In the balancing act between prudence and resolution that presidents are constantly asked to perform, Mr. Reagan decided to be tough.

“In these tight situations, things sometimes go wrong,” a longtime Presidential adviser said yesterday. “You have sophisticated machines and young soldiers and sailors operating under hard conditions. So you take what you consider reasonable chances on behalf of important goals, and you hope for the best.”

“The Downing of Flight 655,” The New York Times, July 5, 1988