Backward Glance

America has fought with radical Islam almost from the begining of this Country existence. During Thomas Jeffersons term as President American ships were boarded by Islamic Pirates. The cargo was seized and the crew and passengers sold into slavery. The Islamic pirates stated they had the authority to subjugate infidels under their laws in the Koran and if tribute were paid the ships would be freed. The United States refused these demands and President Jefferson proceeded on two coarses of action.

The first was to build strong ships. One of those ships was the U.S.S.Constitution, Old Iron Sides, which is still in service today. The second action was to learn of the enemy. The President acquired a Koran and began to study Islam. It is the same Koran the Democrat Keith Ellison of Minnesota, the first Muslim congressman, used in his swearing in ceremony as he pledged his allegiance to the United States and the Constitution.

In 1805 the United States Marines stormed ashore at Tripoli and brought and end to the Barbary Coast slaving of Americans.

As the Marine Hymn goes "from the halls of Montazuma to the shores of Tripoli".

Since the 8th century there has been a conflict between those who believe in Jihad and the West. Let us look at just the latter part of the 20th century and follow up through todays headlines. While the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, which started World War I, the murder of Bobby Kennedy, and the attempted murder of Pope John Paul I were all committed by Muslim men they seem to have been disturbed individuals and not related to the orgnaized holywar against the West. Though that being said hatred this deep must have come from somewhere.

October 23, 1983, 241 Marines are killed:

May 1987. 17 Navy personel killed:

December 1988, Lybia brings down flight 103

February 1993, World Trade Center is struck:

October 1993, USS Cole is attacked: