The USA in the Middle East

Many people are not aware that the first area with which the fledgling USA came into conflict after achieving independence in 1776 was the Middle East. This area included North Africa (the Maghreb) from which pirates ranged all across the Mediterranean Sea. As the USA expanded its commercial ties in the Mediterranean, no longer protected by the British Navy, in fact not protected at all, the pirates of the Barbary Coast preyed on them without mercy.
It was customary in those days for the Europeans to pay tribute to the Arab pirate leaders living in Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli. The US Congress agreed to follow the same course, but whereas the British and French had powerful navies to protect their interests, the USA had nothing. As a consequence American frigates and other ships flying the star-spangled banner were being boarded, stolen and their crews sold into slavery. After this had happened several times from 1784 onwards, Congress voted in 1794 to form the US Navy "for the protection of the United States against Algerian corsairs."
Things escalated and in 1801 Tripoli declared war on the USA, its first foreign war, and captured its first "ship of the line" the USS Philadelphia with its 305 man crew. In 1804 an attack was mounted under Stephen Decatur that set fire to the Philadelphia in Tripoli Harbor. In 1805 a contingent of US marines made an attack at Darna on the Tripoli coast and a peace arrangement was arrived at (hence "to the shores of Tripoli" in the Marine anthem).
But, the boardings continued, so finally in 1815 Pres. James Madison sent a force of 10 American ships to North Africa, and forced Algiers (Algeria), Tunis (Tunisia) and Tripoli (Libya) to cease attacks against American shipping without the payment of further tribute. This action greatly increased the prestige of the USA in Europe, which followed suit with their navies to stop the brigandage that had been routine.
In a period of 30 years, 35 American ships and 700 sailors had been captured. Only by taking decisive military action had the US managed to overcome this predicament. In our time, when war between the USA and other parts of the Muslim Middle East are ongoing, it is instructive to consider this earlier period of conflict. James Madison had averred that "weakness will invite insults, the best way to avoid danger is to be in a capacity to withstand it." Finally, when Congress was prepared to foot the bill for a navy, only then did the USA establish itself as an independent force to be reckoned with.
This history is taken from the first chapter of the excellent book "Power, Faith and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the present," by Michael Oren.