Ronald Reagan's wisdom on the Middle East: LEAVE!

OC Register ^ | July 21, 2006 | John Seiler

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Ronald Reagan is America's most beloved president of recent years. We remember how he restored prosperity while ending the Cold War without getting us all nuked....

It's worth looking back on Reagan's policy on involving U.S. troops in the quarrels and hatreds of the Middle East. In 1983, he committed U.S. Marines to Lebanon. On Oct. 23, a terrorist truck bomb blew up the troops' barracks, killing 220 Marines and 21 other troops.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

This Article (excerpted to under 300 words, per Posting guidelines for OC Register) was originally published in July of 2006, so the figures are out of date. At this point, almost 3,600 US troops have been killed in Iraq. Nonetheless, even if a year old, it is always worth remembering Great Wisdom from a Great Man.

RON PAUL is the RIGHT Candidate for National Defense and Foreign Affairs.

• Ron Paul voted for the National Missile Defense Act. (source)
• Ron Paul is one of only two co-sponsors of H. Res. 123, for the establishment of a Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs to "conduct a full investigation of all unresolved matters relating to any United States personnel unaccounted for from the Vietnam era, the Korean conflict, World War II, Cold War Missions, or Gulf War, including MIA's and POW's." (POW-MIA InterNetwork)
• Ron Paul supports a strengthened Coast Guard and increased port security, and increased benefits for veterans.
• Ron Paul advocates United States withdrawal from the United Nations and withdrawal from the World Trade Organization. Says Ron Paul: "We don’t need CAFTA or any other international agreement to reap the economic benefits promised by CAFTA supporters, we only need to change our own harmful economic and tax policies. Let the rest of the world hurt their citizens with tariffs; if we simply reduce tariffs and taxes at home, we will attract capital and see our economy flourish." (source).
• "Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country." --U.S. President Ronald Reagan

RON PAUL is the ONLY 100% Anti-Terrorist candidate.

• The ruling Islamic Theocracy of Iraq is dominated by the psychopathic gang of murderers known as the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and the Islamic Al Dawa Party, who are the very same Islamic Terrorist Parties which bombed the US & French Embassies in Kuwait, and murdered 241 United States Marines in Beirut in 1983. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, of the Al Dawa Party, was the Bureau Chief of the Al Dawa Party's terrorist "Jihad Office" in Damascus in the 1980s and was thus heavily responsible for Al Dawa operations in Beirut, while parliament member Jamal Jafaar Mohammed of his ruling coalition is one of the "Kuwait 17", still under a Kuwaiti death sentence (in absentia) for his direct involvement in the vicious attack on the US Embassy in Kuwait! Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate calling for an immediate END to all Military and Financial support for the criminal Islamic Terrorist thug-regime of Iraq.

"I got to know President Reagan in 1976 when, as a freshman congressman, I was one of only four members of that body to endorse then-Governor Reagan’s primary challenge to President Gerald Ford. I had the privilege of serving as the leader of President Reagan’s Texas delegation at the Republican convention of 1976, where Ronald Reagan almost defeated an incumbent president for his party’s nomination. I was one of the millions attracted to Ronald Reagan by his strong support for limited government and the free-market. I felt affinity for a politician who based his conservative philosophy on '...a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom.' I wish more of today’s conservative leaders based their philosophy on a desire for less government and more freedom." – Ron Paul, Remembering Ronald Reagan

In 2008, I'm voting for the REAGAN REPUBLICAN. I'm voting for former Vietnam Combat Flight Surgeon, and Leader of Ronald Reagan's Electoral Delegation from Texas: In 2008, I'm Voting for RON PAUL!

"The greatest champion of conservative principles we have seen in Congress in the past quarter century."
(David T. Pyne, Esq., Vice President of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies)

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

WE are the Rightful Heirs of Reaganism.
Never forget, never apologize, and never give up.
RON PAUL in 2008!

[Chuck54]

Had 9/11 happened on Reagan’s watch I’m sure he would have thought a bit differently.

This is NOT an elect Ron Paul forum.

[Slump Tester]

That was Reagan’s ONLY blunder. If we would have kicked some major raghead ass instead of leaving, they wouldn’t be the problem they are today.

[RichInOC]

At first, Reagan insisted that he wouldn't cave in to the terrorist threat.

In retrospect, I think it's clear that his first instincts were correct.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Had 9/11 happened on Reagan’s watch I’m sure he would have thought a bit differently.

Ron Paul supported Military Vengeance against those responsible for 9/11, just as Ronald Reagan would have done.

Ronald Reagan did NOT believe in using the United States Military for Foreign Nation-Building, and neither does Ron Paul.

This is NOT an elect Ron Paul forum.

This is a Conservative Forum.

And Ron Paul is THE 100% best Reagan Republican Conservative in the Race.

[gidget7]

Reagans words and wisdom, at the time, were correct, but it is vital to realize that both were BEFORE 9/11. What would Reagan have done after Pearl Harbor? And what would he have done after 9/11. Those are very important differences between then and now.

It is suicide to bring our troops home, with out full border security.

[EveningStar]

Oh, let him talk. Not very many people believe that Paul stands a chance of getting nominated anyway. :)

[MNJohnnie]

Running away from a Muslim terrorist threat was one of Reagan’s biggest mistakes.

It is one of the reasons the Bin Laden gave for attack us on 09-11. He stated the Americans are weak fighters who will run away rather then take casualties.

So if you insist on spaming the board endlessly with this Paulite drivel, at least have the honesty to quit invoking Reagan. You clearly know utterly nothing about the man.

[Chuck54]

Ron Paul and Ronald Reagan should not be mentioned in the same sentence.

Ron Paul is a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic.

MHOOC.

[dawn53]

Had 9/11 happened on Reagan’s watch I’m sure he would have thought a bit differently

Exactly. The suicide bombing that killed our soldiers in their barracks in the Middle East can hardly be compared to suicide bombers coming to our own shores, hijacking planes, flying them into buildings, and killing thousands of civilians.

[EveningStar]

Paul does not fully realize the importance of Islamofascism. He also implies that it’s our fault that they attacked us. He’s a crackpot.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

That was Reagan’s ONLY blunder. If we would have kicked some major raghead ass instead of leaving, they wouldn’t be the problem they are today.

Thank you for blaming Ronald Reagan for 9/11.
You must be very proud of yourself.

In fact, Ronald Reagan's wise and courageous decision SAVED countless lives.

Why should we involve ourselves in the pointless quarrels and hatreds on the Middle East? Ronald Reagan was against it, AND HE WAS RIGHT.

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

Meadow Muffins ping.

Given the circumstances at the time, Reagan may been right (personally I think he was wrong), and wouldn't apply to todays events.

Also, I disagree with your choice in candidates - but thats poli tics.

[Sleeping Beauty]

One interesting thing:

I live in an area with a lot of high ranking military, some of whom I know socially.

Whenever the topic of Reagan pulling out of Lebanon comes up — they all respond with respect for that withdrawal at that time. They say “Reagan said ‘The h=ll with you people — we’re outta here.’” They admire him for that.

Keep in mind, these are active military not keyboard warriors — so they have a very pragmatic perspective.

[jess35]

President Reagan was a staunch supporter of Israel and if Rep Paul were an honest man, he'd take another look at Reagan and realize he wouldn't turn the other cheek, blame America and advise us to take our lumps with a frown and a shake of the finger.

Pulling out of Beirut was the most costly mistake made by the Reagan administration. If Reagan had been able to see into the future and realize the consequences of his actions, he may well have stood against the democrats and done what was right. Ron Paul would not have.

[tophat9000]

Reagan did not back down from people that were attacking or people helping people that where attacking US...

Nor did he leave the "middle east" ...or was Libya not part on the larger middle east issue and major sponsor of Islamic terrorism at the time?

[Chuck54]

You should tone it down a bit.

First thing you know all you’ll have left on your “Great Ron Paul Ping List” is you and your mate.

[Abcdefg]

Ron Paul - Ron Reagan
Ron Paul - Ron Reagan
Ron Paul - Ron Reagan
Ron Paul - Ron Reagan
Ron Paul - Ron Reagan
Ron Paul - Ron Reagan
Ron Paul - Ron Reagan
Just to show you I can!

[digger48]