Reagan Analysis Hostages coming home, ending cold war, attempted assassination
Becoming a prisoner of war in any military combat is inescapable. In most cases, war hostages are tortured and detained, and this leaves them very traumatized and devastated. In as much as their country recognizes them as heroes, news of their release is received with much joy and both the country and family eagerly wait for their arrival, it can be considered to be a great re-union.
Hostages coming home
The incidence of 1980, when 52 American hostages were released into freedom, was a great reprieve for United States, the hostages themselves and Iran. In such situations, people’s joy can be expressed in a number of ways. In this particular case, it is reported that 52 Americans were freed but not without a cost. However, the ransom that Iran got did not equal what the hostages had gone through; because such people normally leave in anxiety due to the threats they may have received during the period of hostage (Price & Cantor, 2007). It is not easy for one to be a hostage for 444 days, which is equated to around 14 months of torture. Therefore, when Reagan took the oath of office and promised renewal of Americans, he meant it. As a result, 52 families were re-united with their love ones and it would only be imagined the kind of joy that was in these families.
Ending cold war
Before the release of these hostages, the government had already captured multibillion dollar assets connected to the Iranians. The accord, which could have been signed by the parties, saw the country receive back their property and other monetary assets that they could not have gotten from the United States government under normal circumstances. They were counting it joy the moment the Americans were freed. This was a major issue and caused a revolution not only between these two countries but also across the Soviet Union (Emery, 2010). It required a sober mind to solve this and for goodness sake, the 40th American president was very much willing to improve the lives of the hostages by agreeing to the demand of Iran. It is worth noting that the United States of America, being the world’s super power, have always had interest in seeing a stable Middle East in terms of economy and politics and it is observed that Clinton was very active in this matter (Gross, 2003). It can therefore be argued that Reagan’s action could have influenced his successors to act in such like manner to bring stability and to improve the cordial relationship with these countries.
Other reasons as to why Iran would act swiftly at the inauguration of Reagan could be because of disconnection between Iranian foreign policy and the former president. This possibly meant that Iran had finally gotten a president whom they could negotiate with and get the much needed solution. It would also signify that Iran and America were ready to develop working relations strengthened by the release of the property which had been captured by America.
Attempted assassination
Due to such strong leadership exhibited by Reagan, competitor politicians could have thought of assassinating him. For instance, his determination to be a people oriented leader by not signing taxation bills and the determination to end war crisis with other countries could have made him popular but increase political rivalry on the other extreme (Joyner, 2012). This was the joy that filled the 52 Americans who would ever thank Reagan’s leadership, which made them free from oppression.
References
Cantor, C. &. (2007). Traumatic entrapment, appeasement and complex post-traumatic stress disorder: evolutionary perspectives of hostages reactions, domestic abuse and the Stockholm syndrome. The royal Austrarian and New Zealand college of Psychiats, 377-384.
Emery, C. (2010). The transatlantic and cold way dynamics of Iran sanctions, 1979-80. Cold war History, 371-396.
Gross, M. R. (2003). Fighting by other means in the mideast: a critical Analysis of Israel’s Assassination policy. Political studies, 350-368.
Joyner, J. (2012). Romney, Reagan, and Republican Fairly Tails Redux. Retrieved on July 29, 2013 from http://www.outsidethebeltway.com
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