What an absolutely brilliant article and history lesson. I wonder how many times I've read, since 9/11, that we're only fighting a "twisted" version of Islam which is, as we all know, actually a religion of "peace and love."

But, as the ambassador explained to Jefferson and Adams, the Barbary corsairs had a perfect right to enslave a million or more Westerners because we are "sinners," not having subscribed to their faith. For that same reason, the heirs of these same pirates may now fly airplanes into our buildings, blow up our subways, trains and nightclubs and behead a western reporter every now and then.

Oh. They wanted 10 percent of the national budget in the age of gunpowder and cannon? How much tribute will they demand once they have the bomb? You do the the math.

I also hope Senator Harry "the war is lost" Reid will have read this article (assuming of course that he can actually read at all).

Hitchens once again shows his talent for insightful and intelligent writing. So glad you live on this side of the Atlantic.

For his daring exploit at Derna, Marine Lt. Presley O'Bannon was presented a Mameluke hilt sword by Omar Pasha. This sword pattern was soon after adopted as the standard sword worn by U.S. Marine Corps officers. They wear it still: the longest continuously used weapon in the U.S. arsenal.