Privateers of the Caribbean
Avast and prepare to be boarded!
US Constitution Article I, Section 8, Clause 11:
[The Congress shall have Power . . .] To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water..
The “Marque” grants the authority to cross into enemy territory to seize property, and “Reprisal” refers to actions in retaliation for a national injury or loss.
A Letter of Marque and Reprisal is a formal commission issued by the government to a private vessel owner, granting citizens authority to engage in state-sponsored warfare on the high seas. It authorizes the ship and crew to seize ships and property of an enemy nation. The letters legalize actions that would otherwise be considered piracy, creating a distinct class of combatants known as privateers.
Mike Lee floats allowing private parties to target drug cartels for profit
Lee suggested Congress could utilize its Constitutional authority of granting letters of marque and reprisal
By Alex Nitzberg
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has floated the idea of the U.S. green-lighting private parties to target drug cartels for profit.
The senator laid out the proposal in posts on X.
“Letters of marque and reprisal are government-issued commissions that authorize private citizens (privateers) to perform acts that would otherwise be considered piracy, like attacking enemy ships during wartime,” Lee explained. “Privateers are rewarded with a cut of the loot they ‘bring home.’”
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“Congress could issue letters of marque and reprisal authorizing private security firms or specially trained civilians to intercept cartel operations, particularly those involving drug shipments or human trafficking across borders,” Lee wrote, adding, “Focus on disrupting supply lines, capturing high-value targets, or seizing assets like boats, vehicles, cash, gold, or equipment used in criminal activities.”
A Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) holds some 2 million barrels of oil. At ~$65 per barrel of Venezuelan crude all I can say is, Yar!
Category: Big Navy, Bravo Zulu, Trump!
