phl@drusd.UUCP (LavettePH) (06/18/85)
"Let terrorists be aware that when the rules of international behavior are violated, our policy will be one of swift and effective retribution." - Ronald Reagan January, 1980 "So the president still holds to that principle, but I think anyone recognizes the difficulties that one faces." - Larry Speakes June, 1985 Isn't it a pity they didn't have this insight when they were crucifying Jimmy Carter for his "weakness and vacillation" during the Iranian hostage crisis? At least, Jimmy Carter tried. - Phil
seshadr@utai.UUCP (Ven Seshadri) (06/19/85)
> > > "Let terrorists be aware that when the rules of international > behavior are violated, our policy will be one of swift and > effective retribution." > > - Ronald Reagan > January, 1980 > > > > "So the president still holds to that principle, but I think > anyone recognizes the difficulties that one faces." > > - Larry Speakes > June, 1985 > > > Isn't it a pity they didn't have this insight when they were crucifying Jimmy > Carter for his "weakness and vacillation" during the Iranian hostage crisis? > > At least, Jimmy Carter tried. > > - Phil One must recognize the difference between the two situations here. In the Iranian hostage crisis, the perpetrators of the act were very " well defined ". In that situation, the target for retaliation was very clear -- the government of Iran. Now, however, we must ask the following question: if the United States were to retaliate to this act of terrorism, who should the target be? Perhaps it should be the government of Lebanon, or maybe just the Shiite community in Lebanon, or perhaps the governments of Syria and Iran for encouraging terrorism of this sort. You can easily see that no one particular party is directly and solely responsible for this hijacking. Thus I must say that with respect to hitting back at the source of terrorism, Reagan's hands are tied this time, whereas Jimmy Carter's hands were not. V. Seshadri University of Toronto Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
todd@SCIRTP.UUCP (Todd Jones) (06/27/85)
> > the government of Iran. This has got to be the Oxymoron of the Decade.