[nky]

Using the Treaty of Tripoli is an interesting angle to say we were not founded on Christian principles.
But someone is misreading what Article 11 is stating It's being used out of context of the period. The United States was a new country when that treaty was signed. We were trying to establish trading partners while trying to set ourselves apart from the European powers of Spain, France, England. Since the Barbary Coast pirates controlled most if not all of the trade in North Africa/Middle East even into Asia Minor we would say anything to appease the Mussulmen of the region. It was about business not religion. Do more reach and see what the US leaders/enforcers of this treaty really felt.