Barbary Pirates?
Yes— well documented is the conversation between Jefferson and his representatives with the muftis in charge of the ransom gathering pirates. Large numbers of US sailors kidnapped and ransomed (and other country’s sailors as well— and these idiots paid the ransom— not Thomas Jefferson or John Adams). It is marvelous to read this history. Opposite sides of the then political spectrum who KNEW the enemy and what to do to get rid of them.