A couple of weeks ago, Somali pirates hijacked a cargo ship with 20 American crew members on board. Thank God and the Navy SEALs that they all got out alive. But will Americans be as lucky next time?
During 2008 alone, these thugs raided more than 130 vessels, resulting in 50 successful hijackings and millions of dollars paid in ransoms. With at least five well-organized pirate gangs off the Horn of Africa — including the al-Shabab militia, which is a group of Islamic extremists that some people compare to the Taliban — all seeking and splitting the spoils of these sea traders, isn't it time America better protects our merchant mariners in volatile areas, such as off the Somali coast? Isn't it time they are armed with better deterrents than fire hoses, rubber bullets and sonic weapons? Isn't it time our Navy SEALs reach land and cut pirates off at the pass?
Ransoms only enable these hooligans. And negotiations never work with them. We need to cut them off so that no one else goes missing in action. For proof of that, we only need to look back and learn from our revolutionary predecessors. Our Founding Fathers not only demonstrated how we need to rescue our citizens but also instilled the notion within these pirates that America never will appease or tolerate captors and that we never will pay their ransoms again.
Some might not know that America has been dealing with African marauding mariners since our inception. Though it's not a direct parallel, I believe we need to do as Thomas Jefferson did during the Barbary Wars, in which Muslim extremists, or pirates, from the Barbary States (Tripoli, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, which were semi-independent provinces of Turkey) fought many countries, including the new United States, that they considered Christian nations.
While the United States was mopping up from the Revolutionary War, we also were squaring off against largely Muslim pirates in the Mediterranean Sea. These sea bandits cruised the coastlines stealing cargo, destroying villages, and enslaving millions of Africans and hundreds of thousands of Christian Europeans and Americans. Because America was a newborn nation, we had relatively little naval defense. Our rebellion against Britain severed our protection by the Royal Navy.
And while France helped during the Revolutionary War, we were on our own as of about 1783. And so our merchant ships were exceptionally vulnerable to attack in and out of the Great Sea. As a result, our cargo and seamen were captured, and our country's leaders were forced to negotiate with the Barbary pirates.
In 1784, envoys were dispatched to secure peace and passage from the Barbary States. Treaties were made. Tributes and ransoms were paid. Our cargo and captives were freed. And our ships traveled safely. But over the next decade and a half, we gave millions of dollars to these radicals, including an estimated 20 percent of our federal budget in 1800! (Despite that, men such as Thomas Jefferson argued vehemently against paying ransoms and tribute; Jefferson believed the only road to resolution would be through the "medium of war.")
America's first four presidents (Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison) each dealt with this east-west conflict of powers to varying degrees. Though numerous negotiations and treaties were made, including the Treaty of Tripoli (1796-97), Tripoli (in present-day Libya) still declared war against the U.S. in 1801. It sometimes is called America's first official war. The Founders believed in a foreign policy of noninterventionism, but Jefferson realized that protecting America's borders also meant protecting American lives and property overseas.
He confessed to Congress in 1801 that he was "unauthorized by the Constitution, without the sanction of Congress, to go beyond the line of defense," but he still ordered a small fleet of warships to the Mediterranean to ward off attacks by the Barbary States. Marines and warships were deployed to the region. That eventually led to the 1805 surrender of Tripoli. It would take another decade, however, to defeat those pirates completely, or, should I say, cause them to retreat until a distant time when they would attack our country again.
America's victory back then over those sea radicals is commemorated today in "The Marines' Hymn," with the words "From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli, we fight our country's battles in the air, on land and sea."
The voices of our forefathers cry out from the Barbary Wars in the hopes of imparting some wisdom to us. As the adage goes, we either will learn from history's mistakes or be doomed to repeat them.
To find out more about Chuck Norris and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2009 CHUCK NORRIS
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
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After the arrest of the 'grinning' pirate and his 15 minutes of fame, just the thought of our government saying 'no more waterboarding', 'no more inhuman punishment', I would like to ask "Why the 'hello-dolly' not! Do you idiots think he was just out for a 'ski on the waters?' Politicians have lost it! These terrorists, and also the ones already living on American soil, are bent on killing all Americans and taking over or haven't you air heads figured this out yet? Taxpayers know that "AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH" means just that, so stop trying to 'paint a rose colored garden' for these killers. INCIDENTALLY, prisons are too good for these people and Taxpayers' money shouldn't be used to keep them up, even the Arizona 'tent city' is too good for them! As for OBAMA LITERALLY 'SHAKING AND EXTENDING HIS HAND & TELLING CHAVEZ & CASTRO' = 'I'M NOT TALKING JUST TO BE TALKING' IS GOING TO MAKE THESE DICTATORS LOVE HIM AND AMERICA, HE'S OH SO MISTAKEN. THESE PEOPLE MAIM, RAPE AND KILL THEIR OWN KIN, AND HE THINKS THEY'LL SPARE HIM AND AMERICA? GIVE ME A BREAK! TAXPAYERS are saying "Obamas' radical and socialist changes are more than can be tolerated; therefore, look for the Tea Parties to increase and all politicians pay to be cut to $12,000.00 yearly! Or, sell them a one-way ticket to the foreign countries they've sold America to, taking all assets to pay off the trillions they've borrowed without Taxpayers' consent! Gitmo looks better for them everyday, doesn't it? THE FOLLOWING WAS SENT TO ME AND I'M FORWARDING IT ALONG! ================================================================================ There was a Pied Piper who said, “We live in the greatest country in the world. Help me change it!” *And the people said, “Change is good!” Then he said, “We are going to tax the rich fat-cats,”…*And the people said “Sock it to them!” “and redistribute their wealth.” *And the people said, “Show me the money!” And then he said, “Redistribution of wealth is good for everybody” *And Joe the plumber said, are you kidding me?” And Joe's personal records were hacked and publicized. *And one lone reporter asked, “Isn't that Marxist policy?” And she was banished from the kingdom! Then someone asked, “With no foreign relations experience, how will you deal with radical terrorists?” And the Pied Piper said, “Simple. I'll sit down and talk with them and show them how nice we really are and they'll forget that they ever wanted to kill us all!” Then the Pied Piper said, “I'll give 95% of you lower taxes.” *And one, lone voice said, “But 40% of us don't pay ANY taxes.” So the Pied Piper said, “Then I'll give you some of the taxes the fat-cats pay!” *And the people said, “Show me the money!” Then the Pied Piper said, “I'll tax your Capital Gains when you sell your homes!” *And the people yawned and the slumping housing market collapsed. And he said, “I'll mandate employer- funded health care for EVERY worker and raise the minimum wage.” *And the people said, “Gim'me some of that!” Then he said, “I'll penalize employers who ship jobs overseas.” *And the people said, “Where's my rebate check?” Then the Pied Piper actually said, “I'll bankrupt the coal industry and electricity rates will skyrocket!” *And the people said, “Coal is dirty, coal is evil, no more coal! But we don't care for that part about higher electric rates.” So the Pied Piper said, “Not to worry. If your rebate isn't enough to cover your expenses, we'll bail you out. Just sign up with ACORN and your troubles are over!” Then he said, “Illegal immigrants feel scorned and slighted. Let's grant them amnesty, Social Security, free education, free lunches, free medical care, bi-lingual signs and guaranteed housing.” *And the people said, “Ole`! Bravo!” And they made him King! And so it came to pass that employers, facing spiraling costs and ever-higher taxes, raised their prices and laid off workers. Others simply gave up and went out of business and the economy slowed even further. Then the Pied Piper said, “I am the Messiah and I'm here to save you! We'll just print more money so everyone will have enough!” But our foreign trading partners said, “Wait a minute. Your dollar isn't worth what it was. You'll have to pay more.” *And the people said, “Wait a minute. That's not fair!” And the world said, “Neither are these other, idiotic programs you've embraced. You've become a Socialist state and a second-rate power. Now you'll play by ourrules!” *And the people said, “What have we done?” But it was too late. If you think this is a fairy tale, open your eyes and ears. It's happening RIGHT NOW! Did you know the president's name is really an acronym… One Big Astounding Mistake America - WHICH SPELLS, YOU GUESSED IT 'OBAMA'
Comment: #1
Posted by: Shirley deLong
Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:19 PM
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This is what one commentator, Pastor and former U.S. Navy Chaplain, D.A. Waite, has said, at the end of a detailed account compiled from various USN sources. "Despite the Obama administration's (and its sycophants') attempt to spin yesterday's success as a result of bold, decisive leadership by the inexperienced president, the reality is nothing of the sort. What should have been a standoff lasting only hours, as long as it took the USS Bainbridge and its team of NSWC [Naval Surface Warfare Center] operators to steam to the location, became an embarrassing four day and counting standoff between a ragtag handful of criminals with rifles and a U.S. Navy warship." An end-times description of the USA is very likely found in Daniel 7:6, KJB, "After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it." The picture here is quite detailed but essentially the mightiest nation on earth, formerly with eagle's wings, is in grave danger of being downgraded into a chicken on the international scene, which pretty much accords with your comment, Shirley.
Comment: #2
Posted by: Alan O'Reilly
Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:29 AM
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