Diary Entry - 09/19/1982
Key Facts
President Reagan participates in a National Security Council meeting to discuss the recent massacre in Lebanon.
A busy day for N.S.C.—State & Defense & staff. I attended meeting in the morning re the Beirut massacre. The Israelis did finally attempt to oust the killers. They have proclaimed their outrage. I finally told our group we should go for broke. Let’s tell the people we are in at the request of the Lebanese—sending the multi-national force back in. Italy has agreed & we believe the French will too. We are asking the Israelis to leave Beirut. We are asking Arabs to intervene & persuade Syrians to leave Lebanon at which time we’ll ask Israelis to do likewise. In the meantime Lebanon will establish a govt. & the capability of defending itself. No more half way gestures clear the whole situation while the M.N.F. is on hand to assure order. George S. & Jeanne K. were enthusiastic about the idea and apparently there was no disagreement. The wheels are now in motion.
