Posted by
Dennis Pemberton on Thursday, April 09, 2009 12:59:13 PM
The response of the Obama administration to the seizing of an American merchant vessel for the first time in over two hundred years led to quick action. Ducking, to be precise: Washington (AP) - President Barack Obama has declined to answer questions about the hostage situation off the coast of Somalia. The president was asked about the incident as he met with U.S. homeowners about refinancing mortgages. At the close of a Roosevelt Room event, the president was asked by a reporter if he were concerned about the piracy incident. Obama responded: "Guys, we're talking about housing right now." The new Secretary of State, perhaps bereft of an explanation that blamed the United States for the incident, gave a strongly non-committal "We are watching this very closely..." For the sake of God, Mom, and Apple Pie, is this what we've come to? All the news stories talk about the difficulty of patrolling such a large area, too much water, too many ships... blah, blah, blah.
Come on, it's not like there's no historical precedent here! In 1801, the Dey of Tripolitania wrote Thomas Jefferson a note congratulating him on becoming President and to demanding 250 grand to refrain from capturing American vessels and selling their crews into slavery (Why? because, as his representatives had earlier told Adams and Jefferson, we're Muslims, you're not). TJ, despite having a Navy a twentieth the size of President Obama's, told him thankee very much, let's sees how you like a blockade. For a year, commerce into Tripoli was shut down, and the Dey eventually agreed to return all the vessels and sailors.
Why can't we do something similar now? Because it would take a small amount of spine, and would not be "smart power," but "grab-them-by the-throats-until-they-squeak-out-'Uncle!' power." Anything that has the whiff of American exceptionalism is passe'. God Save the United States of America, because He's about the only one who can.