[jpsb]

Reagan realized that the middle east is a snake pit and pulled out.

[SoldierDad]

"On February 7, 1984, President Reagan announced that he had asked for a plan for redeployment of the Marines from Beirut to ships offshore.

Nooooottttt exactly the same thing as pulling out of the ME. Reagan also ordered the attack against Libya. I have no doubt in my mind that were the 9/11/01 attacks to have occurred during Reagan's tenure, the U.S. would have jumped into the ME with both feet - possibly quicker than we did under Bush.