Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

APRIL 25, 1980--THE DAY JIMMY CARTER KNEW HE WAS A ONE-TERM PRESIDENT
ThirdWaveDave ^ | April 25, 2010 | Dave Logan

Posted on 04/25/2010 6:22:04 PM PDT by patriotgal1787

Thirty years ago this week, James Earl Carter went before the nation to give a speech that would mark the beginning of the end of his presidency. The night before his speech, Carter gave the "green light" to the Iranian hostage rescue mission--Eagle Claw--that ended in disaster at Desert One.

Eight U.S. servicemen died at the site and had to be left behind. At the time, it was by far the worst humiliation the U.S. had ever suffered, and it cost Carter his reelection bid later that year. Ronald Reagan won in a landslide.

An investigation into Operation Eagle Claw cited lack of command and control and inter-service coordination as major reasons for the mission's failure. As a result, SOCOM was established and headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.

As a president, Carter was weak; as a former president, he's a disgrace.

The Desert One Debacle: A complete history from inception to disaster.

(Excerpt) Read more at thirdwavedave.blogspot.com ...


TOPICS: Government; History; Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: desertone; iranianhostagecrisis; jimmycarter; operationeagleclaw; tehraniran
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-75 next last
To: dasboot
Yep, and "discussions with Amy about foreign policy" and a fabulous closing statement by Reagan with the famous question, "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

It was a blowout. All the American people were waiting for was for Reagan to convince them that the lies about him being a "warmonger" or "stupid" were not true.

105 million people tuned in (still the record) to get their answer.

21 posted on 04/25/2010 6:49:48 PM PDT by Al B.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Kansas58
Exactly. I followed this closely, because I was only recently back from military service. Jimmy Carter was a screw-up from the get-go. The military had recommended a much larger force to launch precision diversions and have some margin of error.

Carter insisted on minimal force and minimal footprint. There was absolutely no margin for error. Anyone who has ever been close to the military knows that screw ups and error are inevitable on an operation of this nature. Zero margin for error is a risk worth taking only when there is no alternative.

A disaster of this magnitude was NOT inevitable but it WAS possible. We had other resources in the region which could have turned this disaster into a diversion rather than complete mission failure.

Carter had opted to go against military advice for a larger operation to allow for margin of error because he said any failure would alert the Iranians and cause them to disperse the hostages, making any further rescue attempt impossible. Of course, the press tried their best to cover for him, but it didn't take the public long to learn the sickening truth.

Of course, I do not know whether the bigger plan recommended by the military would have succeeded. But we do know that the worst case scenario envisioned by Carter as a reason to scale down the operation is exactly what happened anyway. Too many good men had to die to ensure the worthless CIC wouldn't be elected to a second term.

22 posted on 04/25/2010 6:51:17 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Al B.

Ah, yes. I was 22. I remember it clinched the deal for me...removed all doubt. Gip kick his arse. My first vote ever. Haven’t been so lucky, since.


23 posted on 04/25/2010 6:52:39 PM PDT by dasboot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: buccaneer81
Back in 1979 I was stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, at the Air Force Logistics Command Headquarters. I was asked to give briefings to the Air Force Institute of Technology professional managers course on War Reserve Material Readiness. At the time, the Carter administration had starved the funding Air Force spare parts to the point where the in-commission rate for first line aircraft was well below 80%, and our War Readiness Spares Kits were in really bad shape.

My briefing told the story accurately, and one of the students from Ogden Air Logistics Center in Utah asked why our war readiness was in such bad shape. I answered honestly: The Carter administration doesn't want to spend the money necessary to support our national defense."

Later that afternoon my boss's boss, General Marquez, stopped by my cubicle and said, "I hear you stirred up the Warner Robins (Georgia) people today with your briefing--one of them called my office to complain about it." He then laughed and said, "Keep up the good work!"

24 posted on 04/25/2010 6:52:56 PM PDT by RightWingConspirator (Impeach Zerobama and his band of Commie Czars.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks

That sort of gaff by the swimmer could have easily been NON covered by the adoring Kennedy press, but when Teddy attacked Carter who was FINALLY doing something, that screwed Teddy with the Scoop Jackson democrats.


25 posted on 04/25/2010 6:57:25 PM PDT by Mr. Jazzy ("I AM JIM THOMPSON and moderates make me PUKE!!!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: RightWingConspirator

To this day, the Russians regret not taking their best shot 30 years ago.


26 posted on 04/25/2010 6:58:01 PM PDT by buccaneer81 (ECOMCON)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Al B.
Yep, and "discussions with Amy about foreign policy"...

Shortly after the debate, Roger Staubach was working as a commentator on an NFL game. One of the teams was trying to make a comeback, and the other commentator asked Staubach about what the defense would do. He said, "Well, I talked with my daughter Amy, and she was most concerned about the bomb."

27 posted on 04/25/2010 6:58:25 PM PDT by Richard Kimball (We're all criminals. They just haven't figured out what some of us have done yet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: RightWingConspirator
He then laughed and said, "Keep up the good work

Great story!

28 posted on 04/25/2010 6:59:18 PM PDT by The_Media_never_lie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: patriotgal1787
Yep Carter was responsible for turning my parents from life long democrats to republicans in less than 4 years. He was, by far, the worst president of my life time or even my parents (although Obama my eventually take the crown).
29 posted on 04/25/2010 7:00:28 PM PDT by apillar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Richard Kimball
LOL...he sure did. We knew where Roger stood. :)

Craig Shirley even mentioned that in his terrific book on the 1980 campaign, "Rendezvous with Destiny". Great reading if you're a political junkie. Long book, though...600 pages.

30 posted on 04/25/2010 7:01:19 PM PDT by Al B.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Jazzy

I always thought the day Kennedy lost it (aside from the day he drowned Mary Jo), was when he was asked why he wanted to be president and he gave this long meandering answer that didn’t say anything. The announcer sat there stunned, as it was the biggest softball he could throw Kennedy, and the guy just sounded like he was drunk and incompetent. Basically, he sounded like himself without handlers.


31 posted on 04/25/2010 7:01:23 PM PDT by Richard Kimball (We're all criminals. They just haven't figured out what some of us have done yet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Al B.

I’m glad somebody documented it. I was working off memory, and 1980 was a long time ago.


32 posted on 04/25/2010 7:02:42 PM PDT by Richard Kimball (We're all criminals. They just haven't figured out what some of us have done yet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Leisler

One of the major reasons the mission failed is that Carter, a former Navy submariner, put the Navy in charge of the operation. The Navy opted to use their helicopters, which were built for sea operations, not desert, and the sand and dust caused them to fail. Enough of the helicopters failed or turned back that there weren’t enough to carry out the mission. The coup de grace was when the Navy helicopter crashed into the C130 on the ground, destroying both and killing a number of Delta Force people and aircrew.


33 posted on 04/25/2010 7:03:37 PM PDT by RightWingConspirator (Impeach Zerobama and his band of Commie Czars.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Kansas58

They had them, but removed them to reduce weight.


34 posted on 04/25/2010 7:07:38 PM PDT by paddles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Richard Kimball

I remember it well. It was Rodger Mudd doing a 60 Minutes piece just after Kennedy announced.


35 posted on 04/25/2010 7:08:48 PM PDT by Mr. Jazzy ("I AM JIM THOMPSON and moderates make me PUKE!!!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: RightWingConspirator

Joint Task Force commander was U.S. Army Major General James B. Vaught.


36 posted on 04/25/2010 7:22:01 PM PDT by Leisler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman

I was a medic in HQ company, 3rd of the 4th ADA. The then air defense battalion for the 82nd. I ran the medic supply room, such that it was and one day my section Officer told me a couple of guys would be coming over and get them their shot cards, and give them anything they wanted. Which was really odd, as noted it was the Carter military and we hung on to aspirins like they were gold, let alone a ‘give them what they want order’. Two Staff Sgts, came in and I gave them their shot cards, and then asked them what they wanted. They weren’t sure. I asked them were they were going( cold or hot?). They said they couldn’t tell me. I asked them if they thought they might get shot. They said they might. So, I kitted out a brand new aid bag, with a some IV’s, down to aspirin. I went into the Physician’s Assistants fridge, and gave them some morphine suretts, some wide spectrum antibiotics, and such, and wrote some simple instructions. I gave them new standard bandages for their web belt. I then wrote it up.

The guys were senior Red Eye missile operators. I can’t remember if I ever saw them again. I think I did as one of them said he got to use a dirt bike and ride out into the desert a few miles and do a over watch post for any incoming enemy aircraft. ( or maybe I read it. )

Back then Delta was just down the road a half mile in ‘Old Division’.


37 posted on 04/25/2010 7:37:35 PM PDT by Leisler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Al B.
God help us if Carter won re-election ! I entered H.S. in the Fall of 1981 and things were looking up. Only a year earlier, we were the laughingstock of the world and President Reagan brought pride back to our country.

Reagan believed in the common person should be allowed to make their own decisions instead of decisions made for him by an elite.

Carter was a condescending a-hole and there are may stories that have come out affirming it as well.

As bad as Carter was (and the American people knew it), he was in the race with Reagan until the end. With 10 days to go 'til the election, the race was essentially dead even and Carter was on the rise. The reason?...Ronald Reagan had not closed the deal with the voters.

Then came the debate and the rest is history.

38 posted on 04/25/2010 7:39:00 PM PDT by CORedneck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: patriotgal1787

If I remember correctly the mission was a failure because Carter couldn’t make up his damn mind whether or not to give the go signal, and they sat out in the desert for hours waiting - He finally gave the go order after a sand storm had started. Idiot.


39 posted on 04/25/2010 7:43:04 PM PDT by nolongerademocrat ("Before you ask G-d for something, first thank G-d for what you already have." B'rachot 30b)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RightWingConspirator

Great story. Thanks for posting.


40 posted on 04/25/2010 7:59:52 PM PDT by Reddy (B.O. stinks)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-75 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson