Ron Paul's Letter of Marque, aka "screw the law!"

As if international law didn't even exist...

Surely such letters of marque would constitute illegal US international use
of force by way of proxy?

Kendall

----- Forwarded message from Declan McCullagh <[email protected]> -----

To: politech-4pAAN9ZvJVzZI5Z/[email protected]
From: Declan McCullagh <[email protected]>
Subject: FC: A novel way to combat terrorists: Letters of marque and
  reprisal

An excerpt from Ron Paul's statement:

http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2001/tst101501.htm
>Letters of marque and reprisal: This constitutional tool can be used to 
>give President Bush another weapon in the war on terrorism. Congress can 
>issue letters of marque against terrorists and their property that 
>authorize the President to name private sources who can capture or kill 
>our enemies.  This method works in conjunction with our military efforts, 
>creating an incentive for people on the ground close to Bin Laden to kill 
>or capture him and his associates. [...]

Also possibly relevant:

http://www.house.gov/paul/press/press2001/pr101601.htm
>Paul has been a vocal opponent of federal medical ID numbers since the 
>idea first was proposed by the Clinton administration. Accordingly, Paul 
>fought to include language in the Labor/HHS bill that prohibits federal 
>funding for the implementation of such a program.

-Declan

...

----
"Western Civilization didn't invent tyranny, slavery, racism, or the
oppression of women. What it did do is eliminate those evils (to the
extent they have been eliminated). The rest of the world should be damn
grateful and if they're not we should return them to the ancient tyrannies
from which we so recently rescued them. Would serve them right."