Kill the pirates: As the Marines demonstrated long ago, there's only one way to end piracy

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | April 12, 2009 | Jack Kelly

[2ndDivisionVet]

The opening stanza of the Marine Corps hymn is: "From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli, we fight our country's battles in the air, on land and sea."

The "Halls of Montezuma" refers to the assault on Chapultepec Castle during the Mexican War, which was led by the small Marine contingent in Gen. Winfield Scott's army. Ninety percent of the officers and NCOs who led the assault were killed.

The red stripe on the dress uniform trousers of Marine officers is in commemoration of the blood their predecessors shed that day. (For those who love historical coincidences, the Marines attacked along a route up the mountain that had been picked out by an Army engineer, Major Robert E. Lee. Immediately behind the Marines was a company of soldiers led by Lt. Ulysses S. Grant.)

"To the shores of Tripoli" refers to the Marine role in Thomas Jefferson's war against the Barbary pirates. The "Barbary Coast" was a collection of Muslim mini-states on Africa's Mediterranean coast stretching from present-day Algeria to present-day Libya. The principal source of revenue for the Barbary states was attacking shipping in the Mediterranean, stealing their cargoes and holding the crews for ransom or selling them into slavery.

The European powers of the day thought it cheaper to pay tribute to the Barbary states than to attack the pirates, and in 1784, the U.S. Congress followed suit. This was opposed by Mr. Jefferson, then the minister to France, who thought paying tribute would lead to larger demands. "It will be more easy to raise ships and men to fight these pirates into reason, than money to bribe them," Mr. Jefferson wrote in a letter to the president of Yale University in 1786.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Time to ask the Pirates, “ok who wants to die next?”

[Pearls Before Swine]

If Somalia is an anarchy, why isn’t somebody like China or Russia interested?

Aside from growing khat and piracy, it doesn't have any natural resources worth scheming for.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

The President is a warmonger.

[NTHockey]

And as my Drill Instructors taught me - the lowest Private in the Marine Corps outranks the highest Admiral in the Navy.

Semper fi Do or die

[Ancient Drive]

go SEALs! three very dead pirates have left this world. Any other pirates out there wanting to capture a U.S. Ship? no? lol

[EricTheRed_VocalMinority]

Now that 3 pirates are dead, wait for Obama to go to Somalia to apologize for American arrogance and for not taking the time to “understand the pirates.” I just hope he doesn’t turn himself into the Hague as a war criminal and an imperialist.

[GladesGuru]

Somalia can, indeed, become a profit center. Here’s how.

1. Remove the coastal communities and populations. In ‘Liberal Speak’, this is known as ethnic cleansing. Translation #2: Muslims - Raus!

2. When the area is ready for human settlement, build resort communities along the coast line. As anyone in the tourism industry can affirm, sun, sea, sand make for a profitable mix. Add in sex and the bottom line (no pun intended) gets even better.

3. Once the eastern border of the new Vacation Nation was defined as a 100 mile wide strip measured from the average shoreline, fence it and then offer hunting trips for those who would enjoy hunting infiltrators.

Nothing is wrong with Somalia except that it is full of Somali’s/Muslims. Remove them and a prosperous Vacation Nation can, and should, be built in place of whatis now a Turd World pool of unending cess that is arguably nastier than Haiti.

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

Because naked imperialism isn’t what all the cool countries do these days....

[Cindy]

Background Link:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2225190/posts

[A.A. Cunningham]

Noncommissioned, Staff noncommissioned and Commissioned officers.

[Mike Darancette]

Surface and machine-gun any survivors.

Do modern subs even have machine guns?

[stylin19a]

I know...see my post #13

[SoCal Pubbie]

Ever hear this one? MARINE stands for “My Ass Rides in Navy Equipment.”

I never served in any branch, and though I appreciate them all, when I hear inter service rivalries I really enjoy the good zingers!

[NTHockey]

>>MARINE stands for “My Ass Rides in Navy Equipment.”<<

Yeah, bought and paid for out of the Marine Corps budget! I know, I served on a Marine Corps ship, the USS Princeton(LPH-5)! Bought and paid for by USMC money, not Navy money. Princeton was scheduled for mothballing before the Marines saved her.

[Grampa Dave]

The Obamas Stage Daring Rescue

AP: Washington DC April 12 2008 10:37PM EST

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibb released an official photo of the President and First Lady rescuing Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates.

In a prepared statement Gibb stated, "...that America's foes better be prepared for robust and immediate and personal action from The President and First Lady."

The President and First Lady were unharmed according to Gibb. They are expected to arrived on Monday by a F-18 Hornet piloted by Michelle Obama.

Gibb also stated that the supposed visit by The First Family to St. John's Episcopal Church was an elaborate plot to lull the Somali pirates in to complacency while The President and First Lady arrived on the scene. Actors were used to impersonate the Obamas.

When asked by reporters his reactions to the rescue, Vice President Biden responded, "The Obamas are some crazy SOB's and they kick ass and take names, so you better not piss them off."