Hannity Book: Kerry Objected to Reagan's Bombing of Terrorist Gadhafi

Newsmax ^ | 2/18/04

[areafiftyone]

Sean Hannity's book "Deliver Us From Evil: Defeating Terrorism, Despotism, and Liberalism" has just been released this week, and it offers explosive revelations about Sen. John Kerry.

The Fox News Channel star and nationally syndicated radio host has unearthed a letter Kerry wrote harshly criticizing President Reagan for his retaliation against terrorist leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Specifically, the Massachusetts Democrat objected to a retaliatory strike by President Ronald Reagan against the Libyan dictator in 1986. In a never-before-published letter written shortly after Reagan ordered the strikes, Kerry complained that Reagan had overreacted to the bombing by Libyan terrorists of a Berlin disco frequented by American troops.

The Libyan-sponsored bombings killed one U.S. soldier and wounded 51. Kerry claimed that the April 1986 U.S. air strike that nearly killed Gadhafi was not "proportional."

"While I stated that my initial inclination was to support the President," Kerry wrote, "I pointed out that two essential tests had to be met in determining whether or not the U.S. action was appropriate. First, the United States had to have irrefutable evidence directly linking the Qadaffi [Gadhafi] regime to a terrorist act and, second, our response should be proportional to that act."

Though Kerry admitted that the evidence tying Tripoli to the disco bombing was "irrefutable," the U.S. had failed the proportionality test, he insisted.

"It is obvious that our response was not proportional to the disco bombing and even violated the Administration's own guidelines to hit clearly defined terrorist targets, thereby minimizing the risk to innocent civilians," he complained.

Kerry said it was a "mistake" for Reagan to have targeted the "head of state of another country - no matter how repugnant we find the leader." "We are not going to solve the problem of terrorism with this kind of retaliation," he warned. "There are numerous other actions we can take, in concert with our allies, to bring significant pressure to bear on countries supporting or harboring terrorists."

The senator's comments seem even more dangerously flawed considering the outcome of Reagan's actions. After the bombings, Gadhafi hemmed in his terrorism. In the 1990s, as NewsMax reported, he opened secret ties with the CIA to cooperate with the U.S. in counterterrorism. And just this past year, terrified of being toppled like Saddam Hussein was, Gadhafi, in a stunning move after U.S. and British negotiators applied pressure, opened his nation's nuclear and weapons programs to international inspectors.

Trapped by His Own Words

Hannity's book "Deliver Us From Evil: Defeating Terrorism, Despotism, and Liberalism" went on sale across America this week. The text of Kerry's letter, reprinted in the book, follows:

"While I stated that my initial inclination was to support the President, I pointed out that two essential tests had to be met in determining whether or not the U.S. action was appropriate. First, the United States had to have irrefutable evidence directly linking the Qaddafi regime to a terrorist act and, second, our response should be proportional to that act. The evidence was irrefutable that the Qaddafi regime was behind the Berlin disco bombing which claimed the lives of two innocent victims and injured 200 others.

"However, as to the second test, it is obvious that our response was not proportional to the disco bombing and even violated the Administration's own guidelines to hit clearly defined terrorist targets, thereby minimizing the risk to innocent civilians. I believe it was a mistake for us to select as targets areas of heavy civilian concentration, as well as to include the family and home of the head of state of another country - no matter how repugnant we find the leader.

"The fact that the bombing resulted in the deaths of at least 17 civilians certainly undermined the Administration's own justification for the raid. Beyond this point, however, is the fact that we are not going to solve the problem of terrorism with this kind of retaliation. There are numerous other actions we can take, in concert with our allies, to bring significant pressure to bear on countries supporting or harboring terrorists."

Editor's Note: Get Sean Hannity's sensational new book for just 99 cents – and save almost $26! Check out this great offer: Click here.

[jwalsh07]

While I stated that my initial inclination was to support the President," Kerry wrote, "I pointed out that two essential tests had to be met in determining whether or not the U.S. action was appropriate. First, the United States had to have irrefutable evidence directly linking the Qadaffi [Gadhafi] regime to a terrorist act and, second, our response should be proportional to that act."

I'm beginning to think that Kerry will, in the end, be a worse candidate than Dukakis.

[KellyAdmirer]

Kerry only likes use of military force if he personally is doing it, or it is decided by a fellow Democrat. Has he ever approved of use of military force by a Republican? Has he ever condemned use of military force by a Democrat? Note the Orwellian phrase "Nixon's war" he repeatedly uses, it reveals all about the man.

[Benrand]

Sean has a book out?

[hchutch]

Proportional? Give me a BREAK! Sean Connery's character gave good advice on what it took to get Capone - advice very applicable to terrorism.

"You want to get Capone? Here's how you get Capone: He pulls a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send two of his to the morgue."

[talleyman]

Big Bump!

[Poohbah]

Amen, brother!

[Keith in Iowa]

John F'ing Kerry's theory of deterrence, simplified: "Stop, or we'll tell you to stop again!"

[Verginius Rufus]

What did Kerry say when Clinton bombed that aspirin factory in Sudan?

[drypowder]

Mr. Kerry needs to understand, as demonstrated by Bill Clinton, that using our military in a tit for tat fashion only leads to the loss of more American lives. Kadafi's recent capitulation was surely based on his observations of the same principles in Dubya as was so clearly demonstrated to him by President Reagan. Kerry must not have a clue as to the number of American lives that were inevitably saved by Reagan's retaliation.

[jcb8199]

Gee, Repub Reagan comes along and stomps the guy, then he has a decade or so to "play nice" while dabbling here and there in nuclear technology, then when Bush comes along, he thinks "Crap!" realizing that the bomb may actually hit him next time, so he opens back up...

I wonder what would happen if Kerry were in place...these terrorists, I would wager, can smile to your face while stabbing you in the back...

[MattMa]

I’m seeing a trend with Kerry; first when New Republic send him two letters one for the first gulf war, and a second one against it. NR received two letters back claiming Kerry was both for/against it.

Hearing this one about Gadhafi, I wanted to support President Reagan, but…..

Saddam Hussein was an evil person, but…..


He’s equal to if not better at triangulating his answers and opinions then Clinton.

[KQQL]

@#

[KQQL]

Monsieur John Kerry

I'm an internationalist. I'd like to see our troops dispersed through the world only at the directive of the United Nations. - The Crimson 02/18/1970
"A bold progressive internationalism," Kerry. - JK Website

H.R. 3396 (Defense of Marriage Act) Kerry (D-MA), Nay
Signed the Letter Backing Gay Marriage - massequality.org 07/12/02

Kerry said "I think there has been an exaggeration," when asked if the President has overstated the threat of terrorism. - SC Debate 01/29/04

"We are not going to solve the problem of terrorism with this kind of retaliation," Kerry. "
RE: 04/1986 Reagan's Air Strike against Libya - Sean Hannity's Book, "Deliver Us From Evil"
Opposed death penalty until 2002, voted against military action in the 1991 Persian Gulf war.

During the height of the Cold War, Kerry opposed the entire strategic modernization effort proposed by President Reagan; the Peacekeeper, B-1 and B-2 bombers, Trident submarine, D-5 missile, and the non-strategic modernization of the defense budget. - Washington Times 01/04

McCain: Testimony by Kerry and others before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was "the most effective propaganda [my North Vietnamese captors] had to use against us."
U.S. News & World Report 05/14/1973 via newsmax.com

[HardStarboard]

>>> "Stop, or we'll tell you to stop again!" <<<

That's too too confrontational for Kerry.

His approach is "Stop or We Will Ask You To Negotiate"

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Nice dossier on ol' Efin Kerry.

[Keith]

Kerry is gonna get stomped like a narc at a biker rally...

[KQQL]

@

[Happy2BMe]

"The Fox News Channel star and nationally syndicated radio host has unearthed a letter Kerry wrote harshly criticizing President Reagan for his retaliation against terrorist leader Moammar Gadhafi."

Jonh F***ing Kerry (SoB) Ping!

[Happy2BMe]

Betcha don't know who planned the bombing run on Gadaffi . .

Anybody care to take a guess?