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Barbary pirates were the scourge of the Mediterranean Sea for more than two centuries before the U.S. Navy sailed into action against them in 1801. Antwerp-born artist Aert Anthonisz, in an oil dated around 1615, depicted two Barbary galleys closing in on an armed French trading vessel. While some observers compare modern-day Somali pirates to the Barbary corsairs, the author sees few similarities.
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The Big Myth of Somali Pirates

They pose little threat. But there is peril in comparing them to Barbary brigands. That muddies the debate—clouding our perspective on what truly is in our national interest.
By Stephen M. Carmel
December 2010
Proceedings
Article
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In much of the froth about piracy off the Horn of Africa one sees a tendency to compare that problem today with the problem the young United States had with Barbary pirates 200 years ago. But trying to understand modern-day piracy—especially Somali piracy—by looking at the past can present a distorted view of what’s happening today. It is very possible to learn the wrong lessons from history, and distorted perspectives lead to distorted policy.

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Stephen M. Carmel

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