America needs you, Mr. Jefferson
Posted on 12/23/2008 4:21:18 PM PST by Righting
'Pirates of Penzance' redo? James Zumwalt
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Soon after winning independence from England, the United States faced another war. Muslim pirates operating off North Africa's Barbary Coast were seizing U.S., as well as European, ships sailing in international waters, holding them for tribute payment or plunder.
In 1786, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, meeting in London with Tripoli's Muslim ambassador to Britain, inquired as to the reason for such Arab hostility. Acknowledging their attacks were unprovoked, the Tripoli ambassador explained it was their right and duty under the Koran as faithful Muslim followers to plunder and enslave the unfaithful - with those Muslims dying in the process going to paradise. To stop the attacks, the United States initially agreed to pay the Barbary pirates tribute, equal to about 20 percent of government revenues. Only later did an indignant United States launch two wars against them, ending in victory in 1815 and no further payments. European nations, acting individually and collectively, suppressed pirate activity as well, with the French conquest of Algiers in 1830 providing the last nail in the Barbary Pirates' coffin.
Today, Muslim pirates again sail the seas off Africa's coast. Mostly Somalis, these pirates have already attacked more than 60 ships this year in the vicinity of the Gulf of Aden - almost 5 times more than occurred all last year. Pirates gain confidence as owners prove willing to pay ransoms for the safe return of ships and crews, much like the United States first did with the Barbary Pirates.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/02/pirates-of-penzance-redo/
America needs you, Mr. Jefferson
Early in the history of the United States, the nation had to take on and defeat jihadist pirates. It is time to do it again.
"Al-Qaeda pirates target UK ships," from The Sun (thanks to Pamela):
BRITAIN’S 18,000 merchant sailors face a growing danger from pirates with links to al-Qaeda.Yes.Attacks worldwide are up 20 per cent this year – and tourists on passenger liners are now feared to be at risk.
One of the most dangerous areas is the 1,800-mile coastline of east African country Somalia – where extremist militias with ties to Osama Bin Laden’s terror network operate unhindered.
A British skipper was seized in the area earlier this year and held hostage for 47 days by pirates demanding a £350,000 ransom.
And only this week the Japanese oil tanker Takayama came under fire from rocket-propelled grenades.
Around the world in the past year, 36 vessels have been boarded, with six crew kidnapped, three killed and one missing, presumed dead.
The modern-day pirates use high-powered motor-boats, grenade launchers and machine-guns.
British seamen’s union Nautilus wants the Government to review its policy on piracy.
Nautilus spokesman Andrew Linington said: “We are talking about sophisticated, organised, violent gangs, who jeopardise the lives of seafarers.
“The number of attacks and the level of violence are increasing.
“Sooner or later, there will be a major incident in the region.”
One notorious gang with terror links calls itself the “Somalia Coastguard”.
Mr Linington said: “Intelligence indicates gangs like the Somalia Coastguard have links to al-Qaeda.
“Unless there is action against these thugs, it amounts to a green light for a terrorist outrage.”
Muslim "PIRATES" Declare War on Japan
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2007/12/muslim-pirates.html
Today’s Barbary Pirates
http://bangornews.com/detail/93974.html
Thomas Jefferson’s eternal hostility to tyranny should be our guiding light ... Muslim pirates operating off North Africa's Barbary Coast were seizing U.S., ...
http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/mediaroundups.aspx?dt=10/02/2008
US Military Takes on Latter-Day Pirates ...The Barbary pirates of Jefferson's day took advantage of vast, unpatrolled African territory and leaders that encouraged criminality to prey on American ...
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_wires/2007Nov02/0,4675,21stCenturyPirates,00.html
"Pirates" Hold Russian Arms Ship Hostage For $20 Million [28 Sep 2008] ...From Past Now And Then: Quote: Now, two centuries after the wars against the Barbary corsairs, a new breed of Muslim pirate is active along the coast of Somalia, reaching out as far as two hundred miles into the neighbouring seas to capture ships and crews to be held for ransom. Brigitte Gabriel reports that although Islamic Pirates prey on shipping within the Malacca Straits, the Islamic Nations of Indonesia and Malaysia, have reused help from the United States Navy in protecting that region.
http://www.theminorityreportblog.com/hinzsight_story/david_hinz/2008/09/28/pirates_hold_russian_arms_ship_hostage_for_20_million
Muslim Pirates Attacks Continue Despite UN Resolution
http://www.zimbio.com/member/mississippimud2007/articles/2302089/Muslim+Pirates+Attacks+Continue+Despite+UN
Kelly McEvers takes readers' questions about piracy in Indonesia ...4 Dec 2008 ... The Pirates of Indonesia Kelly McEvers takes readers' questions about .... see female pirate leaders amongst today's modern Muslim pirates! ...
http://www.slate.com/id/2205971/pagenum/all/
“Nuslim” Bump!
Sounds series.
oh, will have to edit it, thanks.
lol.
> I have heard these merchant ships are not allowed to arm themselves, is that true? It would somewhat explain the problem.
I understand that to be a part of the new “Law of the Sea”.
It is a major part of the problem, exposing them to these dangerous thugs.
In the 1790s Jefferson fought the creation of the military assets the young USA needed to deal with pirates. His followers attacked the Federalists for trying to expand the US Navy and forced the cutting of about half the new frigates it was planning to build. His idea was that shipping should be provided by European nations because if we had a navy and shippers it would lead to conflict and wars. So Gunboats capable only of coastal sailing was his idea of a navy.
Of course, such ideas were ludicrous and typical of Jefferson. It was only after enormous outrage that he was forced to act using the navy the Democrat-Republicans had tried so hard to kill. He was dragged into defending the nation’s interests. After weakening the US Army he left the US in serious trouble when the War of 1812 was waged under his follower, Madison. We were too weak to even protect our Capital because of his party’s anti-military attitudes.
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