Quote:
Originally posted by sgtclub
What was the perception problem in regards to Beirut?
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We were doing some peace-keeping /peace-enforcement action in Lebanon in the early to mid-1980s under your sainted RR. Suicide bombers drove a truck full of explosives into the barracks compound where U.S. Marines were staying -- about 200 people died. The U.S. quickly bugged out. Popular decision, because most Americans didn't care about Lebanon.
That was a huge "paper-tiger" moment, club, right in the Middle East. Hey, OBL was a rich young Saudi who partied in Lebanon back then. I think when combined with our military action in Grenada under Reagan, Lebanon helped to contribute to precisely the perception you talk about -- i.e. the U.S. is big, and talks tough, but is unwilling to do the hard stuff, and unwilling to take casualties. You know -- the "rich people are soft" thesis.
Also -- Bombing of the U.S. embassy in Lebanon -- response was to shoot artillery barrages from a WWII destroyer into various villages/positions occupied by the ethnic militias who opposed our presence. It was very impressive to see, but did little.
S_A_M
