Reagan ordered a strike on Libya after two American servicemen were killed and more than 50 injured in a bombing in West Berlin planned by Libya. The strike targeted military installations as well as the home of Libyan leader Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, and killed about 60 people. Qaddafi’s 15-month-old daughter was among the victims.
Though the international community condemned the strike, Reagan insisted that the US was exercising self-defense and that he would not stand by while Americans were attacked.
“Terrorism is the preferred weapon of weak and evil men,” said Reagan. “And as Edmund Burke reminded us, in order for evil to succeed, it’s only necessary that good men do nothing.”
