Operation Just Cause: Panama, December 1989: a Soldier’s Eyewitness Account

Who is the enemy? Who is an innocent bystander? When can I use force and how much force should I use? The answers to these questions vary according to the role of the soldier and the rules of engagement under which he is operating at a particular time and in a particular place on the battlefield. We owe the American solder, who for future conflicts must be equally prepared to direct traffic and to close with and destroy the enemy, answers to these questions. But most important, after we determine the answers, we must be willing to train on them.