Between trading with Iran for hostages, Beirut, and Achille Loro debacle, Reagan was an abject failure when it came to dealing with Arab terror.
Since mohammed murdered his first victim and declared himself a 'prophet' this cult has been more than a thorn in the side of nations. NOBODY has been able to stop islamic terror. After studying islam a little bit, I don't know of any period in their history when they weren't either invading, murdering or terrorizing someone, somewhere. It's a cult that feeds off the blood of innocents.
He has shown much more spine than Ronnie when the going got tough.
Oh please. Reagan had his hands full with the Soviets and the communist movements in Central and South America.
Plus Islamofascism was just gathering steam but it wasn't the serious threat as it is now.
You can bet that after 9/11 Reagan would have tore the Middle East a new one instead of farting around with the U.N. like GWB did. Please remember that Reagan pulled back from Beirut because of the whining from the overwhelmingly Democratic Congress and stupid RINOs such as Rudman. Also remember that Bush is fighting a PC war and is letting the MSM/Dems dictate the terms instead of speaking to the people like Reagan did.
BS! Get you facts straight and stop taking cheap shots at Ronald Reagan. While Reagan was rebuilding the US economy, winning the Cold War, dismantling the USSR, ending Euro-communism and freeing 500 million people from the totalitarian powers of the Eastern Bloc, George W.Bush's biggest decision was deciding whether to have another shot of Beam and a beer.
Now the historical facts.
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 not able to positively determine 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 final conclusion was ever reached by the our government.
The Reagan administration hatched a plan to knock off a military barracks of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Defense Secretary Cap Weinberger opposed such an action. Weinburger 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 in the Cold War. This time Reagan took Weinberger's advice.
Until this day, Weinberger insists the blame for who committed the Marine barracks bombing 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 Lebanon was an untenable situation. Besides, Reagan had bigger fish to fry.
The hijacking of the Italian passenger liner, the Achille Lauro in 1985 wasn't a reason for Reagan to take the US to war. Reagan did allow his personal feelings to get in the way of trading arms for hostages in Iran.
It's easy for you and others to be able to look back with 20/20 hindsight and say Reagan was negligent for his lack of action. Fact is, if Reagan was given proof who committded the killing of the Marines, he would have taken stronger military action then he did.
Did the Marine barracks bombing add to rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the ME, sure. It was a contribuing factor, but it was not the cause.
That is a lie..