The shores of Tripoli 2.0
Everyone knows the phrase “to the shores of Tripoli” from the Marine Corps Hymn. What might not be known is that in the 18th century North African pirates had preyed on European ships for decades, either capturing them, or extorting fees for their safe passage which the pusillanimous Europeans quietly paid. In contrast, the new United States in its first international action sent in the Marines, and the Marines quickly quelled the pirates. Of course the solution to piracy is always the same: neutralize the pirates or, in more forthright language, take them out. And so now, after ...