Quote:One thing I tend to link to the "loss" of Vietnam is the rise of Islamic extremism. Think about it, the Democrats won control of congress and lost the appetite for war (as well as the American Public). Jimmy Carter (Mr Peanut) was elected President in 76...... come 1979 Iran decided to take our people hostage and held them for 444 days because they knew Congress and Mr Peanut didn't have the testicular fortitude to do anything. By the time Reagan got in to office (and the hostages freed) the fuse had been lit and the powder keg that is the middle east began to explode.

 

I lived through this part of history so I can talk with some authority about it

 

I lived through it, too, and I have a different take. 

 

The reason the Iranians took our people hostage was because we had set up the Shah on the throne of Iran, and the Iranian people hated him and his secret police.   But we were propping him up with arms and intelligence.   The Iranians thought (accurately, it turns out) that the American Embassy was a nest of spies.  

 

Now, let me ask you this: what do you think Carter should have done in response?  

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