Well, Q, it may be history, but that does not really change the ethics of the thing. The right to claim some rocks because you had the firepower to force the residents off them is scarcely moral high ground, or even conscionable, given that the islanders were doing no harm to others.

The core equation of the action was along this line: "I would be richer if you were gone; therefore, be gone or I will kill you."

A decent respect for individuals alone would make it clear that this was essentially an unconsciable piece of bullying. Getting away with it is no excuse.

A