Manuel Noriega returns to Panama tomorrow

After two decades in U.S. and French custody, Noriega will return home on Sunday.  He will face more charges.  But thankfully for him, there is no death penalty there and prisoners over the age of 70 are allowed to serve their sentences at home.

For the few who remember 1989's Operation Just Cause, it was just a brief and easy expedition to arrest a dictator that outlived his usefulness to the U.S.  In the 23-day war, "only" 23 American soldiers and up to 4,000 Panamanians lost their lives.  From a historical point of view, the invasion marked the end of 150 years of active and covert American interventions in Central America.

This 30 minute documentary contains raw footage taken by a combat photographer of the invasion, Noriega's arrest, and the aftermath.  It's worth a look.