Keepers of the Peace or Soldiers: An Analysis of the 1983 Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing and the Rationale Behind Deploying Troops in a Peacekeeping Capacity

Despite President Reagan’s historic foreign policy success in ushering in the collapse of the Soviet Union and liberation of Eastern Europe, the loss of life during the Beirut Marine barracks bombing marks a substantial failure in Reagan’s foreign policy record. Reagan’s foreign policy failure in Beirut that resulted in the deaths of 241 Americans merits further examination amongst students of international relations as this peacekeeping mission illustrates the dangers of sending American troops into harm’s way without a clear and decisive goal and exit strategy. By evaluating the 1983 Beirut Marine barracks bombing, the hindsight and judgment of history allows for more thorough analysis of the consequences of committing peacekeeping forces without determining the justification, or purpose, for deploying American troops and without fully recognizing the planned exit strategy. It is therefore instructive to examine President Reagan’s decision to deploy American peacekeeping forces into Lebanon, the military rationale behind committing troops, along with applying the lessons of this tragedy for future conflict resolution