Joseph Farah explained in this column how our current administration wants to handle the current Somali pirates and compares it to the way Thomas Jefferson handled the Barbary pirates back in the 17th and 18th centuries. When Jefferson found out that the Europeans were handling the Barbary pirates, he didn't think it made any sense. "He recognized the purchase of peace from the Muslims only worked temporarily. They would always find an excuse to break an agreement, blame the Europeans and demand higher tribute."
Could the United States make the same mistake in the 21st Century that the Europeans made a couple hundred years ago?
'To the shores of Tripoli …'
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| JOSEPH FARAH |
By Joseph Farah
December 27, 2010 ~ 1:00 am Eastern
© 2010
My how things have changed.
I just heard the U.S. State Department is suggesting we should negotiate with Somali pirates by paying ransom for the release of 26 Bangladeshis on board the hijacked ship MV Jahan Moni.
Washington says "money was the sole objective" behind the hostage-taking, and that the pirates would likely release the captives for far less money than they are demanding because it's the "lean season" for piracy.
Bangladesh has taken a more principled stand – that no nation can pay ransom for piracy.
Next thing you know the U.S. will be contributing to the ransom or paying the whole thing.
This is quite a turnabout in U.S. foreign policy.
In 1784, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin were commissioned by the first Congress to assemble in Paris to see about marketing U.S. products in Europe.
Jefferson quickly surmised that the biggest challenge facing U.S. merchant ships were those referred to euphemistically as "Barbary pirates."
They weren't "pirates" at all, in the traditional sense, Jefferson noticed. They didn't drink and chase women, and they really weren't out to strike it rich. Instead, their motivation was strictly religious. They bought and sold slaves, to be sure. They looted ships. But they used their booty to buy guns, ships, cannons and ammunition.
Like those we call "terrorists" today, they saw themselves engaged in jihad and called themselves "mujahedeen."
Why did these 18th-century terrorists represent such a grave threat to U.S. merchant ships? With independence from Great Britain, the former colonists lost the protection of the greatest navy in the world. The U.S. had no navy – not a single warship.
Jefferson inquired of his European hosts how they dealt with the problem. He was stunned to find out that France and England both paid tribute to the fiends – who would, in turn, use the money to expand their own armada, buy more weaponry, hijack more commercial ships, enslave more innocent civilians and demand greater ransom.
READ FULL STORY at WorldNetDaily.com
Chuck gives us another great history lesson today about the Barbary Powers Conflict and how it was handled. He leaves us with this great advice: "The voices of our forefathers cry out from the Barbary Powers Conflict in hope of imparting some wisdom to us. As the adage goes, we will either learn from history's mistakes or be doomed to repeat them."
read more |
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American sea Captain Richard Phillips was rescued from four Somali pirates Sunday, a U.S. intelligence official said.
Three pirates were killed and one was in custody after what appeared to be a swift firefight off the Somali coast, the official said. Phillips, who was not hurt, was safely transported to a Navy warship nearby.
Initial reports indicate Phillips jumped overboard for a second time and the military was able to take advantage of the situation.
Phillips, 53, of Underhill, Vt., was transported to the USS Bainbridge nearby. He is resting comfortably after a checkup, the Navy said.
"Andrea and Richard have spoken and you can imagine their joy and what a happy moment it was for them," family spokeswoman Alison McColl said outside the Phillips' house. [Continue reading]
digg story ~ Submitted by pookydirt
MAJOR BREAKING NEWS from FoxNews.com
American crew members aboard a U.S.-flagged ship have regained control of the vessel hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia Wednesday, FOX News confirms.
Defense Department officials confirmed that one pirate is in custody. A U.S. official said the status of the other pirates is unknown but they were reported to "be in the water."
"All the crew members are trained in security detail in how to deal with piracy," Maersk CEO John Reinhart told reporters. "As merchant vessels we do not carry arms. We have ways to push back, but we do not carry arms."
John Harris, CEO of HollowPoint Security Services, which specializes in maritime security, said that the crew's overtaking the pirates could help prevent future hijackings, especially since the military can't be protect the entire high seas.
"Any time you can get intel from them, they can give you any kind of significant information, they more than likely will not, but anything we can get will always help us in the future," Harris told FOX News.
"Naval vessels ... can't be everywhere at one time, just like law enforcement," he said, noting that the U.S. Navy has been protecting the most vulnerable shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean. [Continue reading]
Note to Somali pirates: Don't tread on us! Our government may be weak and apathetic about solving this problem, but not our AMERICAN PEOPLE! Mess with a U.S.-flagged ship, and you better know how to swim!
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UPDATE 04/08/09 - 1:03 pm (cst)
The AP has broken this story. The Captain of the ship may be in captivity with several pirates that may have escaped. This story is ongoing. More to come.
UPDATE 04/08/09 - 01:25 pm (cst)
New Fox News story, "
U.S. Crew Regain Control of Hijacked Ship, Negotiate Captain's Release":
American crew members aboard a U.S.-flagged ship hijacked by Somali pirates Wednesday were able to regain control of the vessel, but a crew member says the ship's captain is still being held hostage.
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