How did Reagan support the troops when they were caught in a Civil War?

[NNN0LHI]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Beirut_barracks_bombing

1983 Beirut barracks bombing


The 1983 barracks bombing was a major incident during the Lebanese Civil War. It occurred on October 23, 1983, in Beirut, Lebanon, where an international peacekeeping force had been set up after the Israeli invasion in 1982.

On October 23, around 6:20 AM, a yellow Mercedes delivery truck drove to Beirut International Airport, where the United States Marines had their local headquarters. It turned onto an access road leading to the compound and circled a parking lot. The driver gunned his engine, crashed through a barbed-wire fence in the compound parking lot, passed between two sentry posts, crashed through a gate, and barreled into the lobby of the Marine headquarters building. The Marine sentries did not have loaded weapons, and therefore were not able to shoot the driver. According to one Marine, the driver was smiling as he sped past him.

The suicide bomber detonated his explosives, which were equivalent to 12,000 pounds (about 5,400kg) of TNT. The force of the explosion collapsed the four-story cinder-block building into rubble, crushing to death many inside. An agent of the FBI was later quoted as saying that the blast was the largest non-nuclear explosion he had ever seen.

Death toll


The death toll was 241 American servicemen: 220 Marines, 18 Navy personnel, and 3 Army soldiers. 60 Americans were injured. In the attack on the French barracks, 58 paratroopers were killed, and 15 injured. In addition, one Lebanese died in the Marine barracks attack and two Lebanese died in the French barracks bombing.

This was the deadliest single-day death toll for the United States Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima (over 1000) of World War II. The attack remains the deadliest post World War II attack on Americans overseas.

President Ronald Reagan called the attack a "despicable act" and pledged to keep a military force in Lebanon. Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger said there would be no change in the US's Lebanon policy. On October 24 French president François Mitterrand visited the French bomb site. It was not an official visit, and he only stayed for a few hours, but he did declare: "We will stay." U.S. Vice President George Bush toured the marine bombing site on October 26 and said the U.S. would not be cowed by terrorists.

In retaliation for the attacks, France launched an air strike in the Bekka Valley against Iranian Revolutionary Guard positions. President Reagan assembled his national security team to devise a plan of military action, and planned to target the Sheik Abdullah barracks in Baalbek, Lebanon, which housed Iranian Revolutionary Guards believed to be training Hezbollah fighters. However, Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger aborted the mission, reportedly because of his concerns that it would harm U.S. relations with other Arab nations. Except for a few shellings from the USS New Jersey off Lebanon, there was no real military response from the United States in response to the barracks bombing; however, the US did become involved in several other fights in Lebanon during their stay.

The Marines were moved offshore where they could not be targeted, and in February 1984 the International Peacekeeping Force withdrew from Lebanon. Terrorists saw this as a two-fold victory for their cause, and terrorist activity against Westerners (particularly Americans) increased, prompting various U.S. responses. This event is considered by many to be the beginnings of the War on Terror.

[Lefty48197]

1. He brought 'em home.

Jr. could learn a thing or two from President Pruneface.

[Ksec]

2. That was the beginning of Islamist terrorists attacking us

He ran. That told the terrorists that car bombing was effective.

If there would have been a strong retaliation that may have prevented further attacks. Reagan retreating emboldened them. Im anti war but not if they attack us.

[NNN0LHI]

4. You are avoiding my question

How did Reagan support the troops who were caught in the middle of a Civil War?

Don

[tabasco]

3. Reagan said NO BARRICADES around the barracks

He said it would project an image of weakness.

Really, though, probably not Reagan's decision, although he was responsible. He was just a stuffed shirt like Bush, but much better at reading his lines.

[Giant Robot]

5. I really feel sick about doing this but...

I don't hold Reagan accountable for much of his presidency. His ALzheimer's had to be showing up before he suddenly vacated the White House. He was in his 70's during his 2 terms, and that is usually within normal onset age for Alzheimer's. I think he was more managed and brought out on occasions to put on a puppet show than was an actual leader.

His handlers however, well they were evil men. Odd how many of the same faces are in this administration. They are evil evil men and should be held very much accountable for a great many atrocities.