The American Freedom Network

“Petticaris Alive or Rasouli Dead!”

     Pirates have taken Americans hostage.  When men led America, we went to “The Shores of Tripoli” because we preferred, “Millions for Defense, but not One Cent for Tribute,” even though we were small and poor in 1804.  A century later, in 1904, when an Arab chieftain named Rasouli took an American, Petticaris, hostage, President Theodore Roosevelt’s response to the news was:’ “Petticaris Alive or Rasouli Dead.”  Send in the Navy;send in the Marines.  We defend South Korea, Taiwan, et cetera,  but our border and our citizens abroad are defenseless.  What is a “Department of Defense” for?  Ronald Reagan, in 1976, said that the first objective of American foreign policy ought to be the protection of American citizens abroad.  I agree.  This is a fine opportunity for President Obama to show the world what he is made of.
     An entertaining movie was made in 1975 about this.  It’s called, “The Wind and the Lion,” and stars Sean Connery (Rasouli), Brian Keith (T.R.) and Candace Bergen (Petticaris.)  It’s worth watching, especially if you want to be reminded of what it was like to be alive when Americans believed in themselves, and when our leaders acted like men.