The Empire’s Sea of Woes, by Robert Gore
Empire is America's noose, hubris America's curse. Once upon a time it didn't matter much to the American people or their politicians what happened in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, or even Europe. During the nineteenth century, for the most part we minded our own business, and what a business it turned out to be. America became the world's industrial, technological, and commercial powerhouse.
Success may be the hardest human condition to endure. Few individuals withstand it. For empires, it's always temporary. They fail and topple from the pinnacle with monotonous regularity. Preceding the fall is that heady feeling of invincibility, just as the those you scorned, ignored, or subjugated on the way up are putting in place their plans to take you down.
This is an excerpt. For the complete article, please click the above link.
Success may be the hardest human condition to endure. Few individuals withstand it. For empires, it's always temporary. They fail and topple from the pinnacle with monotonous regularity. Preceding the fall is that heady feeling of invincibility, just as the those you scorned, ignored, or subjugated on the way up are putting in place their plans to take you down.
This is an excerpt. For the complete article, please click the above link.
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Seafaring nations found it expedient to 'bribe' the pirates. The Europeans had treaties with the pirates. Tribute was paid for passage through the Mediterranean.
After independence, the US was not given the safe passage being no longer part of the agreement with Britain. Muslim pirates held that they had the right to plunder American ships as Americans were infidels.
Pres Jefferson disagreed. The resultant war was long with a settlement in 1815.
Principles of non intervention, minding one's own business, keeping to one's own borders, transactions only by mutual agreement and such like have a fine sound but are worthless against those who do not hold them. They want what you have got, they will take it if you do not defend.