Archive Report
Archive Report
Libyan Raid Aftermath
Crisis in Nato and Healing in Tokyo
When President Reagan ordered the air strike against Libya he opened a new chapter in America's war against terrorism. This was not the first use of military retaliation for terrorist attacks: Israel has long applied a consistent policy of retaliation for attacks launched from outside its borders. But Israel has acted alone. In requesting collaboration in the Libyan strike from America's allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Reagan tried to involve several nations of Western Europe in its new counter-terrorist approach. He was rebuffed by all but Britain's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who allowed the Libya-bound American F-111s to depart from British air bases. The decision caused an uproar in Europe, whose cities were ...