Word: raids
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West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, disapproving of the raid, warned that it might provoke outbursts of "primitive anti-Americanism." Indeed, demonstrators marched and shouted Saturday in Rome, West Berlin and even London, where Prime Minister Thatcher came under scathing attack from critics who accused her of exposing her countrymen to terrorist vengeance...
...madman of terrorism (Gaddafi) keep threatening." Indeed, said O'Neill, if Libya continues to foment terrorism, "I think the American people would demand that we go in again." The New York Times and Washington Post, whose editorial writers are often skeptical about military action overseas, voiced approval of the raid. The most notable dissenter was former President Jimmy Carter, who predicted that the raid would make Gaddafi "a hero" in the Arab world and a worse menace than ever. But, Carter acknowledged, "mine is one of the lonely voices." It certainly seemed to be; polls indicated that the military strike...
Public opinion in Europe, while predominantly against the raid, was hardly monolithic. Polls showed an odd pattern. In Britain, Market & Opinion Research International surveyed 1,051 people for the London Times. Two-thirds were against the air strike, and 71% disapproved of Thatcher's permission for British bases to be used. But in France, which refused to participate, a survey taken within 48 hours of the raid turned up only 49% against vs. 39% who were in favor of it. In France also, one notable political figure, former President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, stated flatly, "I approve of the American...
...Thatcher been entirely complaisant in responding to the U.S. requests. Before permitting the use of the air bases, she insisted that the raid be justifiable as self-defense. She was shown what one aide said were "compelling" reports from U.S. and British intelligence that Gaddafi had ordered the bombing of a West Berlin discotheque and planned a wide range of other terrorist activities. She also demanded promises from Reagan that the U.S. warplanes would confine their attack to "clearly defined targets related to terrorism" and avoid widespread civilian casualties...
...raid was in fact a veiled execution attempt, it would pit the Reagan Administration against a specific presidential order and substantial legal precedent. In 1976, after public discontent over the revelations of cia assassination attempts in Chile, Guatemala and Iran, President Ford issued an Executive Order forbidding the Government from authorizing the assassination of world leaders. Both Presidents Carter and Reagan have reaffirmed that...