Американцы дважды воевали с полунезависимым от Османской империи Триполи в начале XIX в. Предмет раздора - безопасное мореходство в водах Средиземного моря. Вот цитата, характеризующая тогдашнее положение вещей. Лондон, 1785 г., преддверие войн, Джефферсон и Адамс ведут переговоры с послом Триполи Сиди Хаджи Абдрахманом:
Upon inquiring "concerning the ground of the pretensions to make war upon nations who had done them no injury", the ambassador replied:Двести лет прошло...
It was written in their Qu'ran, that all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it was the right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave; and that every Muslim who was slain in this warfare was sure to go to paradise. He said, also, that the man who was the first to board a vessel had one slave over and above his share, and that when they sprang to the deck of an enemy's ship, every sailor held a dagger in each hand and a third in his mouth; which usually struck such terror into the foe that they cried out for quarter at once.
Jefferson reported the conversation to Secretary of Foreign Affairs John Jay, who submitted the Ambassador's comments and offer to Congress. Jefferson argued that paying tribute would encourage more attacks. Although John Adams agreed with Jefferson, he believed that circumstances forced the U.S. to pay tribute until an adequate navy could be built. [...] The U.S. paid [...] the ransom, and continued to pay up to $1 million per year over the next 15 years for the safe passage of American ships or the return of American hostages. ( отсюда )
UPD ...а превращение побережья и воздушного пространства над Северной Африкой в Сомали - со всеми вытекающими для безопасного мореходства последствиями - одна из пугающих перспектив развития событий.
