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To: BabylonXXX; xzins
Sorry, xzins, but Babylonxxx is correct.

Letter of marque and reprisal are terms with very specific meanings. The sort-of declaration of war Congress passed doesn't address either of them.

Reprisal essentially allows an American shipowner who has lost a ship to French (for instance) action to confiscate a French ship in retaliation. The theory is that it all gets sorted out after the war is over.

Not very applicable to today's situation.

9 posted on 11/19/2001 9:20:05 PM PST by Restorer
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To: Restorer
See #10 for response. Also, would you agree that the meaning of "make no law regarding an establishment of religion" has changed considerably IN INTERPRETATION since the writing of the constitution. Given that, I'm sure Bush lawyers can be quite facile in "updating" the INTERPRETATION of "reprisal."

From a constitutional dictionary: Reprisal Archaic. An act taken by a nation, short of war, to gain redress for an action taken against that nation. For example, seizing a ship in retaliation for a seized ship.

Not necessarily limited to ship-for-ship retaliation.

11 posted on 11/19/2001 9:31:22 PM PST by xzins
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