Should America Unsheath Its Second Great War Power?

Senator Lee proposes that Congress bring back into use the instrument of war known as the letter of marque and reprisal.

Via Wikimedia Commons
John Seymour Lucas' depiction of Pedro de Valdés surrender in 1588 to Francis Drake, who had served as one of the foremost English privateers. Via Wikimedia Commons

Congratulations are in order in respect of Senator Lee of Utah, who is now calling for bringing back into use the little discussed constitutional war power known as the letter of marque and reprisal. These letters, granted by Congress, are in effect licenses for private individuals to conduct war on behalf of the United States. It’s Senator Lee’s idea that they are a perfect instrument to deploy in this era of drug cartels and asymmetrical warfare.

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