Let us remember Ronald "Raygun" Reagan as a mass murderer, whose support of Nicaraguan Contras, conspiring with Iran, killed over 200,000 Men, Women and Children. Let us remember him as a supporter of the Taliban and someone who armed Osama Bin Laden and directly led to the deaths of thousands of Americans in the War on Terror.
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In retrospect, these decision did have consequences - consequences Reagan was (or became) aware of. But they did limit the US involvement - and kept the US out of war.