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Breaking: Ron Paul introduces Marque and Reprisal Bills in House
Ron Paul | 10/10/01 | demidog

Posted on 10/10/2001 12:44:32 PM PDT by Demidog

I just received a call from my contact at Ron Paul's office.

Ron Paul today introduced two bills into the House of Representatives which would authorize the State Department to issue letters of Marque authorizing privateers to attack and collect assets from terrorists who commit hostile acts against the U.S.

This means that you (yes you personallywould be able to help to bring down the rogue and nationless enemies of the United States provided you meet a few requirements.

The precendence for this bill is based on specific Constitutional powers and was seen as a remedy by our founders for those nationaless terrorists who committed acts against U.S. merchant ships on the high seas. We're dealing with Pirates here and a significant effort has been made by Ron Paul's team to create a legal definition for "Air Piracy" which would include hijackings.

The text of the Bills have not been published yet but I will update everyone the moment the text becomes available.

The Bills are: H.R. 3074 and H.R. 3076

Please call your congressman and tell him that you want them to either sponsor or support this bill.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events
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To: Dane
Search google. Historically, a Privateer was a private citizen who owned an armed ship and had in his posession a letter granting him authority to capture pirate ships.

All booty was to be brought to a special court which then divied up the booty between the state, the privateer and any private citizen who might have claim to some of the posessions in the haul.

For instance if your goods being shipped to America had been taken by a Pirate and recovered by a privateer, you would have to provide evidence that the goods were first on their way to you and the court would determine that the privateer had no claim to keep the items. Anything not contested would be kept by the privateer minus a tax.

41 posted on 10/10/2001 1:12:51 PM PDT by Demidog
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To: Demidog
I truly wish I was in Dr. Paul's district so I could have the pleasure of pulling the lever for him every election.

I wish my congress critters had half the understanding of the Constitution and the principles of liberty that he has.

Bump!!

42 posted on 10/10/2001 1:13:23 PM PDT by AKbear
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To: LincolnLover; wideawake
Okay, I'm game. Go for it.

But do you honestly believe it will pass the Senate, and George W. Bush will sign it?

43 posted on 10/10/2001 1:13:59 PM PDT by Precisian
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To: Precisian
I don't see it as "grand-standing" but simply as a proper understanding of history. True, the average citizen is NOT going to take a "hunting trip" abroad to see if he can bag a terrorist. But it is a recognition that these people are EXTRAORDINARY criminals that pose a hazard to the well-being of the people of the United States.

I think this is appropriate. I think further, that there may well be some enterprising ex-military folks who may find that this is a lucrative business for them to pursue.

44 posted on 10/10/2001 1:15:13 PM PDT by Illbay
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To: Demidog
Haaaaaarrrrr, matey.
45 posted on 10/10/2001 1:15:33 PM PDT by caddie
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To: Demidog
By the way, do you realize we've scooped all major media and networks with this story. That's a good thing in case you haven't figured it out yet.

Wow you scooped all the major media(except maybe Soldier of Fortune magazine), about a Congressman submitting a bill that the US employ mercenaries.

Sheesh you Libertarians are a weird bunch. First you have Lew Rockwell and Co, saying that the WTC atrociites are the US's fault because of an "interventionist" foreign policy and now we have the most Libertarian member of Congress saying that we should officially autorize mercernaries.

Excuse me but aren't mercenaries only effective when they can operate in secret(i.e. no official government sanction).

Leave it up to the Libertarian wing to pronounce our intentions with chest beating thumping, because it is wrapped up in 18th century language.

46 posted on 10/10/2001 1:16:24 PM PDT by Dane
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To: Precisian
Letters of Marque and Reprisal are not "grand standing".

They are long standing, effective means of bringing the total impact of war to the enemy.

They are also effective "force multipliers", to use some modern terminology. These free up military assets to pursue the military assets of the enemy, unencumbered by other distractions. At the same time, lower value assets of the enemy can be captured as prizes of war by privateers and the citizen militias.

How much can we get for some of those Toyota trucks the Taliban are always roaring around the countryside in?

47 posted on 10/10/2001 1:18:26 PM PDT by steve in DC
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To: wideawake
A bounty hunter who lives for the chase is willing to cross from jurisdiction to jurisdiction to track someone down. Quite routinely bounty hunters will go to Mexico to grab someone who jumped bail in California or Texas. They're more efficient than cops, who would have to notify local Mexican authorities, argue extradition, etc. Red tape dissolves when privateers are around.

Heh, that made me remember a story from an uncle that was a PI/bounty hunter and ex-security chief of a (state that borders Mexico) Governor. He entered Mexico and captured a bail jumper and had a little problem re-entering. Seems like the Mexicans aren't real happy when they find an American in the process of bringing a handcuffed Mexican back over to our side.

He was glad that he had memorized a phone number of the Governor, and after a couple of tense hours, he was allowed to cross without his prisoner. I don't think he went back to Mexico after that, at least for business purposes. Heh, learn something new and remember something old every day I guess.

48 posted on 10/10/2001 1:18:42 PM PDT by thatsnotnice
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To: Demidog
Ron Paul Rules.

Good post.

49 posted on 10/10/2001 1:19:04 PM PDT by quimby
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To: rb22982
One is our federal (public) US military, the other is private citizens. Big difference

Yes, one is likely bring unstoppable assets against rogue regimes, and the other is likely to get arrested like a cross-dressing French journalist.

50 posted on 10/10/2001 1:20:08 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Demidog; Uriel1975
Congress critter contacted. Way to go, guys...
:-)
51 posted on 10/10/2001 1:20:51 PM PDT by MadameAxe
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To: Dane
As has been pointed out you continue to steep in your own ignorance. Privateers are not "mercenaries." Rather than continue to post nothing but negative comments based on ignorance, do some research and bring back a real argument.
52 posted on 10/10/2001 1:21:34 PM PDT by Demidog
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To: LLAN-DDEUSANT
The Bush ancestors have a very very poor record of seeing that American privateers got compensated for their efforts.

Your generalization is as breath-taking as it is unsupported.

53 posted on 10/10/2001 1:22:16 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: quimby
Thank you. I hope you and I can put aside our petty differences (and I mean petty) and support this in solidarity.

I hold no grudge.

54 posted on 10/10/2001 1:23:33 PM PDT by Demidog
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To: Demidog
Well done.
55 posted on 10/10/2001 1:24:26 PM PDT by A Navy Vet
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To: Dane
You're still confusing privateers with mercenaries. Mercanries are soldiers for hire. Privateers are bounty hunters. Another difference is soldiers for hire work under the command of regulars, while bounty hunters work on their own.

I am confused by this reaction, since there was a news article about the use of mercanies in Columbia and the reaction from many Republicans nonplussed. It was mostly the Democrats and other left-wingers that got all hot-under-the-collar about "private armies."

This is, in essence, another way of saying "Bin Laden: wanted dead or alive $1,000,000 reward."

As an aside, Dane, you must know all libertarians aren't the same, just as all Republicans aren't the same or agree with each and every platform plank.

56 posted on 10/10/2001 1:25:20 PM PDT by Liberal Classic
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To: Dane
Don't be silly. Our interventionist foreign policy is only unacceptable if our (underpaid) troops do the fighting.
Overtly recruiting private citizens to do our fighting for us is acceptable.
57 posted on 10/10/2001 1:26:04 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: SR71A;Alan Chapman;dwizzy;A.J.Armitage;FReethesheeples;Noumenon;Lurker
bump
58 posted on 10/10/2001 1:26:22 PM PDT by Demidog
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To: Dane
Maybe you shouldn't insult people in the same post you show your ignorance. By classic definition a privateer is a person who's activities strongly ressemble those of a pirate's except in two very important areas: 1 - they've been given a letter of marque from a government (preferably either their home government or the government who's waters they sale in), 2 - they're target is pirates. Basically the pirate the pirates and in exchange for only preying on bad guys the government calls them a good guy.

Really neat if you think about it, they get all of the fun of being pirates but none of the hassle of being hunted down. It's actually something we should have resumed a long time ago (they pretty much stopped giving out letters of marque after the Civil War), pirates (mostly drug runners looking to switch boats, but still some of the classic style) still cruise the Carribean waters, there's been some heavy activity off of Baja the last couple. And most of these guys hang out in international waters so we're pretty much powerless against them.

Not sure how useful it will be against terrorists. But who cares, privateers are just nifty. Gives me something to look forward to when I cash out those stock options.

59 posted on 10/10/2001 1:26:30 PM PDT by discostu
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To: Dane
A legitimate question is one thing and I'd be happy to reply. It's your gratuitous slams of libertarians that draw fire to you. Perhaps you need a course in basic manners or maybe you were just born a dolt. I sure dunno WHAT your problem is but you need to get it fixed before your betters (which is virtually ANYONE else) get YOU fixed. Maybe a neutering would help, before you afflict humanity with offspring.
60 posted on 10/10/2001 1:27:37 PM PDT by dcwusmc
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