If you were president in 1979, would you have bombed Tehran?

[Tonio]

The recent passing of Reagan led me wonder if Carter would have been re-elected if he had done something about our hostages. Instead, he looked like a wuss who let other countries push us around and walk all over us.

 

[tlatchaw]

No, because our people were there. By "Bomb" I presume you mean "nuke." I would have done a more conventional invasion if I couldn't scare them bad enough to release the hostages by threatening to nuke them.

 

[Tonio]

Originally posted by tlatchaw
No, because our people were there. By "Bomb" I presume you mean "nuke." I would have done a more conventional invasion if I couldn't scare them bad enough to release the hostages by threatening to nuke them.

You wouldn't be prepared to sacrifice the hostages to a higher principle, meaning that no one treats Americans like that and gets away with it?

 

[Tonio]

Originally posted by migtig
Wasn't there a raid by one of the US Special Forces in an attempt to free the hostages that failed?

I don't remember the details, but I just remember the failure as a potent symbol of America's impotence.

 

[vraiblonde]

I was just a kid during the hostage crisis so I don't have a strong knowledge about it. But I'm all for getting rid of ALL theocracies because there's never been one in the history of the world that hasn't been a major problem. So, yes, I'd have done something to get rid of the Ayatollah and help install a representative republic.

 

[Sharon]

Originally posted by migtig
Wasn't there a raid by one of the US Special Forces in an attempt to free the hostages that failed?

The helo crashed from what I remember.

 

[justhangn]

Originally posted by Kyle
Then, again later, now... Whenever.

Turn the whole sand filled hole into a self lit, glass lined parking lot.

 

[SamSpade]

I wish we'd done a commando raid, like the Israelis did, in Entebbe, where they rescued 105 hostages and killed all of the terrorists. I wish we'd done something like Ross Perot did, where he sent in HIS OWN guys into Tehran, created a diversion by staging a jailbreak of 10,000 prisoners - all to rescue *TWO* of his own employees.

I wish we'd shown SOME balls rather than wring our hands and hope the Iranians would be nice to us.

As it was, Carter sent a few helicopters that crashed in the desert before it even got started.

 

[Tonio]

Originally posted by vraiblonde
But I'm all for getting rid of ALL theocracies because there's never been one in the history of the world that hasn't been a major problem. So, yes, I'd have done something to get rid of the Ayatollah and help install a representative republic.

I agree with that in principle. Still, in this case we had an urgent agenda to bust some heads in retaliation.

 

[Voter2002]

They did try to do a rescue attempt - crash & burn in the desert when a C-130 taxied into one of the troop-carrying CH-53's, another CH-53 broke down due to the dust storm on the ground fouled up it's hydraulics.......as I recall....

 

[Voter2002]

...another thing....Carter didn't have balls...that's why Reagan beat him easily. Reagan vowed to go into Tehran with guns blazing. That's why the hostages were released the day before Reagan was sworn in as Prez. Reagan stared them down and they blinked first.

 

[Tonio]

Originally posted by Voter2002
That's why the hostages were released the day before Reagan was sworn in as Prez. Reagan stared them down and they blinked first.

Really? I had read that it was deliberate strategy by Iran to make Carter look as bad as possible.

 

[vraiblonde]

Originally posted by Tonio
Still, in this case we had an urgent agenda to bust some heads in retaliation.

I don't believe in retaliation for revenge's sake. A wise friend once said to me, "'Get bent'. That's interesting, and you say it so often. Which do you like to say more: 'Get bent' or 'Yes, thank you, I'd like to make a deposit'?"

So my mindset these days is to not 'get bent' but to figure out how I can make a deposit.

 

[justhangn]

Originally posted by Tonio
I had read that it was deliberate strategy by Iran to make Carter look as bad as possible.

He needed help?

 

[Tonio]

Originally posted by vraiblonde
I don't believe in retaliation for revenge's sake.

Not for revenge. If we let other nations walk all over us once, they'll keep on doing it. The only way to make them stop is to hurt them. I see 1979 as the beginning of a long history of America being pushed around by religious fanatics, through 9/11 and continuing with Nick Berg.

 

[Voter2002]

Originally posted by Tonio
Really? I had read that it was deliberate strategy by Iran to make Carter look as bad as possible.

So....Iran is now part of the vast right-wing conspiracy to un-seat Democrats

 

[justhangn]

Originally posted by Tonio
I see 1979 as the beginning of a long history of America being pushed around by religious fanatics, through 9/11 and continuing with Nick Berg.

Fanatics understand only one thing and that is fear…….strike swiftly without regard of consequence and the problems will be solved.

 

[vraiblonde]

Anyone ever hear of Iran-Contra?

 

[Tonio]

Originally posted by Voter2002
So....Iran is now part of the vast right-wing conspiracy to un-seat Democrats

Seriously, I thought I remembered one of the mullahs saying they wanted to stick it specifically to Carter.

And Migtig, thanks for the information.

 

[Tonio]

Originally posted by vraiblonde
I don't believe in retaliation for revenge's sake. A wise friend once said to me, "'Get bent'. That's interesting, and you say it so often. Which do you like to say more: 'Get bent' or 'Yes, thank you, I'd like to make a deposit'?"

You mean, if someone told you to F off, you wouldn't want to say, "Don't talk to me like that, you azzhole" and want to punch them in the 'nads?