Early on in Americas defense against aggressive Eastern Asian Countries, Pres. George Washington paid the Dey of Algiers one million in gold to protect American shipping interest in the Mediterranean from Barbary Pirates, employed by the Dey of Algiers. 

To pay ransom was less costly than applied defensive measures, therefore for assurance that aggression would be curtailed, ransoms payments were offered.

We Americans who refused to be bullied put an end to bartering for peace.Well maybe not – Pres. Obama revived bartering with Iran Sept. 7, 2016 to the tune of $1.7 billion, to make sure Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful. It did not work. 

Tom Rogers

Moultrie, Ga.