Rock ‘n’ roll ain’t noise pollution but sometimes it’s psychological torture. Back in 1989, Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, who died in prison Monday, famously learned this lesson the hard way thanks to the disc jockeys of the 4th Psychological Operations Group of the U.S. Army.
As his regime crumbled under the weight of the American invasion, Noriega took refuge in the Vatican Embassy in Panama. President George W. Bush demanded his surrender, the Holy See subsequently refused, and the army blasted the music. Literally.
Soldiers strapped loudspeakers to their Humvees, circled the embassy and created an unbearable wall of sound for three straight days and nights. Noriega reportedly enjoyed the opera. For three days, the narco-terrorist with refined tastes endured a playlist that included Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden.
According to After Action reports obtained through FOIA requests by researchers at George Washington University, the SouthCom Network Radio worked with psychological operators and actually solicited recommendations from forces in the area for a “musical message for Noriega.” They were not subtle.
Noriega involuntarily listened to “All I Want is You” by U2. The general enjoyed “Renegade” by Styx. And as rations reportedly ran low inside the embassy, he heard “Stay Hungry” by Twisted Sister. Readers can sample the weaponized playlist compiled by the Washington Examiner below:
After two days the high command stopped taking requests and started playing songs from Billboard’s Top 100. According to After Action reports, “this was done to get a better mix of music for our listeners.”
“We continue to receive phone calls for requests to play to Noriega,” the report reads, “but we explain to each caller that we are no longer taking requests and thank them for calling.”
When Noriega finally surrendered, he was reportedly a broken a man unable to endure the constant and crushing sound of American rock, pop, and soul. As the Noriega goes into the great beyond, American veterans and Panamanians should take a listen to the music that helped make a strongman surrender.
Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
