armed forces vol.4b.no.248 i thursday december 21, 1989 my Good morning d 8693 a . Assault in Panama topples Noriega regime Panama City Panama a . Troops smashed the regime of Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega on wednesday and installed a new government but the military ruler who antagonized a superpower fled into hiding and his loyalists seized some americans. More than 20,000 troops backed by warplanes began their invasion shortly after i . Wednesday under a full Moon pounding panamanian military installations in and around the capital with mortar can non and machine gun fire. In the Early afternoon smoke Rose from the shattered Headquarters of Noriega s defense forces and sporadic gunfire was heard in the distance. Wide spread looting broke out. In the san Miguelito neighbourhood to the Northeast attack jets bombed and helicopters strafed a defense forces Barracks atop a Hill. More than 50 bodies were counted by one Hospital Early in the fighting but additional dead flooded i after Daybreak. Hundreds were reported wounded. Officials in Washington said 11 american service men were killed one was missing and 59 wounded in the fighting. One . Civilian a woman also was reported slain. Some of the . Wounded arrived for treatment atthe air Force s Wilford Hall medical Center in san Antonio tex., a spokeswoman said. The soldiers arrived at Kelly fab about 11 45 . And were being taken to the Hospital said airman Cynthia font not. Flat a i lakes cout during the Ashling in Panama. Cheney says plan made months ago she would not say How Many casualties were being taken to the Hospital or How serious their injuries were. President Bush said wednesday he ordered the strike in Panama to seize Noriega and put an end to reckless threats and attacks against . Citizens there. Noriega was in hiding and . Officials said heis a fugitive on the run. Secretary of state James Baker told a news Confer ence another reason for the attack was to allow . Officials consider to be the elected government of Panama to take  Guillermo Endara an opposition Leader who inter National observers say won presidential elections last May that were annulled by Noriega s government was sworn in As president at about the Lime the attack began. Bush hoping to break a nearly two year old stale mate with Noriega dispatched 7,000 soldiers and marines to Back up the More than 12,000 . Troops already in Panama for the assault against panamanian army bases and the general s Headquarters. Some . Citi cons were seized from the Marriott hotel in Panama City defense department spokes Man Pete Williams said. A panamanian official Saidon National radio that 40 . Citizens were being held and reporters saw at least five people taken from the hotel by armed men believed to be members of Noriega s paramilitary forces. Baker said we have reports that there have been see Panama on Back Page at a ounce Washington a defense Secretary Dick Cheney said wednesday that plans for a . Military invasion of pan Ama carried out wednesday in the pre Dawn operation just cause had been in the works since before he took office last Spring. Cheney and other administration officials called the 1 . Invasion a Success even though its initial attempts to Cap Ture panamanian Leader Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega had failed. The Pentagon on president Bush s or Ders sent 7,000 paratroopers and other soldiers from . Bases to Panama in Abid to oust Noriega and bring him to this country to face drug trafficking charges. Nine american servicemen were killed 39 injured and one reported miss ing in the operation which pulled to Gether More than 20,000 . Infantry men paratroopers. Marines airmen and sailors. I think this operation was a Success already because we Cut off the head of that government and there is a new government that was elected by the Panama Nian people wailing willing and ready to take Over said Gen. Colin Powell chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. Cheney and Powell met with reporters after a nigh Long Vigil in the  said the order went out late on sunday to implement a plan that had been in existence for some time. It was one of the first items i was briefed on when i became Secretary of defense last  we Hope to be wrapping up general Noriega in the  Cheney said. As the president has said we have achieved the bulk of our  Powell said that 7,000 troops had Bee sent from the United states overnight to augment the 13,000 . Troops based near the Panama canal and that 2,500 More were arriving later in the Day. Some forces parachuted into action. The general said the invasion dubbed operation just cause simultaneously used airborne rangers paratroopers infantrymen. Marines and Light tank units to attack the Central Headquarters of the panamanian defense forces As Well As several other military bases and airports. The bulk of the forces came from the 82nd airborne div from fort Bragg n.c., and the 7th Light inf div from fort Ord Calif. They were transported by huge air Force c-i4i transport planes which had been Landing in Panama throughout the night. Powell detailed the Parachute drops and assaults that resulted in american forces occupying All the bases that had been manned by the panamanian military. Operation just cause president Bush orders . Troops into combat in Panama City to seize Gen. Manuel Noriega. He would be extradited to lace Federal drug charges in the United states. How it developed aug. 6 . Forces detain 20 panamanians aug. 9 . Tanks Block Entrance to fort Amador oct. 3 panamanian soldiers attempt coup against Noriega nov. 20 . Troops Block Access to health ministry with tanks dec. 15 state of War declared by Noriega dec. 16 unarmed american Soldier killed by panamanians dec. 18 . Army officer wounds panamanian policeman dec. 20 Bush orders . Troops into combat in Panama City source a . Southern \ command and Quarter