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115 Years Ago The basis for John Milius's 1975 film, The Wind and The Lion took place with very few scenes relating to the classic movie. Milius, who both wrote and directed the film, took his account of Perdicaris's 1904 captivity episode and, in many ways, he preserved the popular image of the savage North African, the Raisuli, even going so far as calling Perdicaris's captor the “Last of the Barbary Pirates.” Ion Perdicaris The real Perdicaris Incident was more farce than epic. Mulai el-Raisuli, the Berber chieftain in Morocco, kidnapped American expatriate Ion Perdicaris and his English stepson, Cromwell Varley,on 18th of May 1904. Raisuli had spent years antagonizing Morocco's Sultan Abdelaziz, who precariously maintained the country's independence amidst European meddling. Raisuli demanded a ransom and control of Tangiers for their return. President Theodore Roosevelt spied an opportunity when running for reelection against Democrat Alton Parker. Though acclaimed as "the most popular President since Washington," Roosevelt felt the burn of illegitimacy. Renowned as the imperialist who'd cajoled William McKinley into the Spanish-American War, then led the Rough Riders up San Juan Hill, what better way to cement his credibility than invade Morocco and set free an American hostage. Roosevelt sent the Atlantic Squadron with two Marine companies to Tangiers. "Our position must be to demand the death of those who harm him," Roosevelt proclaimed. But it was empty bluster. With Raisuli ensconced in the Rif Mountains, what could warships achieve? The Moroccan government was intransigent; It was Roosevelt's Secretary of State, John Hay, who conjured an ingenious solution. Mulai el-Raisuli With help of Britain's Minister to Morocco, Sir Arthur Nicholson, he convinced the Sultan to accept Raisuli's demands. Then Hay cabled American consul Samuel Gummere, proclaiming "This government wants Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead." It was a masterpiece of spin. Republican delegates cheered Hay's cable at the Republican National Convention, spurring Roosevelt to a landslide reelection. No one cared that America had capitulated to Raisuli, or that Perdicaris had never been in danger. It probably wouldn't have mattered if they'd known that Perdicaris renounced his American citizenship decades before. Roosevelt affirmed his manhood and American prestige, through tough rhetoric and forceful gestures |
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5/18/2019 4:02 am |
So sorry I didn't post earlier.
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5/18/2019 4:03 am |
I came in from chores, showered, went to town for dinner, came home, sat down with the dogs and fell asleep.
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5/18/2019 4:04 am |
JD came home rained out and didn't wake me.
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5/18/2019 4:05 am |
I just woke up a little bit ago.
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Good morning Bret and Pets. I hadn't heard that story before. Very interesting.
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5/18/2019 8:43 am |
Good morning Bret and Pets. I hadn't heard that story before. Very interesting. Perdicaris' aspect had fallen through the cracks somehow. Just happened across that tidbit yesterday before I fell asleep on the job.
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5/18/2019 8:45 am |
That he was. To me among his best deals was setting up of the National Parks Service too.
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I would always go with the Marines! Good choice!
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5/18/2019 7:45 pm |
By passing Congress is the only way toget anything done. The committees and sub-committees can fuck around and DO NOTHING of what they were sent to DC to do.
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5/18/2019 7:53 pm |
Teddy managed to set aside many of our nation's best sites in order to preserve them for future generations. He was a man ahead of his time someone to watch out for future generations yet to come.
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5/18/2019 7:56 pm |
I would always go with the Marines! Good choice!
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5/18/2019 7:58 pm |
Teddy on Mt Rushmore no one can change despite all the bickering Congressional idiots.
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5/18/2019 8:01 pm |
I'd never heard of the memorial island before myself .. only bicycles and foot traffic explains it though.
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Hey all you guys; thanks for all the great information presented in this blog. Hope y'all have a good night.
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5/21/2019 10:34 pm |
Hey all you guys; thanks for all the great information presented in this blog. Hope y'all have a good night.
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