From the Halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine
Sådan lyder første vers af Marine's Hymn men hvorfor nævnes Tripoli?
Det nye land USA befandt sig efter uafhængighedskrigen uden en flåde til at beskytte deres handelsskibe og englænderne havde af åbenlyse grunde ikke lyst til det.
Flere muslimske 'stater' benyttede muligheden til at angribe amerikanske skibe og tog desuden slaver.
Som begrundelse herfor gav Tripoli's ambassadør følgende forklaring:
The answer was quite revealing. Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja (the ambassador) replied that Islam:
“Was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Qur’an, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Musselman (Muslim) who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise.”
http://conservativepost.com/thomas-jeffersons-response-to-muslims-in-1801-is-more-impor r
Som respons herpå førte USA krig - Barbary Wars - mod disse muslimske såkaldte stater.
Så når nogen nævner amerikansk imperialisme i Mellemøsten kan der bekvemt henvises til Barbary Wars. Muslimerne startede trods alt selv aggressionen.
