Lessons Unlearned from Beirut

Thirty years ago yesterday, an Iranian-engineered suicide bomber destroyed the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 241American servicemen.  Tragically, the United States responded to that act of jihad by retreating, rather than by punishing the perpetrators.  It is no exaggeration to say that the repercussions of that decision haunt us to this day.

Jihadists like Osama bin Laden took away from the experience the conviction that America was unable, or at least unwilling, to fight back against their violence.  Our relegating retribution to the court system was perceived not as admirable restraint.  Rather, it was seen as evidence of weakness – and, worse yet, as submission.  The Koran says the appropriate response is to redouble the effort to make us “feel subdued.”

If President Obama persists in this practice, expect more terrorism, not less.