Saturday (oops) is the 442nd anniversary of the repulse of the Ottoman Turks’ siege of Malta, a victory probably equal in importance to that at the Gates of Vienna. The threat of the Ottoman hordes breaking out into the Western Mediterranean and the Atlantic seaboard united the European powers in a desperate defense of the last remaining obstacle in the Sultan’s path: Malta. At the most extreme hour, the Christian commander Jean Parisot de la Valette passed along this undiplomatic message:
“Tell your master that this is the only territory that I will give him. There lies the land which he may have for his own – provided only that he fills it with the bodies of his Janissaries.”
– Jean Parisot de la Valette, Grand Master of the Sovereign and Military Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta, referring to the ditch in front of the fortifications of Birgu, Malta, 30 June 1565
That’s the only answer that Osama bin Laden deserves, the only analysis his communique deserves–the only answer and analysis he would get from a confident West’s leaders. “Thus far, and no farther.”
Click on Valette’s portrait up there. Wouldn’t that look good painted on the nose of those Predators, that aren’t flying the skies over Waziristan?
Comment by Dan Collins on 9/7 @ 7:50 pm #
People speak of the US as the second coming of Imperial Rome. In fact, the United States is late medieval/early Renaissance Venice.
Comment by Jeffersonian on 9/7 @ 8:22 pm #
And today the Pope kowtows to Islamists incensed over a 14th Century citation.
At what point did we turn into tender apple blossoms?
Comment by Sean M. on 9/8 @ 2:03 am #
B-but, what about the Crusades?
Funny, but you hear a lot more about that stuff these days than you hear about Islamic imperialism encroaching upon Europe.
And I know people like Mark Steyn are terrible, horrible Islamophobic bigots and alarmists, but is the second time really farce?
Comment by Mikey NTH on 9/8 @ 11:22 am #
“This far, and no further?” Let me amend. “Upon due reflection and contemplation that far (pointing to a garbage dump) shall be for you and yours. Understand?”
Comment by Daniel on 9/8 @ 11:32 am #
If Christendom had been able to get its act together earlier and provide more than token assistance to the the Knights on Rhodes under L’Isle Adam in 1522, Valette may never have had a chance to be a hero. And while Malta was a rather nasty loss for the Ottomans, I think the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 was much more significant when it came to keeping them contained.
Comment by Ardsgaine on 9/8 @ 1:06 pm #
Those who have rejected the earthly realm as the proper sphere of Man are not entitled to any more of it than it would take to bury them. Osama can have the cave where he’s living for his tomb. Not one cubic inch more.
Comment by Mikey NTH on 9/8 @ 1:23 pm #
Agreed, Asgardine.
Comment by Davyd Bowen on 9/8 @ 6:19 pm #
Rather than, or better yet in addition to Valette’s portrait on Predators, what say as many adults as are able costume as Crusaders this Halloween. I thought that it may also be particularily amusing to observe the nervous breakdowns and exploding heads of school administrators as hordes of little crusaders and crusaderettes poured off big yellow buses throughout the Anglosphere/Christendom.
“Kenneth, what’s the policy?”
A man can dream.
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