Book Review : Patrick J . Sloyan ’ s When Reagan Sent in the Marines
when his established narrative thread is thrumming with action , a new chapter takes us to another place or person that eventually ties us back into the overarching picture . For example , he digresses into the role of Iran in Syria as well as their involvement in the terrorist attack on the Marine barracks , leading us into a segue of America ’ s non-response and where it leaves us today . Also , a final chapter in the book is devoted expressly to Reagan after the slaughter of the U . S . Marines in Beirut and his re-election campaign , his subsequent Iran-Contra scandal , and his ability to get away with so much because of “ his ability to make listeners laugh ” ( p . 163 ). One is left to conclude that a stronger editor could have sculpted this into a more seamless work .
One of the most puzzling omissions of When Reagan Sent in the Marines , however , is the lack of a dramatic minute-by-minute telling of the Marine barracks bombing on October 23 , 1983 , which was the nadir of American foreign policy in the Mideast and Reagan ’ s biggest failure as commander-in-chief . The bombing is explored mostly via the grim after-images that met the eyes of French president François Mitterrand , who lost 58 French soldiers in a simultaneous truck bombing that fateful October morning .
While one would like more of a before-and-during telling of the barracks bombing , Sloyan ’ s description of Mitterrand ’ s visit afterwards is quite evocative and powerful . More than any other head-of-state , Mitterrand saw and smelled the horror wreaked upon the American Marines . The barrack images Sloyan shares are visceral and gut-churning , but Mitterrand toured them dutifully and prayed over the physical remains of more than 200 American soldiers . “ In a classic Gallic gesture , Mitterrand raised both arms with palms skyward . He implored heaven for an answer to the enormity of so many young men in tragic death ” ( p . 136 ) Sloyan recounts eloquently . He contrasts this French display of solidarity in mourning to the silence of President Reagan , who did not call to offer personal condolences to Colonel Timothy Geraghty , the Marine battalion commander on the ground .
In terms of readability , the book unfortunately suffers from the lack of a diligent copy editor . Certain phrases , titles , and timelines are repeated unnecessarily in every new chapter , and sloppy typos or redundant words mar an otherwise interesting , if somewhat wandering , narrative . When Reagan Sent in the Marines is not the last word in the history of America ’ s involvement in Lebanon , which deserves a study more robust and less strident in tone . However , this book does raise serious questions about America ’ s judgment and leadership in Middle East foreign affairs with ramifications extending to current times .
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