Word: grenada
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...purely unemotional, pragmatic level, this Administration's policy toward the Caribbean Basin in general and Grenada in particular has been a paradigm of idiocy. Before the coup in Grenada two weeks ago, the island was already ruled by a Marxist, Prime Minister Maurice Bishop. Although Bishop was hardly a proponent of American-style capitalism-perhaps with reason, given widespread rumors of a CIA-backed coup to depose him several years ago-he nonetheless realized it was in his country's interest to have cordial relations with the United States. To that end, he travelled to Washington last spring, only...
...ongoing U.S. invasion is the most immediate concern though, and it constitutes a terrifying precedent. Had the several hundred American citizens on Grenada been hostages of the new regime, the United States could have justified a rescue mission. But by all accounts-and admittedly, there are not many, because Washington made Grenada off-limits to the press-U.S. citizens on the island, though in the middle of turmoil any coup necessarily creates, were not being directly threatened by the regime, nor were they hostages. The invasion, a violation of several international treaties that this country allegedly adheres to, indicates...
Beyond that, the Administration lied to the American public. Ostensibly, our mission was to rescue American citizens. Even accepting the proposition that they were in imminent danger doesn't justify sending in 2000-plus combat troops who stayed in Grenada after the American civilians were evacuated. Clearly, the Administration knew of the Cuban presence on the island and used the protection of Americans as an excuse to engage the Cubans, topple an unfriendly regime, and ultimately install a puppet government. Such tactics are usually associated with the Soviet Union-for example, in connection with the invasion of Afghanistan...
...beyond tactics and strategy, one has to wonder whether it was worth a dozen dead Marines-or even one dead Marine-to show the Cubans and Russians we mean business," as one Administration official described our real role in Grenada. Any premature death is a tragedy, be it by accident, malnutrition, or illness. But the Marines in Grenada were healthy Americans all, sent intentionally by their Commander-in-Chief into a situation where the only purpose they are effectively serving in symbols. The fact that at least 12 Marines will return home in markets is very real...
What it comes down to is that this Administration is playing a game of geopolitical chess with live pawns. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is just as much an Ivory Tower as this or any other university. Casualties are numbers to the policymakers in Washington, not people. Were the invasion of Grenada a just cause, we wold feel saddened by the loss of life but still understand. As it is, all we can feel is shame. U.S. out of Grenada...