[SJackson]

And how about the one you failed to mention. The killing of over 300 Marines in the barracks bombing in Beirut. How did that play out? Did Ronald Reagan say "ok people we are engaged in a world wide war on terror" Prepare to surrender your civil liberties"....Or did he say...Middle Eastern politics are insane and we have no right to sacrifice our soldiers by putting them between these barbaric factions.... He left Lebanon and withdrew ALL our troops....period....So do you consider Reagan to have been a cut and run coward or do you consider him to be a realist?

Well, since he withdrew not unilaterally, but in conjuction with negotiated agreements, which provided for the evacuation of the PLO to Tunis, ceded the southern ten miles of Lebanon to Israel, and boosted military aid to Israel by about 40%, I'd go with realist rather than surrender monkey.

[SJackson]

Meant to include you in 209

[Strong_Defense]

Well, since he withdrew not unilaterally, but in conjuction with negotiated agreements, which provided for the evacuation of the PLO to Tunis, ceded the southern ten miles of Lebanon to Israel, and boosted military aid to Israel by about 40%


So when Regan brought the troops home, that was not so bad, because PLO relocated to Tunis, and Israel got to keep 10 miles (actually, more like 12 miles) of Lebanon?

Do you know that Israel eventually gave up that 10 miles? And how does having PLO in Tunis rather than Beirut help protect America?

Effectively, Reagan's "negotiated" withdrawal was just saving face. What was key was removing our servicemen from an insane civil war, which Reagan had the guts to do.

Another thing Reagan did: negotiate with Iranians, and even sell them weapons. Traitor? Or wise politician?