[asgardshill]

The circumstances are fairly analogous, but there's one important difference between the Barbary Pirates and today's terrorists - an identifiable leadership cadre with which to negotiate. In 1815, Thomas Jefferson extracted concessions from the Barbary rulers, forcing them to abolish all demands for annual payments from and acts of piracy against the United States. In 2004-?, there's really no identifiable group of terrorist leaders from whom to extract a surrender and/or negotiate. Terrorist cells are so small and so widely-dispersed today.

Hence, my heartfelt recommendation to simply "Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out".

[Pharmboy]

Yes...excellent point.

My point in posting this was to show the similarities in their motivations based on their religious doctrine. I agree with your solution also...

[Congressman Billybob]

One constitutional power used against the Barbary Pirates but not used in this conflict was "letters of marque and reprisal." These were governmentally approved private ships and forces -- the "privateers."

Also, regarding "an identified power to deal with," if this develops into a low-grade but recognized world war, we would seek to compel the then leaders of Iran and Saudi Arabia to guarantee the peace -- just as the Bey of Tripoli was the signer of the two Treaties of Peace and Amity that were signed to end the war against the Barbary Pirates.

Congressman Billybob

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