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On September 1, 1983, the Soviet Union blew Korean Air Lines flight 007 out of the sky; 269 people died, including Rep. Larry McDonald (D-Ga.).
The Soviet Union insisted that the plane had strayed 200 miles from its scheduled flight plan and entered Soviet airspace — which was true. But they also claimed that the plane was spying on the USSR — which was ridiculous and absolutely false.
PresidentRonaldReagancalledit“anactofbarbarism.”TheworldtookadeepbreathandwonderedhowtheGipperwouldrespond.
Today,weoftenrememberReaganasasweet,oldergentlemanfromabygoneera,butinhistime,hewaseverybitashated,feared,anddespisedbyhisenemiesasTrumpistoday.Accordingtotheleft,RonaldReaganwasaviolent,trigger-happycowboywithanapocalypticbloodlustfortheEndDays.Theywere100%certainthatthe“DayAfterTomorrow”wasinevitable—becausethatrabblerousingrightwingerwasgonnatriggerWorldWarIII.
Allheneededwasachance!
Andnow,intheaftermathofaSovietair-to-airmissileblowingupacivilianairliner,PresidentReaganhadpoliticalcovertorespondmilitarily.Ifhewantedtodoso,hecould’veun
