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Sen. Mike Lee has an amazing plan to fight the cartels: Activate the Constitution's provision for commissioning privateers
Not The Bee ^ | January 28, 2025 | Staff

Posted on 01/28/2025 9:21:45 AM PST by Red Badger

U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) has an amazing plan to fight the cartels: bring back legal pirating, which is fully authorized in our Constitution.

Check out his thread on how it will work:

1/ What Are Letters Of Marque And Reprisal And How Could They Be Used To Weaken Drug Cartels?

2/ 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 Privateers are rewarded with a cut of the loot they 'bring home'

3/ Legal Basis in the U.S. The U.S. Constitution authorizes these commissions in Article I, Section 8, giving Congress the power to 'grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal' While Congress hasn't issued one in over a century, the authority to do so still exists

4/ Modern Context: Mexican Drug Cartels Using letters of marque could be a novel, but effective response to unique threats posed by drug cartels — especially in response to threats by the cartels to target U.S. planes returning illegal immigrants to their countries of origin

5/ How Could They Be Applied? - Authorization: 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 - Targets: Focus on disrupting supply lines, capturing high-value targets, or seizing assets like boats, vehicles, cash, gold, or equipment used in criminal activities

6/ Advantages - Flexibility: Private entities operate with more agility than the government, adapting quickly with the tactics of cartels - Cost: Would reduce the financial burden on taxpayers, as privateers receive only a cut of what they recover & return to the U.S.

7/ Criticism The use of letters of marque and reprisal would undoubtedly draw criticism, especially from those inclined to elevate abstract, often-inchoate principles of what they deem 'international law' above the sovereign interests of the United States

8/ Dismissing the possible use of letters of marque to combat Mexican drug cartels — either on the basis of 'international law' or otherwise — overlooks the clear and present threat posed by those cartels to the U.S. This could prove to be an effective alternative to war

9/ We have no desire to go to war with our southern neighbor But we also can't ignore the fact that drug cartels are now threatening to target U.S. planes deporting illegal aliens That sounds like a great reason to consider issuing letters of marque and reprisal

10/ Letters of marque and reprisal have worked well for the U.S. — and countless other countries — in the past We'd be wrong not to consider using them against the cartels

We're entering into an extraordinary period of history. Think of Queen Elizabeth I and the famous privateer Sir Francis Drake.

So what do you say, folks? Want to come down to the border and be a pirate privateer with me?


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; History; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: cartels; crime; lettersofmarque; marque; reprisal; trumpmas
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To: Red Badger

Better to just go after the banks that have their billions on deposit and help launder. Seize one or two. Looking at you HSBC, B of A, Wells Fargo, TD Bank.

I sell a boat and deposit 10,500 in cash, or deposit 5000 two weeks in a row, they are on me like white on rice filling out reports, extra scrutiny, etc.
Meanwhile some Mexican can deposit hundreds of millions and the banks don’t see a thing.

Skip the commandos and A-10s. You wanna hurt them? Go after banks and ANY company that does ANY business with the cartels. Social media, cruise lines, tech companies, manufacturers, avocado importers, you name it.


21 posted on 01/28/2025 9:36:43 AM PST by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2025... RETURN OF THE JEDI...)
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To: Red Badger

https://constitution.org/1-Activism/mil/lmr/lmr.htm


22 posted on 01/28/2025 9:36:44 AM PST by Openurmind
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To: Red Badger

They can start it on Talk Like a Pirate Day.


23 posted on 01/28/2025 9:38:57 AM PST by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: Red Badger

Why does this make me think of Georg Soros?


24 posted on 01/28/2025 9:38:58 AM PST by matthew fuller (Nuremberg II- BRING IT ON!)
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To: jeffersondem

40,000 dead due to fentanyl isn’t a problem?


25 posted on 01/28/2025 9:40:00 AM PST by Mean Daddy
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To: Cobra64

Our Founding Fathers were geniuses to give our government the tools to deal with hidden evils, without using a constrained standing army.

The questions I have are: Does a kill have to happen outside the boundaries and waters of the United States?

What happens when MS-13 is given the same treatment? ISIS adherents? Iranian agents?


26 posted on 01/28/2025 9:40:27 AM PST by Salvavida (NS)
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To: ifinnegan

September 19th is too far away!..............


27 posted on 01/28/2025 9:40:42 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: ifinnegan

September 19th is too far away!..............


28 posted on 01/28/2025 9:40:42 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Cobra64

“I’ve been saying for years that I believe Special Forces personnel would enjoy the challenge of eliminating cartels.”

Without the military supporting arms and logistics, they would be wiped out. Alone they really have no chance. They need drones, intel, AC-130s, etc.
On their own, they are Blackhawk down, Redwings, Extortion 17.
It takes actual military to take them down. Think of the 10th Mountain Division moving into a place in force where SF and Rangers were hanging on by their fingernails all night.

This is a job for conventional forces.


29 posted on 01/28/2025 9:41:55 AM PST by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2025... RETURN OF THE JEDI...)
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To: Red Badger

What a great idea! It will change the image of militias to cartel hunters.


30 posted on 01/28/2025 9:42:56 AM PST by DouglasKC
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To: Leaning Right
"Plus privateers answer to no one. There’s no chain of command. They do as they please."

Like a commission or a warrant, a letter of marque has (or should have) a scope of authorization. Any activity outside of that defined scope would subject the actors to federal, foreign and/or international law, so they would answer to somebody, or several somebodies.

What's more problematic is that in the days of sail, a privateer seizing a British ship would be entitled to keep the ship, the cannon, any currency, etc. on the ship, all of which were legal to own. A privateer seizing a ton of cocaine would have to turn it over; there would be no profit to it. Sure they may be able to keep the boat or truck transporting it, but after the cost-benefit analysis was done, it would hardly be a lucrative endeavour...unless the government were to pay for the seized drugs, but I don't see them doing that.

31 posted on 01/28/2025 9:44:38 AM PST by Joe 6-pack
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To: jeffersondem

killing 300,000 young stupid drug users is not a problem, with millions of addicts committing crimes for them.


32 posted on 01/28/2025 9:46:13 AM PST by bdfromlv (Leavenworth hard time)
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To: Red Badger; Squantos

I’m in as long as I can keep a nice percentage of the cash and all the guns I find.

L


33 posted on 01/28/2025 9:46:53 AM PST by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: Leaning Right

“There’s no chain of command. They do as they please.”

That is absolutely not true. They are extremely organized and efficient. More so than our own military. They are not hampered by code and protocol that creates SNAFU. A SOF outfit is five times more efficient than our military because it is a business bent on productivity and efficiency.

I know... Been there... This private contractor thing has already been used many many times secretly and illegally already through history. All Lee is saying is make it open and up front for a change.


34 posted on 01/28/2025 9:47:06 AM PST by Openurmind
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To: Red Badger

So..... they get to keep a cut of the drug stash they seize from cartel smugglers?


35 posted on 01/28/2025 9:48:24 AM PST by sinsofsolarempirefan
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To: Lurker

60/40 and all calibers 50 and under..............


36 posted on 01/28/2025 9:48:51 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: DesertRhino

> This is a job for conventional forces. <

Right you are. Special Forces are perfect for lightning raids. Get in, get the job done, get out. Holding territory is something totally different.

I mentioned sheriff posses earlier. But now I’m drifting towards your way of thinking. To avoid taking unnecessary casualties in firefights, overwhelming force will be needed. Conventional forces.


37 posted on 01/28/2025 9:50:30 AM PST by Leaning Right (It’s morning in America. Again.)
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To: Mean Daddy

The actual number is likely closer to 150k/Year. If we did not have the Narcan it would be even higher. The sheer number of zombies created though, the loss of productivity, the crime etc. We are well past the time for a true National Emergency. We should 100% allow this with complete impunity. Give our operators a way to stay in the game, and make a real difference for our world. Now will the CIA get upset… yea likely it is one of tools they may not want to give up…


38 posted on 01/28/2025 9:52:12 AM PST by light-bulb (Plures efficimur quotiens metimur a vobis; semen est sanguis Christianorum)
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To: nwrep; Red Badger
"Optics, my dear Watson, optics."

The time for optics is over, now is the time for action - hard, fast and brutal.

39 posted on 01/28/2025 9:52:36 AM PST by wildcard_redneck ( )
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To: Red Badger

An intriguing idea.

But it strikes me as a bit too “Hollywood”.

Maybe me and some of my friends can arm ourselves and go looking for a cartel. We can call ourselves “The Expendables” or something.

So, maybe in Albuqueque, we can find a cartel hideout.
We burst through the door, spraying bullets everywhere.
In no time at all a dozen cartel members are dead on the floor.
We grab the cocaine and the fentanyl and dash out the door.
Just then, the local police, alerted by the sound of gunfire, show up and politely ask us to respond to a few questions.
My friends and I explain that we just killed 12 guys and we are now taking this cocaine and fentanyl across town to drop off at the DEA office.
We show them our Letter of Marque.
The police slap us on the back, praise our good work, and wish us a Good Day.


40 posted on 01/28/2025 9:55:35 AM PST by ClearCase_guy
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