You may have heard others ask, or asked yourself, “Why are we fighting a war in Iran?”. Part of the answer can be found in our nation’s history. The Iranian war can be thought of as the continuation of a conflict that began more than two centuries ago. It started in the waters off the coast of North Africa when the United States was a fledgling nation. State sponsored Pirates from the Muslim (Barbary) states in North Africa were attacking American merchant ships in the Mediterranean. They were called the Barbary Pirates.

The Beginning of the United States Navy

The Barbary Pirates were authorized to seize vessels that hadn’t paid tribute to the Muslim states of North Africa. They took sailors hostage and sold them into the Ottoman Empire slave trade in the Middle East. The Barbary Pirates also seized cargo. Before the United States gained its freedom, its ships were protected by the tribute the English paid.

After independence, the United States paid tribute too, but not for long. In 1794 The United States Congress passed The Navy Act. This Act commissioned the building of frigates to fight the Barbary Pirates and protect American merchant vessels. It was the beginning of the United States Navy and the US Marines.

In the Shores of Tripoli

After several significant naval victories off the coast of North Africa, and a land assault on the Barbary state of Tripoli, the pirates were defeated. This momentous victory is commemorated in the Marine Battle Hymn, “…to the shores of Tripoli”. This could be the end of the story, but it isn’t. The conflict between Muslims and America has continued, off and on, for more than two hundred years.

“From the Halls of Montezuma
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country’s battles
In the air, on land and sea;”

From the Marine Battle Hymn

The Conflict Continues

More recently, in 1979, militant students seized the American embassy in Tehran and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. The Shaw of Iran fled and an Islamic theocracy was formed. Since then, Iran and its proxies have waged a war of terrorism against the United States (“the Great Satan”) and Israel (“the Little Satan”). The USS Cole, the Twin Towers, and October 7th are just three examples of Iran’s terrorism by proxy. Their stated goal is to destroy Israel and the United States. That is why they want a nuclear weapon!

Potential Threats

Obliviously, allowing nuclear weapons in the hands of a regime that has a long history of “bad acting”, would lead to catastrophic results. American Presidents of both parties, and many world leaders, have expressed grave concerns if that were to happen. When we see what they are willing to do to their own people and their Muslim neighbors, we can only imagine what they would do if they had nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. The threat Iran would pose to the Middle-East, Europe and beyond is sobering. That’s why we’re fighting a war halfway around the world, to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon.

Reason and Cynicism

It’s easy to be cynical about a war so far away. You will hear people give other reasons for why we’re there. Some will say it’s for the oil, others for money, others for power. But I believe there are other deeper unspoken reasons and fundamental differences in our belief systems that are at play. I think Americans have an inherent sense of right and wrong and a dislike for unfairness and oppression.

We don’t like bullies who kill their own people. And, I think there is a strong belief among Americans that the words of the Declaration of Independence are true, that  all mankind is “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these, are the right to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” and that all governments should extend these rights to their citizens. I think Americans are incensed when they see those rights trampled and they are willing to lay their lives on the line to defend these beliefs.

Risk and Sacrifice

In 1801, our newly established nation sent young men halfway around the world to deal with “bad actors” like these. Today, America has 50,000 young men and women in the Persian Gulf doing what their predecessors did over two centuries ago. We see them on the evening news. Every day they give an amazing display of discipline and courage. Other than their youth, one of the most remarkable traits about them is their maturity.

It is only in difficult times like these that we see them. Otherwise, they quietly serve in dangerous parts of the world, risking and sometimes sacrificing, their lives for the greater good. Unlike many of their contemporaries At home, they aren’t throwing rocks, overturning police cars, setting them on fire or attacking law enforcement officers.  Instead, they are risking everything to do dangerous jobs for people they’ll never meet.

From 1794 to Today

The next time you see one of them climb into the cockpit of a jet fighter, or see a crew of young Americans launch a fighter off an aircraft carrier’s deck, I hope it gives you a good feeling about some of America’s youths. If it weren’t for the war in Iran, you wouldn’t know they were out there serving. But they are. They always have been. They were there in 1794 and they’re there today. I don’t know about you, but I’m thankful they are!

“Here’s health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve
In many a strife we’ve fought for life
And never lost our nerve;”

Marine Battle Hymn

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