When the Founding Fathers Faced Islamists ( History ... The Barbary Pirates )

Pajamas Media ^ | May 27, 2008 | Michael Weiss

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Somewhat related thread:

Warning on protection of strait - Najib tells 'foreign powers' not to interfere

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Straits Times - Asia ^ | OCT 12, 2004 TUE

Posted on Thu 14 Oct 2004 06:59:33 AM PDT by Calpernia

KUALA LUMPUR - Foreign powers must not dictate how Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia protect the Strait of Malacca shipping lanes from threats of piracy and terrorism, Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister said yesterday.

'The Strait of Malacca is ours to protect and preserve,' said Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also Defence Minister, at a conference on improving security in the pirate-infested waters.

'There are those who forget that the countries bordering the Strait of Malacca - each of them sovereign nations in their own right - have the ultimate say over the protection and preservation of the strait,' he said.

Datuk Seri Najib did not name any country in his speech.

However, Admiral Thomas Fargo, commander of United States forces in the Pacific, said in March that an American plan to heighten security in the Strait of Malacca might require a detachment of elite US troops to be stationed nearby.

Datuk Seri Najib said any assumption that foreign countries whose ships pass through the Strait of Malacca can use them for military purposes 'reflects a lack of respect for the rights of littoral states and a misunderstanding of international law'.

Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia all have littoral areas, or coastlines, along the Strait of Malacca. About 50,000 ships ply the narrow passage each year.

The US has warned that terrorists could seize vessels for use as 'floating bombs' to blow up key ports or cities, although no such plots have been reported.

Indonesia's navy chief, Admiral Bernard Kent Sondakh, said in a recent media interview that terrorism and piracy threats in the strait were overblown.

He suggested that foreign governments, including Washington, were playing up the threat because they were interested in controlling the waterway for economic reasons.

'The world economy is now moving toward the Asia-Pacific. Whoever controls the Malacca Strait, the Sunda Straits and the Makassar Straits controls the economy of the Asia Pacific,' Datuk Seri Najib said.

The Sunda and Makassar straits are other waterways in the region.

About 20 pirate attacks were reported in the Strait of Malacca in the first six months of this year.

Joint naval patrols by the adjoining countries have curbed piracy, according to their officials. -- AP

[sneakers]

bttt

[Congressman Billybob]

Thank you for putting this up. I knew it was there, but I had no idea how to find it.

Cordially,

John / Billybob

[Cacique]

btt

[JamesP81]

When the Founding Fathers Faced Islamists

Our modern spineless pols response: diplomacy, dialogue, and endless talking. Our Founding Fathers' response: set their asses on fire while they're in dock.

[Pharmboy]

No mention of the Barbary Wars would be complete without a reference to Stephen Decatur:

Given command of the brig Argus in 1803, he took it to the Mediterranean for service in the First Barbary War against Tripoli. Once in the combat zone, Lieutenant Decatur commanded the schooner Enterprise and, on 23 December 1803, captured the enemy ketch Mastico. That vessel, taken into the U.S. Navy under the name Intrepid, was used by Decatur on 16 February 1804 to execute a night raid into Tripoli harbor to destroy the former U.S. frigate Philadelphia, which had been captured after running aground at the end of October 1803. Admiral Lord Nelson is said to have called this "the most bold and daring act of the age".

This daring and extremely successful operation made Lieutenant Decatur an immediate national hero, a status that was enhanced by his courageous conduct during the 3 August 1804 bombardment of Tripoli. In that action, he led his men in hand-to-hand fighting while boarding and capturing an enemy gunboat. Decatur was subsequently promoted to the rank of Captain, and over the next eight years had command of several frigates.

Click here for more.

[G8 Diplomat]

Random tidbit on the subject...The sword on the Marines’ uniforms is a representation of the sword presented to the US by Egypt as a gift for driving the Barbary Pirates out of the Mediterranean.

[Marine_Uncle]

Thanks for the ping. Lots of verifiable history in this post.

[Pelham]

Somebody forgot to tell Adams and Jefferson that Islam is A Religion of Peace, and that they should observe Islamic holidays like Bush has done.

[BIGLOOK]

Thanks Bulldog, got a keeper.

[ValerieTexas]

One of the historians of the Barbary conflict, Frank Lambert, argues that the imperative of free trade drove America much more than did any quarrel with Islam or “tyranny,” let alone “terrorism.” He resists any comparison with today’s tormenting confrontations. “The Barbary Wars were primarily about trade, not theology,” he writes. “Rather than being holy wars, they were an extension of America’s War of Independence.”

DING DONG! Anyone home, Mr. Lambert?
The Islamic terrorists of September 11, 2001 struck the World TRADE Center!

[SunkenCiv]

Heh, and to top that off, the Barbary Pirates were making a point of killing, robbing, and enslaving Christians.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"...The correct statement would have been no additional authority was needed, because Congress had already acted...."

(Furthermore: Saddam's repeated abrogation of the 1991 armistice meant no further Congressional authorization was necessary, as Gulf War I had resumed.)

Thanks for the superb article.