Why did the Invasion of Grenada happen?
The U.S. was hostile toward Grenada because it had a socialist government. Even though we blocked financial assistance their economy was growing at a healthy 9%. Unemployment fell from 49% to 14%. This was probably embarrassing to Reagan. The major justification for the invasion was the protection of American lives. Reagan administration officials falsely claimed that the island’s only operating airport was closed, offering the students no escape. In reality, scores of people left the island on charter flights the day before the U.S. invasion, noting that there was not even a visible military presence at the airport and that customs procedures were normal. Particular concern was expressed over the fate of 800 American students at the U.S.-run St. George’s University School of Medicine. The safe arrival in the United States of the initial group of happy and relieved students evacuated from Grenada resulted in excellent photo opportunities for the administration. It appears, however, tha
Okay, history books will say a lot of things, but this was when Reagan and the United States decided to begin striking back at communist backed governments coming into or in the Soviet sphere of influence. During the 80’s the US began backing anti government guerillas in Nicaragua, backing the right wing anti communist government in El Salvador and to some extent in Guatamala. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union had invaded Afghanistan and in process our ambassador was shot, this was in late 70’s and then not long before the Grenada invasion, a South Korean airline was shot down by Soviet MIg fighters over Pacific. THe US did nothing(How could it with risk of nuclear war?), but strangely, under the guise of rescuing American medical school hostages in Grenada, the US attacked and overthrew the Grenadian government, fought with Cuban troops there-destroying them, but took all Soviet military advisors under guard and sent them home. The Soviets did nothing(How could they without risking nuclear
