They've been waging jihad against us since the 1790s. Adams wanted the navy strengthened so we'd no longer have to pay tribute (Washington's strategy, which was reasonable at the time given the vulnerable state of the USA at the time). Jefferson finally got that navy, and unleashed it on the Barbary fucks. But as Adams warned, we needed to prepare to fight them forever.

They've been waging jihad against us sibce the 1790s. Adams wanted the navy strengthened so we'd no longer have to pay tribute (Washington's strategy, which was reasonable at the time given the vulnerable state of the USA at the time). Jefferson finally got that navy, and unleashed it on the Barbary fucks. But as Adams warned, we needed to prepare to fight them forever.