What US President did not retaliate against Saddam Hussein for the deaths of 37 sailors on the USS Stark?

Answer 1

Ronald Reagan. The attack occurred during the Iran-Iraq War. The attack was supposedly an accident, because during the Iran-Iraq War, the United States supported Iraq. The U.S. provided arms and intelligence to the Iraqis because they wanted to isolate Iran, a cold war foe (because of the USSR). So the reason the US did not attack is because the attack was not authorized by Hussein, it was an accident, and the US was an ally to Iraq.

Answer 2

Iran and Iraq were at war. The Iranians had committed acts of war against the US by seizing Americans as hostage and in numerous other ways. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, in that case.

Open retaliation against Iraq at that time would have been to give aid and comfort to our Iranian enemies. The Iraqis said the attack was an accident, so President Reagan did not retaliate, at that time. But we did not forget.


The Asker deserves credit for drawing out those who reflexively blame the Clintons for our Middle Eastern problems, demonstrating that some don't know the difference between the USS Stark and the USS Cole. If you'd asked about the Cole, however, the correct answer would emphatically be, the Clintons.

Answer 3

Ronald Reagan

Answer 4

Ronald Reagan. He tried to say it was the fault of Iran even though the Iraqis admitted that it was their fighter that fired the two missiles.
Of course, in those days when Iraq was using poisonous gas and chemicals against his own citizens and the Iranian army, the USA was one of Saddam Hussein's main supporters.

Answer 5

Ronald Reagan. It was supposedly an accident. Reagan somehow blamed the Iranians for it.

The first two answerers are thinking of the USS Cole, which was damaged by an al-Quaeda suicide bomb.

Answer 6

The Stark was hit in 1987 so that means that Ronald Reagan was the president. Please don't say "Clinton" if you don't know the answer.

Answer 7

Clinton

Answer 8

president bill clinton