Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

LordGlenconner

(1,348 posts)
Thu May 8, 2014, 03:50 PM May 2014

Reagan's Benghazi

Some here are not old enough to remember this incident. I vaguely remember it. But I think it's safe to say Saint Ronny wasn't threatened with impeachment, and harassed endlessly about this even though the death toll was infinitely worse. I like to bring this up (along with 9/11) whenever I hear conservatives bring up Benghazi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_barracks_bombing

The Beirut Barracks Bombings (October 23, 1983, in Beirut, Lebanon) occurred during the Lebanese Civil War when two truck bombs struck separate buildings housing United States and French military forces—members of the Multinational Force (MNF) in Lebanon—killing 299 American and French servicemen. An obscure group calling itself 'Islamic Jihad' claimed responsibility for the bombings.[1]

Suicide bombers detonated each of the truck bombs. In the attack on the building serving as a barracks for the 1st Battalion 8th Marines (Battalion Landing Team - BLT 1/8), the death toll was 241 American servicemen: 220 Marines, 18 sailors and three soldiers, making this incident the deadliest single-day death toll for the United States Marine Corps since World War II's Battle of Iwo Jima, the deadliest single-day death toll for the United States military since the first day of the Vietnam War's Tet Offensive, and the deadliest single attack on Americans overseas since World War II.[2] Another 128 Americans were wounded in the blast. Thirteen later died of their injuries, and they are numbered among the total number who died.[3] An elderly Lebanese man, a custodian/vendor who was known to work and sleep in his concession stand next to the building, was also killed in the first blast.[4][5][6] The explosives used were later estimated to be equivalent to as much as 9,525 kg (21,000 pounds) of TNT.[7][8]

In the attack on the French barracks, the nine-story 'Drakkar' building, 58 paratroopers from the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment were killed and 15 injured by a second truck bomb. This attack occurred just minutes after the attack on the American Marines. It was France's single worst military loss since the end of the Algerian War.[9] The wife and four children of a Lebanese janitor at the French building were also killed, and more than twenty other Lebanese civilians were injured.[10]

These attacks eventually led to the withdrawal of the international peacekeeping force from Lebanon, where they had been stationed since the withdrawal of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982.

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Reagan's Benghazi (Original Post) LordGlenconner May 2014 OP
I remember yeoman6987 May 2014 #1
I don't recall what the fallout was like LordGlenconner May 2014 #3
There was the needed call for investigation, but it wasn't used to make hay JHB May 2014 #5
Just a minor correction CANDO May 2014 #9
Reagan had a Republican Senate for 6 years. Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin May 2014 #10
Thanks. yeoman6987 May 2014 #12
I remember it. atreides1 May 2014 #2
and two days later ....... we invaded Grenada underpants May 2014 #4
That was already in motion before the bombing... JHB May 2014 #6
Correct and correct underpants May 2014 #8
Yes indeed malaise May 2014 #11
I certainly remember this. spartan61 May 2014 #7
 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
1. I remember
Thu May 8, 2014, 03:55 PM
May 2014

Reagan was lucky he has a Democratic House and Democratic Senate his entire 8 years or he would have been impeached. Yep I even think Republicans would have back then. He was not sacred until he died.

 

LordGlenconner

(1,348 posts)
3. I don't recall what the fallout was like
Thu May 8, 2014, 04:01 PM
May 2014

Granted this is Wikipedia, but very little was mentioned. I sort of recall Reagan getting some heat over it in the initial days and weeks , but I don't recall him being harassed 2-3 years later.



JHB

(37,158 posts)
5. There was the needed call for investigation, but it wasn't used to make hay
Thu May 8, 2014, 04:18 PM
May 2014

Reagan benefitted from the view among the Democratic leadership that Amereicans didn't want and didn't need "another failed presidency".

That view saved Reagan's bacon 2-3 years later, by which time other serious scandals of Reagan's became impossible to avoid addressing.

 

CANDO

(2,068 posts)
9. Just a minor correction
Thu May 8, 2014, 07:43 PM
May 2014

I'm pretty sure the R's held the Senate for 2 years. Like 82-84 or 84 to 86. Didn't make much difference though.

 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
12. Thanks.
Fri May 9, 2014, 07:28 AM
May 2014

I was pretty young and didn't think that Americans were that irresponsible back then (besides reelecting Reagan). Thanks again.

JHB

(37,158 posts)
6. That was already in motion before the bombing...
Thu May 8, 2014, 04:22 PM
May 2014

...which is not to say they didn't milk the change in the focus of media attention for all they were worth.

spartan61

(2,091 posts)
7. I certainly remember this.
Thu May 8, 2014, 04:30 PM
May 2014

My husband was in the Marine Corps then and was in Beirut during the bombing. I didn't know for a week if he was one of the 220 Marines who were killed. Thankfully he wasn't. Why was St Ronnie treated with kid gloves afterwards, just like he was treated with kid gloves during Iran/Contra? I can feel my stomach turn whenever I hear the repukes praise this poor excuse for a president. I rate him right there with W.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Reagan's Benghazi