American Minute with Bill Federer
February 16

"From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli" begins the Marine anthem, which recalls when the Muslim Barbary Pirates of North Africa committed terrorist acts on American ships, selling crews into slavery.

Tripoli demanded tribute and a treaty was attempted, but it was not honored as the Koran discouraged peace with "infidels" (Koran quotes  below):

"Infidels are those who declare 'God is Christ, the son of Mary'"-Surah 5:17;

"Infidels are those that say 'God is one of three in a Trinity'"-Surah 5:73;

"Infidels are your sworn enemies"-Sura 4:101;

"Make war on the infidels"-Sura 9:123;

"When you meet the infidel in the battlefield strike off their heads"-Surah 47:4;

"Muhammad is Allah's apostle, those who follow him are ruthless to the infidels"-Surah 48:29;

"Take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends"-Surah 5:51.

President Thomas Jefferson finally sent in the Marines, and in what Admiral Horatio Nelson described as the "most bold and daring act of the age," Lieut. Stephen Decatur sailed his ship, the Intrepid, into the pirate harbor on the night of February 16, 1804, burned a captured ship and escaped unharmed amidst fierce enemy fire.

The Marines then captured Tripoli and forced the Pasha to make peace on U.S. terms.
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From http://www.amerisearch.net

Semper Fi!