[LS]

Jefferson most certainly did send the fleet to defeat or destroy the Bey. See Wheelan, "Jefferson's War: America's First War on Terror." The fleet did not have the capability to "protect US shipping." Impossible with the small navy we had. The ONLY thing we could do was get rid of the problem.

BTW, Jefferson sought an "international coalition," and no one would pony up, not even the Brits.

Iraq was entirely a "defensive" war so that we didn't have to get nuked. Great concept by Bush: get rid of the little rattlers before they become big snakes.

[Prokopton]

Iraq was entirely a "defensive" war so that we didn't have to get nuked. Great concept by Bush: get rid of the little rattlers before they become big snakes.

Using that logic, it would be easy to justify perpetual war...and I'm not sure that isn't where we are.