Traditionalists see the world as a dangerous place. Without governments and international organizations, the world would be in a state of anarchy. The traditionalist theory is an explanation of the past, the present, and it can predict the future. Although the theory is not always correct, it is the view the United States has taken on the world since Truman. Some of our presidents have used the traditionalist theory by the book, only promoting and securing vital US interests; other presidents have not used the traditionalist theory as well. .
Ronald Reagan is an example of a president who did a poor job promoting and securing US interests according to the traditionalist theory. President Reagan saw international relations very simplistically, very black and white, good and evil. According to the traditionalist theory, areas on the rimland (the coastal region of Europe and Asia) are considered important to US interests. Reagan's administration concentrated not on the rimland, but rather South America and Africa. Reagan carried out many military demonstrations that showed his passion for defending places that are not considered vital to traditionalist thinkers. The first demonstration was in Libya in 1981; the leader, Quaddafi, declared that Libyan borders extended 200 miles off its coast when the recognized boundaries is twelve and three-quarters. Reagan had US military ships sail as close as two and a half miles off the coast of Libya, putting US military in harms way. When Quaddafi sent out planes, the US military shot them down. Another country in which Reagan used unnecessary military force was in Lebanon, from 1982-1984. Lebanon is a deeply troubled nation; after Israel invaded in 1982 with the backing of the United States, the US sent in troops to help keep the peace between the Palestine's and the Christians. In 1984, 241 US marines were killed outside of Beruit in a bombing, soon after that all US troops left.