240 Marines were killed by terrorists in 1983 in Lebanon. Reagan knew exactly who was behind the deed, but didn't do jack!!
Once again you revert to bold face lies and historic revisionism. Once again, I'll set the record straight.
The US Marines were part of a multinational peackeeping force, that was thrown into the middle of a civil war in Beruit Lebanon. After the Marine barracks was car bombed, US intelligence was unable to determine for certain, who committed the action. Some experts in the US govt believed the responsibile party was Hezbollah, with help from either Syria or Iran. Islamic Jihad actually took credit for the bombing, but no one took that claim seriosuly. No final determination was ever reached by our government on this matter.
The Reagan administration did hatch a plan to knock off a military barracks of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Defense Secretary Cap Weinberger opposed such action. Weinberger told Reagan, any attack without positive proof of who committed the Beirut action would lead to an expanded civil war, dragging the US further into the conflict and undermining Reagan's efforts to win the Cold War.
Until this day, Weinberger insists the responsible party is unknown. Reagan did order air bombing and shelling from the USS New Jersey. Soon afterwards, the Marines were pulled out for good. All in all, a smart move. Reagan knew that Beirut and all of Lebanon was an untenable situation. Besides, Reagan had bigger fish to fry.
It's easy to look back with 20/20 hindsight and say Reagan was negligent for his lack of action. Fact is, if Reagan was given proof positive who committed the killing of the Marines, he would have taken stronger military action then he did.