35 West Operation Just Cause and Venezuela
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Jan 8, 2026 
Luigi Einaudi, a seasoned diplomat and former U.S. Ambassador to the OAS, dives into the complexities of U.S. military intervention in Panama in 1989 and its implications for Venezuela today. He highlights the significant political legacy of the Panama Canal and the chaotic rise of Noriega, drawing parallels to Maduro’s regime. Einaudi discusses the potential costliness of intervention in Venezuela, citing armed groups and civilian risks, while reflecting on the OAS's challenges in promoting democratic norms amidst Cuban influence.
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Discriminatory Labor Built The Canal
- The Panama Canal's construction relied heavily on imported Caribbean labor who faced discriminatory treatment and double wage scales.
- Luigi Einaudi recalled this history to explain why U.S. control of the canal became a major source of Panamanian resentment.
Treaties Needed Political Theater To Succeed
- Negotiations to transfer control of the canal required overcoming deep U.S. public resistance and mistrust in Panama.
- High-profile diplomacy and broad hemispheric witnessing helped secure the 1977 treaties despite narrow Senate ratification.
Interagency Divisions Enabled Noriega
- U.S. policy toward Noriega suffered from severe interagency divisions that obscured consistent strategy.
- Multiple U.S. agencies treated Noriega as an asset, producing conflicting incentives and a policy vacuum.