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'Many will recall with pain what we went through in the Reagan administration in 1983, when the Marine barracks were bombed in Beirut-241 Marines and Navy corpsmen were killed. We immediately got an intercept from NSA [National Security Agency], a total smoking gun from the foreign ministry of Iran, ordering the murder of our Marines. Nothing was done to retaliate. Instead, we did exactly what the terrorists wanted us to do, which was to withdraw. Osama bin Laden has cited this as one of his dawning moments.'

John Lehman#4

PolicyHistoryTerrorism

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About this quote

What does it mean?
After the 1983 Beirut bombing, the U.S. failed to retaliate, which Osama bin Laden later cited as a key motivator.
In plain terms
U.S. inaction after a terrorist attack inspired further radicalization.
What can you take from it?
Consider decisive responses to deter future attacks.

Where it applies

  • military decision‑making
  • foreign policy

Putting it to work

  • assess proportional responses

Questions to consider

  • When does retaliation become counterproductive?
  • How can responses balance deterrence and escalation?

Another view

Retaliation can also fuel propaganda.

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