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.
One thing should be added: the operative should have the right to get additional scalps on his own initiative - on the condition that he can prove it in a court of law. Of course, failure to provide such proof could result in murder charges from the US or a foreign government.
I simply don't trust the government to be capable of identifying terrorists, never mind rooting them out.
The main reason why Congress would never enact this is because they are soc-i-a-list. They have this belief, repeatedly proven to be absurd, that government is actually capable of doing something right.
This, BTW, is why the terrorists succeeded in the first place. Because government pretends they are capable of protecting us from terrorists. If they had not disarmed the passengers and flight crew, a few boy scouts equiped with razors and box cutters would never have been able to take over a 757. A little capitalism would be an appropriate response to this half of the problem as well.
You got that right.
Blood, Money, Revenge, and Patritisom all rolled up into one nice tidy package.
I volunteer to be bloodletter...
I could call him Monday and ask him to pass it along to Ron Paul, or get me a phone conversation with Rep. Paul and his fax number.
You should do it.
Regards,
L
Right on the mark -- I think our government is long overdue for an infusion of entreprenurial spirit, which has been a hell of a lot more effective than they have.
However, another idea has arisen...light a match to Janet Reno's alcohol soaked body and drop her on the Afghans, (or on Baghdad).
Declare YEEHAWD on the Muslim world.
An American YEEHAWD! I like that.
I like it,although if I were physically able to chase them down and kill them,I'd do it for the pure joy of it,plus expenses.
So am I, but the world isn't perfect.
Not a callous or flippant statement (you know that's not my style). But consider my #60. Sometimes, you have to go with what works, trusting military men's professionalism and Market incentives (lest you destroy the effectiveness of your program) to acheive the intended results.
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