“To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;”
Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution
The last time this was done was in 1815. The Confederates authorized privateers during the Civil War. The US has never signed onto the treaty banning privateers. Lots of practical problems with privateers operating on foreign soil, but as an idea to be debated, I am all in favor.
I’ve tried to pitch it to few of my buddies , but no one’s expressed iserious nterest yet. Also, I doubt our wives would agree to let us go.
We could take a couple weeks of vacation from work, rent a speedboat in Florida or Texas and come home rich with some epic stories!
Man can dream…
One has to be careful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbeXh9FZT_g
Or not come home and have the insurance company refuse to pay.
These guys are legit pirates. (Apologies to Steve who comments here.) They will kill you just as brutally as any jihadi.
I think it’s a legit idea, but have no illusions about making a fast buck. It will be very worthwhile, but very dangerous.
It makes me think of the scene in Jaws when Hooper sees all the boats trying for the bounty has been placed on the shark. He shakes his head and says “you’re all gonna drown.” It can be done, but you’re going to need a few Quints – and accept that more than one Orca will not return to port.
[…] Analysis, Punditry, and News:Privateering 21st Century Style – Donald R. McClarey, J.D., at The American CatholicThe Originalist Basis of Birthright […]
Smugglers Woods by Arthur Pierce is worth reading. Privateers in the War for Independence. They knew the territory around Egg Harbor then to Philadelphia. A great story. I read the book several times.
I do like the fact that the administration is thinking outside the box.
Smugglers’ Woods is a book about the privateers commissioned by General George Washington. The privateers crippled the British supply lines and helped the War for Independence.
I have read the book 4 or 5 times. It is a good read
A good idea in theory but I have no doubt that there would arise a corporate giant among the freebooters and force out the independent operators.