From the Reagan Diaries:
Tuesday, June 9 [1981]
…Ended day with an N.S.C. meeting on the [Israeli] bombing of Iraq. P.M. Begin insists the plant was preparing to produce nuclear weapons for use on Israel. If he waited ’til the French shipment of “hot” uranium arrived he couldn’t order the bombing because of the radiation that would be loosed on Baghdad.
I can understand his fear but feel he took wrong option. He should have told us & the French, we could have done something to remove the threat….
[Followed by:]
Wednesday, June 10
More meetings about the Israeli bombing. Under the law I have no choice but to ask Cong. to investigate & see if there has been a violation of the law regarding use of Am. produced planes for offensive purposes. Frankly, if Cong. should decide that I’ll grant a Presidential waiver. Iraq is technically still at war with Israel & I believe they were preparing to build an atom bomb.
–Ronald Reagan