US Captures Venezuela's Maduro in Operation Echoing Reagan's Musical Assault on Noriega Regime
The US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife revives memories of the dramatic 1989 takedown of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, which used rock music as psychological warfare against the dictator. The similarities between the two events are striking, with both Noriega's capture using unconventional tactics to subdue a ruthless leader.
The US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife on Saturday is reviving memories of the dramatic 1989 takedown of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, which coincidentally took place during a live broadcast of rock music. The similarity in approach used against two authoritarian leaders is notable, as rock music was used to psychically unsettle Noriega and disrupt his regime. Maduro's arrest follows a similar pattern of using strategic military action to bring down the country's leader. The operation has been hailed by some as an example of effective use of psychological warfare in modern-day counter-terrorism tactics.
