I've been trying to get the straight dope on Letters of Marque and Reprisal. What I've determined is:
So it is not, as some have said, a general bounty like a wanted poster nailed to a saloon door paid to whoever gets the bad guy first. It is, for all intents and purposes, a government contract.1) official warrant or commission from a national government authorizing the designated agent to search, seize, or destroy specified assets or personnel belonging to a party which has committed some offense under the laws of nations against the assets or citizens of the issuing nation.
2) It is considered a retaliatory measure short of a full declaration of war, and by maintaining a rough proportionality, has been intended to justify the action to other nations, who might otherwise consider it an act of war or piracy. As with a domestic search, arrest, seizure, or death warrant, to be considered lawful it needs to have a certain degree of specificity, to ensure that the agent does not exceed his authority and the intent of the issuing authority.
Let's say President Ron Paul or congress issues these letters to a private contractor like Blackwater. They are now agents of the US government. So what is stopping any actions by Blackwater against a nation's sovereignty or its citizens from being considered an act of war.
I haven't found anything in International Law or the UN Charter recognizing Letters of Marque and Reprisal. In fact, the Declaration of Paris in 1856 signed by Numerous states, including the United Kingdom, Austria-Hungary, France, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia and the Ottoman Empire, essentially banned the use of LoMR. The USA did not sign it.
If someone has any more detailed info, I would appreciate it.
Site Information
About Us
- RonPaulForums.com is an independent grassroots outfit not officially connected to Ron Paul but dedicated to his mission. For more information see our Mission Statement.
Connect With Us