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.
You have the idea. As a hypothetical, the Cells responsible for the Skyjackings were 5 man cells... figure 4 operatives ($250k) and one cell leader ($1 million), that's $2 million dollars paid to the contractor upon delivery or proved termination... and another major US building safe from that cell.
Congress really ought to consider this, IMHO.
EXACTLY CORRECT. This is the sort of inventiveness that that cannot expect. Everyone on EARTH will be hunting him....
And it is a perfect chess move in response to terrorism...
Re-read my #9. That's what I said. I would expect to make money. Good money. And uphold the flag. The $5k I was talking about was begin-to-put-it-together money. To field something like this, you would need several million. Intel would be the largest cost. Transport and outfitting is pretty cheap, probably less than $3M. Intel, on the other hand, would cost quite a bit.
/john
It's outside the box, and disarms the hell out of them.
We could post standing bounties for ANYONE who has ever committed a terrorist act against the US.
Hire them. Just the best ones. Second best is Most expensive.
/john
Select Aussie and German teams should be fairly considered for inclusion, if their creds check out.
They're all good by me if they want in.
France gets jack squat. They're undercutting us at every opportunity.
Matter of fact, if any of our teams get caught, we blame France. Just on general principle.
... 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?
On condition that they are their associates enter our FBI witness protection program upon delivery or proved termination, yes. We do not want to pay some of Bin Laden's terrorist rivals $100 million that will come back to haunt us. If an Afghan delivers, he stays in the US -- rich, comfortable, and under supervision.
Bingo.
I told ya I was thinking.
Naturally, I suggest Ron Paul.
A Texan is bound to appreciate this....
Only to anyone that is absolutely clueless about history. It has been done. Thomas Jefferson convinced Congress to do it once before. About 200 years ago.
/john
Clause 5 proposes that "the Department of Defense 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", obviously within the limit of their capabilities (after a team is moved into its chosen staging position... Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, etc., they're on their own, in-and-out) That's if you are willing to use US Government product. Anything more exotic or independent would be the contractor's investment.
On this, we agree. But, the French, they would just surrender. I f@*t in thier general direction.
Do a search for the previous Letters of Marque and Reprisal, base yours on precedent. I think you have a great idea going.
/john
Scalps work well.
/john
The contractors bring in their physical heads, whether or not attached to their bodies. (just one idea, others suggest themselves)
and 3) that good innocent people aren't taken out?
Market forces. The contractors want to get paid, which means they want to hit the right target.
Imperfect? So is our criminal justice system. We execute innocent people every year, but we still (rightly) continue to prosecute murder. And while imperfect, it is likely to be a heck of a lot more selective than a B-52 strike.
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