The Treaty of Tripoli

[dmallind]

4. And the revisionism goes deeper....

Lemme see if I remember them.

1)The Arabic copy doesn't have this phrase in it.
Answer: True. I am pretty sure it was the English copy that was unanimously ratified by the Senate though - they generally don't conduct business in Arabic.

2)A clerk not involved in or authorized to change the negotiations was an ideologue who inserted this in the English version
Answer: Speculation. If so I am sure he deserved to be fired, but his insertion was included, read out, ratified and signed without demur by a Congress and President including several founding fathers.

3) There is no need for this clause. It wasn't asked for by the Barbary Coast delegation.
Answer: Possibly true, but it's there anyway.