But then followed the developments that were bloody. very disturbing and apparently the President felt that the national interests dictated that he deploy 2.000 or more marines battle equipped into Beirut. The ostensible purpose was actually as first outlined. two reasons. One was to try to preserve the order. especially after the massacres in the Shatila and Sabra refugee camps. or refugee camps. whichever point of view one wants to look at that from. Second. to shore up the Gemayel regime. At that time I raised a question and directed a letter to the President asking in lieu of the fact that the matter was still in a very disturbing state in Central America and that he had also requested a somewhat small increase in the official number of military advisers that he wanted in El Salvador. though unofficially I had good reason to know.