I’m presently listening to a book in the car on T.Jefferson’s Barbary Wars.
The British and French at the time were quite open that they approved of the pirates. The big powers had large enough navies and economies to afford the extortion and intimidate the pirates when it was occasionally necessary.
The smaller powers: Spain, USA, Portugal, the Italian states, the Baltic states, did not. So the pirates preyed on them and kept them out of the trade picture, leaving it open for Britain and France.
Of course, USA proved even a small power could kick ass and take names when needed.
Yep, but when I read the reports of our victories it seems that God was on our side.