In 1986, when President Reagan bombed Libya’s leader’s house in retaliation for Americans killed by Libya, Libya remained quiet for almost 25 years. Then, someone apologized.
Reasons to agree : The bombing deterred Libya from further acts of terrorism A Rand Corporation study found that Libya significantly reduced its involvement in terrorism after the U.S. airstrikes (Hoffman & White, 1991). Libya’s aggressive actions against the U.S. declined for nearly 25 years after the attack. It sent a strong message to adversaries The Center for Strategic and International Studies found that the airstrikes signaled U.S. commitment to retaliating against terrorist sponsors (Cordesman, 1987). Other hostile nations saw the consequences of state-sponsored terrorism, potentially deterring future threats. Deterrence through military strength is historically effective Military action is often necessary to maintain international security and prevent future attacks. Countries that take decisive action against aggression are less likely to be targeted. The apology may have emboldened adversaries Weakness in foreign policy can be interpreted as an invitation for further a...