The argument forwarded for considering them declarative is that their compilers perform transforms on the source code, and that there are no side-effects. I ce

The argument forwarded for considering them declarative is that their compilers perform transforms on the source code, and that there are no side-effects. I certainly agree with your interpretation more. Typical functional programming isn't really declarative (though, yes, moreso than imperative programs are) and those waters shouldn't be muddied.