I already called him a pussy but Lou Cannon called the would be gunslinging Ronald Reagan a pussy cat in a July 1985 Washington Post piece.
Hell, Reagan was such a wimp that his nickname was Jimmy Reagan as in Jimmy Carter who never killed anyone as President of the United States.
So in 1981, President Ronald Reagan promises the nation and the world "swift and effective retribution" to terrorist activities.
Bullshit!
Reagon's strongest moment on the world stage came in ... Grenada where he rescued some medical students from final exams while they were attending The True Blue Medical Facility.
What terrorist act prompted a war in which over 5,000 medals were issued for merit and valor?
Canada and the UK were building a commercial airport. Yes. In 1954, the Brits had recommended replacing the existing airport with a modern facility to attract more tourists to the little island. Yeah. The British were coming. One if by land. Two if by sea. Paul Revere and all that.
A congressional hearing heard testimony that,
...based on my personal observations, discussion and analysis of the new international airport under construction in Grenada, it is my conclusion that this project is specifically now and has always been for the purpose of economic development and is not for military use.... It is my thought that it is absurd, patronizing, and totally unwarranted for the United States government to charge that this airport poses a military threat to the United States’ national security.
Ouch!
What did the UN do? By a vote of 108-0, it commended the attack as a violation of international law. See General Assembly Resolution 38/7, which "deeply deplores the armed intervention in Grenada, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of that State."
What did Britain do? Britain already thought Reagan was an idiot. In a written communication still partly classified, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher threatened to deny the US access to cruise missile bases in the UK.
Thatcher called Reagan and told him to stop the invasion. Reagan, always the American Ideal of truth and justice, lied to Thatcher. US troops were already ashore as Reagan said, "No invasion is being contemplated."
Right. I'd bet that Reagan didn't have the guts to tell the strong woman, 'You can't stop me. It's done.'
Typical of Reagan. When Navy Diver, Robert Stethem was tortured by terrorists then executed, Reagan didn't lose any sleep.
More on Reagan the singing cowboy soon.