The Case Against the General

the long version

On December 20, 1989, George Bush, the President of the United States, ordered a military invasion of Panama. One of his stated aims was the capture and return of General Manuel Antonio Noriega, the leader of Panama, to stand trial in the United States. American prosecutors had accused Noriega of trafficking in illegal drugs and money laundering. Not since ancient Rome had one nation launched an invasion of another with the goal of bringing its ruler to justice. But was justice served? The Case Against the General is the full, untold story of Manuel Noriega's capture and trial. Reporter Steve Albert, granted unusual access by both defense and prosecution, brings to life the theatrical dynamics of a court case unique in the annals of American jurisprudence. Was Noriega a criminal, properly subject to trial under American law, or was he a prisoner of war as he claimed? Was the U.S. government right to limit Noriega's access to classified information he believed vital to his defense? Was the United States justified in freezing Noriega's assets? Imbued with a deep understanding of the constitutional issues that this singular trial raises, the Case Against the General is high-stakes courtoom drama at its most compelling.