Originally posted by sh76"Flight 655 was a tragic mistake and certainly was not ordered by Reagan."
Flight 655 was a tragic mistake and certainly was not ordered by Reagan.
As for Iran-Contra, Reagan probably was involved. So what? The activities were illegal under the Boland Amendment, but that's not in the same ballpark as bombing a civilian airliner for no real reason. One might even go so far as to say it was a "neat idea" (if one is named Oliver North).
There is no evidence Gaddafi ordered killing civilians or even had knowledge of it. There is no debate over who shot down flight 655, it is known who ordered it and he was Reagan's underling.
Iran /Contra involved arming Iran at the same time Reagan was arming Iraq and helping them with where to target WMDs. The Iran/Iraq war killed far more people than any jet being shot down.
You are dismissing the lives of Iranians (and Iraqis) as if their lives are of lesser value. You should be ashamed of yourself!
Originally posted by Metal BrainYour assertions are not without merit, but not without detractors. Let's face it, most of these conspiracy theories will never be completely solved.
"Flight 655 was a tragic mistake and certainly was not ordered by Reagan."
There is no evidence Gaddafi ordered killing civilians or even had knowledge of it. There is no debate over who shot down flight 655, it is known who ordered it and he was Reagan's underling.
Iran /Contra involved arming Iran at the same time Reagan was arming Iraq and help ...[text shortened]... Iranians (and Iraqis) as if their lives are of lesser value. You should be ashamed of yourself!
Originally posted by Metal BrainActually, the country with the highest standard of living in the region was - and still is - Tunisia, and they got rid of their dictator in an uprising that inspired many others including the one in Libya.
Yes, that had to be stopped. He was making all the other dictators in that region look bad. That is why they all turned against him.
Originally posted by KazetNagorraRebellions don't stem from "average standard of living". They happen when enough of a group are convinced by a leader that theirs is too low, and that government is cheating them.
Actually, the country with the highest standard of living in the region was - and still is - Tunisia, and they got rid of their dictator in an uprising that inspired many others including the one in Libya.
That can happen in relatively rich nations, as well as poor ones.
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Originally posted by Metal BrainTrue but speculation on it continues today, and none of it really based on facts. A partly hid secret, is almost worse than any open truth. People fill in the blanks with ideological preferences.
What theories? Iran/Contra was a conspiracy fact by any definition.
Originally posted by normbenignIt's rather simple pragmatic politics - Obama knows the Libya intervention is not popular, and the aftermath of it was in fact a screwup. He could have denied making any major mistakes but would've sounded pompous and weasely - instead pointing to Libya is a safe and easy opt-out that makes sure Obama does not have to talk about the real mistakes of the Obama administration (such as not repealing the Bush tax cuts).
Clearly an attempt to get ahead of critics lists.
Originally posted by KazetNagorraNot repealing the Bush tax cuts, saves him something to grouse about, while enjoying the positive aspects of them, a twofer.
It's rather simple pragmatic politics - Obama knows the Libya intervention is not popular, and the aftermath of it was in fact a screwup. He could have denied making any major mistakes but would've sounded pompous and weasely - instead pointing to Libya is a safe and easy opt-out that makes sure Obama does not have to talk about the real mistakes of the Obama administration (such as not repealing the Bush tax cuts).
Plus an issue for the next Dem candidate.