Posted on 09/11/2001 5:08:33 PM PDT by LS
In 1815, when Napoleon returned as Emperor of France from his exile in Elbe, the nations of Europe took an unusual step: they declared war on him.
Not on France. On Napoleon. The Congress of Vienna drafted the basic guidelines.
But a precedent already existed in the United States Constitution: Article 1, Sec. 8: Congress shall have power To declare War, To define and punish Piracies and Felonies commited on the high Seas and OFFENCES AGAINST THE LAW OF NATIONS; To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water.
Now, this is in Congress's domain, not the President's, but I'm sure if he outlined a plan, identifying, say, a specific known terrorist as a pirate who has committed "offences against the law of nations," then Congress would be only too happy to issue a letter of Marque and Reprisal (including a bounty) to eliminate Mr. Terrorist.
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