. . . hostility to religion. Still, as usual, it's fascinating, especially this bit of history that Obama somehow failed to mention this morning when revisiting (or I should say, revisioning) Adams, Jefferson, and that oh-so-warm relationship between the Morocco and the fledgling United States:

I believe on the evidence that it was at this moment that Jefferson decided to make war on the Muslim states of North Africa as soon as the opportunity presented itself. And, even if I am wrong, we can be sure that the dispatch of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to the Barbary shore was the first and most important act of his presidency. It took several years of bombardment before the practice of kidnap and piracy and slavery was put down, but put down it was, Quranic justification or not.

FWIW, (for what it's worth) I own two copies of the Qur'an in my personal library. I'm not surprised Thomas Jefferson owned (at least) one. Every American who wants to grapple with the situation in the world should own one. Otherwise, you'll have to rely on the accounts of people who are not always motivated to be complete and accurate.

Andrew McCarthy

Otherwise, you'll have to rely on the accounts of people who are not always motivated to be complete and accurate.

Couldn't have been better said.

I just read a book that surrounded the events of the Barbary pirates and Pres. Jefferson's actions against them. People need to know their history.

Yes, Jefferson knew what he was doing. It's in a recent biography of Jefferson released in the last 5 years. Can't remember the author at the moment.