Word: fleets
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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That set of stories went to press early Sunday, detailing likely targets, fleet movements, the probable planes to be used, as well as the goals and possible consequences. Then came the long, tension-filled wait. Contingency plans were made to update the story if the attack came later on Sunday. Duffy had judged that the raid would not come over the weekend but nonetheless stayed in touch with his contacts by phone...
...finally fell, was unexpectedly jarring. Despite years of agonized Western debate about combatting terrorism, months of mostly fruitless diplomatic maneuvering, weeks of U.S. warnings and finally days of ominous public silence, the world still seemed unprepared when the bombers struck. Although Libya had felt the sting of the Sixth Fleet over the Gulf of Sidra just three weeks before, the principal buildings and the minarets of the central mosque in Tripoli were bathed by floodlights, providing a beacon for U.S. pilots. Under cover of darkness, 13 F-111 fighter-bombers flying out of Britain, joined by twelve A-6 attack...
...Sixth Fleet eventually steams away without attacking, the Administration might win both applause for restraint and derision for making empty threats. But it would only be putting off until the next time the question of whether and how to retaliate. Given the virus of terrorism, there assuredly would be a next time. Indeed, having talked so much about retaliation and now gone so far toward it, Washington has practically guaranteed a sharpening debate about reprisal every time there is a new murderous attack for which intelligence officials believe they can pinpoint the perpetrator...
Nevertheless, last week's activities made it clear that the Reagan Administration, led by Shultz and others, firmly believes military reprisals must play a greater role in the undeclared war against terrorism. That is why Muammar Gaddafi once again finds himself in the cross hairs of America's Sixth Fleet. Uncle Sam spoke loudly, vowing vengeance, then raised his big stick. Given the dangers posed by terrorism, such a response was understandable, even justified. Then, at least for a moment, came an eerie pantomime of waiting and hesitation. Given the risks involved, the fact that the sword of vengeance cannot...
...Treasury executive. Just a few blocks away at the beleaguered NASA a high official declared, "Without the President's unshakable faith that we can still do the job in space we would have been destroyed by now." Off in the Mediterranean on board ships and carriers of the Sixth Fleet, the words spoken by Reagan during last month's Gulf of Sidra incident were like a surge of adrenaline. Talking of the fleet's commander, Vice Admiral Frank Kelso, the President said, "The man knows what he's doing. Let's let him do the job." The admiral...