I've done a lot of reading and thinking about this...it's one of the great question marks about Reagan's presidency. How could such a man cut and run from an act of war like that? Or, give the Iranians a free pass after the hostage crisis? All the evidence points to one thing...
Reagan knew that, in the 70's and 80's, the Soviet Union was gleefully supporting Muslim Terrorists (and any others they could find). His belief, IMHO, was that by defeating them, he would remove the prime source of terrorist funding and support, thus defeating the terrs. He probably saw no point in getting bogged down in a war with only one head of the Hydra. Also, there was the Soviet's stated intent to intervene directly in a war between the US and the Iranians, who at the time were the biggest supporters, outside the Soviets, of terrorists.
Of course, the terrs found new benefactors after the Soviets imploded, but that is something Reagan could not have foreseen. Actually, not many people could have foreseeen the terrs managing to organize and continue without such support.
Hindsight is always 20/20, and it is certainly fun to imagine a Reagan Reaction to 9-11. However, he acted with what he knew to be true at the time. Also, there is the fact that his State Department was almost totally composed of Carter appointees, who actively resisted ANY reprisals for terrorist activities during the 80's. They still do, but there are mercifully less of them now.
Viewed in the proper historical context, his descisions re: Beruit make sense. However, it was STILL an Act Of War. I'm sure that he knew this, and it probably grated on his soul to refrain from a massive response.
PING to # 67.
PING to # 67
I have been puzzled by that, just said in a private reply that I imagine he had all he could handle at the time...
Your point that the Soviets were backing the terrorism is another thing to consider ... bring down the Soviets and weaken the ME terrorists....
He responded also to the sentiment of the time...Our soldiers should not be put in harms way. Vietnam is always lurking in the minds of all liberals and a lot of conservatives...
.The libs only want intervention if it is not in our national self interest. many conservatives want us to stay out of foreign entanglements.