Blame and Retribution
Libya was blamed for the bombing after telex messages had been intercepted from Libya to the Libyan East Berlin embassy congratulating them on a job well done. U.S. President Ronald Reagan retaliated by ordering airstrikes against the Libyan capital of Tripoli and city of Benghazi (see Operation El Dorado Canyon). At least 15 civilians were killed in the U.S. airstrikes on Libya, including a child described as leader Colonel Gaddafi's adopted 15-month old daughter, and more than 2000 were injured, including the then–three-year-old Khamis Gaddafi.
Read more about this topic: 1986 Berlin Discotheque Bombing
Famous quotes containing the words blame and/or retribution:
“No one to blame!... That was why most people led lives they hated, with people they hated.... How wonderful to have someone to blame! How wonderful to live with one’s nemesis! You may be miserable, but you feel forever in the right. You may be fragmented, but you feel absolved of all the blame for it. Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.”
—Erica Jong (b. 1942)
“You cannot do justice to the dead. When we talk about doing justice to the dead we are talking about retribution for the harm done to them. But retribution and justice are two different things.”
—William, Lord Shawcross (b. 1902)