To the Shores of Tripoli
Dennis Byrne penned an excellent article about the Barbary Pirates that were troubling the world some 200 years ago. More accurately, it's about the difference between France's approach (negotiating to pay millions in tribute every year) and that of America's:Demonstrating the need for perseverance and patience, a series of victories in 1815 by Commodores William Bainbridge and Decatur finally led to a treaty ending both piracy against us and tribute payments by us. We even extracted monetary compensation for property they seized from us. Meanwhile, Europeans, continuing their multilateral, diplomatic approach, kept paying and paying and paying.France's response to world problems is rooted deep in their culture, as illustrated by another act:Lessons? No, it doesn't prove that diplomacy and international cooperation never work. But it demonstrates a principle: The United States, when confronted with weak resolve from the international community against enemies, sometimes needs to stand alone for what is right. And it sometimes works.
One more footnote: France finally settled the hash of the Barbary Coast states in 1830 when it simply went in and took over the place. The official provocation, according to France, was some sort of an insult to the French consul in Algiers. France, demonstrating its superior humanitarian instincts, remained there as a colonial power for a century. Unlike the United States, which, wanting only to protect its citizens and its ships, got out when it won.
Blog post #2385 in category
War, Terrorism,& the Military
posted 10 February 04
Truly superior bloggers that reference To the Shores of Tripoli:
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from The Politburo Diktat:
Comrades, is busy week, da? So many reactionaries, so little ammunition. On the strength of newly revealed circumstances ascertained by the investigating authorities in connection with the discovery of a number of terrorist groups of Totskyites and Zin... [Read More]
Tracked on February 11, 2004 1:41 PM