The U.S. Navy was created "to free international waters from the Barbary pirates."

Original review summary

PolitiFact found that the Barbary threat was a major reason the United States established a permanent Navy: attacks on merchant shipping drove key decisions to create a standing force. It added that the comparison to the Iran conflict needs qualification because the wars differed, although both involved U.S. military action to protect trade from tolls or tribute.[S1]