Posted on 09/14/2001 11:15:24 PM PDT by Uriel1975
As you've probably heard, Bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist organization is estimated at as many as 20,000 followers in a loose-knit collective spanning as many as 37 countries. While Federal military action is entirely justified against the actual nation-States proven to be active sponsors and harbors of organized terrorist operations, surely we do not expect to declare National War on all of these countries where recruitment, support, and training cells exist. Nor should we trust the (shall we say, not 100% perfect) resources of US counter-terrorist Intelligence, hamstrung in their operations by the "rules of engagement" imposed upon them by the nature of their work and by their host countries to effectively eliminate these cancers. So -- what are we to do?
The Issuance of Letters of Marque and Reprisal is a fully-Constitutional Federal Power which was specifically intended for the prosecution of Vengeance against the "stateless terrorists" of the Founder's day -- Pirates, Brigands, private armies, military adventurers, etc.
The purpose of a Letter of Marque and Reprisal is to create a financial incentive for private-sector military professionals -- trained mercenaries with an ability to travel individually or in small groups without detection -- to bring justice to those "stateless terrorists" identified as enemies of the citizenry. To gather intelligence on the ground, hunt these individuals down where they are hiding, and apprehend or eliminate them in their nests. The advantages of these private, paramilitary units (which are NOT mutually exclusive to a purposeful and directed Military response against defined physical targets) may suggest themselves already; so let's address the disadvantages first:
-- so does the US Criminal Justice system, every year... but we still prosecute Murder, because Murders must be avenged. But - bearing in mind for a moment that this is not a perfect world - ask yourself this: Who is likely to kill more innocent people -- a private mercenary unit who is looking for a specific individual so that they'll get paid, and knows that getting caught "in-country" could leave them at the mercies of a hostile foreign kangaroo court if they hit the wrong target..... or a B-52 bomber at 20,000 feet??
-- They already did try to kill the President (and Congress, too), and the soon-to-be-coming mass bombing raids against diverse and sundry Jihadistans aren't very likely to make them cozy up to us and play nice.
-- September 11, 2001. And what is stopping them from doing it again, using different tactics, against different civilian targets is... what? The point is bloody well moot.
-- Yes, and I'm proposing to pay them a heck of a lot more than the average 18-year old infantryman we're about to put into harm's way - and only if they volunteer for the mission, at that.
-- Puh-leeze. Congress just busted the budget to the tune of $40 Billion for what may turn out to be the preliminary battles in a long war. We could bounty the heads of every single al-Qaeda operative at $1/2 million apiece for a quarter of that. And amounts averaging that level are probably appropriate, given a desire for swift and effective retribution, and the dangers that private contractors will face.
Those objections addressed, let's now consider a proposal.
RESOLVED, That the Senators and Representatives of the United States in Congress Assembled, acting by the Powers granted them under Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution of the United States of America, do hereby issue and grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal against those agents and operatives of the Al-Qaeda Terrorist Organization, such as the Department of Defense acting on the direction of the President in consultation with this Congress, shall specify. Terms:
In support of the prosecution of these Letters of Marque and Reprisal, the Congress of the United States directs the Department of Defense to provide registered contractors with such armaments, equipment, logistical support, and intelligence as the contractors shall reasonably require; and may provide such discrete transportation and assistance in the prosecution of these contracts as the Department of Defense shall deem appropriate. However, in the case of capture by a hostile agency, the Department of Defense shall have the right to disavow any knowledge of, or responsibility for, the contractors in question; especially in the case of any contractor action against targets not specified for Reprisal by the Department of Defense.
Invest in America. LOL. Thomas J. rests easy in his grave tonight.
/john
Sorry, this is to be a pay-out arrangement (read the terms), not an investment opportunity.
$250k per dead/captured al-Qaeda grunt, $1 million apiece for the cell leaders (do the math, we can easily afford this against an organization of 10 or 20,000) -- and up.
Now if you were thinking of investing that $5k in ammunition and travelers checks...
Seriously, I think that congress should consider this option for asymetrical warfare against isolated, hidden cells (though I don't have the language/cultural skills to pull it off myself, I'm sure we have plenty of ex-military who'd be willing to try).
Ever since the Baptist Church in Boston bought it's first cannon and loaned it to the Continental Army, America has had capital. If I can make money and get a bang for my buck, I'm in.
/john
Thanks. I pinged you, Lurker, Travis, Pooh, and Jeff to try to get a "military" read on the idea (I'm just a civilian, not counting the outside possibility of a Draft)....
No, the idea is to get you a buck for your bang.
(as I said, read the terms)
Re-read it. I'm proposing that Congress issue Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and provide the Financing (you provide your own private seed capital for the particulars of the missions, but Congress pays the Bounties)
Bingo.
Now, understand -- This does not exclude a Military response against any Nation-States which can be factually proven to support and harbor these terrorists, but it is designed to provide for the liquidation of the 1 - 2,000+ individual terrorist Cells which may exist world-wide.
/john
Big difference between financing and bounties. I finance the squads. (Already have names in mind). Congress pays the bounty for the scrum we bring back. Got it. Congress does not put the captital out to finance it, I do. Risk I take. My guys don't do well, I eat the cost. My guys do well, Congress pays off. I can live with that. Not much different than owning a race-horse. Just cheaper.
/john
How about we either greatly extend that list of nations (Australia, Germany, France...etc)
... Or remove that requirement. I'd be willing to pay an Afghan 100,000,000 out of the treasury for Ossama's head.
What about you?
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