"Sen Lee wants Letters of Marque" Topic

John if you are interested, things like this really upset me:

Subject: Open Source Intel on X: "An undercover filmmaker visited San Francisco State University posing as a fundraiser seeking money to attack Jewish soft targets, including cafes, synagogues, hospitals, and Jewish schools worldwide. Out of 35 students he approached, 17 offered cash contributions ranging from t.co/QpTKFPM17D / X

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Yes I 100% believe it. I have seen it and heard it on college campuses since the October massacre. We heard it before, just not on the streets.

We have at least 2 generations of indoctrinated youth, (not all, but enough). Indoctrinated to hate themselves, others, their country and culture. Anyone who is white is an oppressor and anyone not, are the oppressed. Nothing else matters.

The sad part, is it is still being taught.

Not just here. A survey in the UK:

Subject: Nearly Half Of British Jews Feel Unwelcome In UK – Report – i24NEWS


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"A majority of British Jews now say they do not feel safe living in the United Kingdom, according to reporting in The Telegraph that reflects growing anxiety within the Jewish community about antisemitism and their long-term place in British society. The findings come as national debates intensify over hate crime, protest policing, and community safety.

The report, based on data and interviews compiled by the newspaper, suggests that many British Jews are increasingly pessimistic about their future in the country. A significant portion of respondents indicated they had considered leaving the UK, citing concerns over everyday prejudice, harassment, and broader social tensions that have intensified in recent years."

I know it's the same in much of Europe, I've read it.

Also in Australia, with the recent massacre there.

Not just Jews, Christians in many areas, for instance Nigeria.

I am concerned about the areas fighting the deportation of illegals and sanctuary areas. When those policies end up in the death of US citizens.

Subject: Illegal Alien Crimes on X: "Woman accused in accident death of 12-year-old now on immigration detainer. t.co/WxGtP5tXvK t.co/1dCQ1Kc1Eo / X


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I read these daily.

When these same people take our money illegally, Minneapolis, Columbus…

Just a few things I am concerned about. But Not Narco Terrorists being killed or a few oil tankers stopped. Just in case you cared. 😉

John

As to drugs.

No I am not concerned about those who are hardcore like Rob Reiner‘s son. But those who accidentally take in fentanyl, or the one time user, who gets something laced with it. Those deserve better. The law enforcement individual killed by dealers or users, or the innocent standing around in the wrong place, yes concerned about them too.

I also find it interesting that such piracy is justified because "the President says so!" Which is what "The President has determined" means. Oh! The vessels are "sanctioned"! Wow. POTUS has such powers in international law!
If we're going to get involved in seizing foreign vessels on the high seas, the least we should do is get Congress involved. And not to grant Lettres of Marque. (Have I mentioned that I think that's a really dumb idea?)

In keeping with calls for brevity, let me first say -- NUH UH!

However, my analytical brain is not soothed by such, so in a slightly longer form --you're WRONG.

It's ALL covered by law.

This framework didn't appear overnight, and it isn't presidential whim. Since the 1970s–1990s, Congress has deliberately built a system that treats cartels, sanctioned states, and their commercial networks as national-security threats — on land and at sea. Laws like IEEPA (1977) and the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act (1986) established seizure and high-seas interdiction authority, while the Anti-Drug Abuse Acts (1986/1988) introduced narco-terrorism concepts championed by lawmakers including Joe Biden, explicitly enabling extraterritorial asset seizure.

That same authority was later extended to energy warfare: Congress approved oil embargoes and sanctions on Iran and Venezuela (via CAATSA (2017), Iran sanctions statutes, and repeated NDAAs), fully anticipating active enforcement — not just paper penalties. Seizing tankers moving sanctioned oil, freezing proceeds, and interdicting illicit trade are features, not abuses, of that system.

In short: drugs, oil, and shipping are treated as weapons platforms when tied to sanctioned regimes. Congress authorized enforcement decades ago; the executive branch is executing it. No piracy. No Letters of Marque. Just a long-standing, bipartisan maritime sanctions regime doing exactly what it was designed to do.

So don't get pissed when a President finally exercises the lawful powers authorized by Congress on these matters.

On the other hand this POTUS had no problem grating waivers for favored countries on Iranian oil, and has now given his friend Vic Orban in Hungary a one year exemption on Russian oil, never mind Orban is not exactly a pillar of democracy. But he is a cool tough guy apparently. He did finally managed to get Hungary to the 2% mark in NATO spending during the Biden years after Putin invaded Ukraine. But now Hungry will only participate in NATO actions within NATO borders.

On the Paris Declaration: it abolished privateering for its parties, but the U.S. never acceded, so you can't simply equate "international law" with "piracy."

At the same time, "the Constitution allows it" isn't a full answer either—there's a serious question whether privateering is now effectively barred, or at least condemned, by customary law and modern state practice regardless of treaty status. In any case, the decisive problems are practical, not nostalgic: identifying lawful targets, rules of engagement, detention authority, insurance and liability, deconfliction with USCG/USN operations, and how foreign courts would treat a captured "privateer."

History is the easy part; governing this in 2025 is not.

Also, no one's disputing existing sanctions and interdiction authorities—that's precisely why letters of marque add nothing. The moment you move from state enforcement under IEEPA/MDLEA to deputized private force, you create new legal, diplomatic, and liability problems without gaining capability. That's the gap the above framework by sbminisguy doesn't address.

That's the gap the above framework by sbminisguy doesn't address.

I think this bill is pure trollery, it has no chance to pass.

Well, I DID say, early on, that I think the senator is mainly interested in the idea being debated.

I doubt it will happen, but I can imagine a consortium of US citizens organizing a force with explicit aims and limitations and then applying to Congress for a Letter.

Doc,

I already named them: "The Sea Hags". Captains Omar, Rashida Talib, Ocasio Cortez, Jasmine Crockett and their crews of bloodthirsty Somalis. 🏴‍☠️

They would make the "Sea Hawks"shake in their boots. 😉
🎶
We drink and we pillage and we do what we please
We get all that we want for free
We'll kick your ass
And rape your lass
Somalian pirates we

So with a yo ho ho
And with a yee hee hee
We take to the Caribbean Sea
We'll brave the squalls
And bust your balls
Somalian pirates we

We left our homes and we left our mothers
To go on a pillaging spree
We'll cut off your ears
And break your toes
And make you drink our pee

And if you sail into our waters
You best hear this decree
We'll take your boat
Set your ass afloat
Somalian pirates we

With a yo ho ho (yo ho ho)
And a tricky lah-tee do (tricky lah-tee do)
We'll shoot you in the face with glee
Then we'll cut off your cock
And feed it to a croc
Somalian pirates we

Somalian pirates we
Somalian pirates we
🎶