Okay, so the mexican cartels have gotten ADVANCED!
Back in July of 2020, Jalisco New Generation Cartel released an infamous video showing their advanced weaponry:
The last 4 years has only served to embolden them, as they’ve shifted from pure drug-based trafficking to human trafficking.
There are rumors of US forces under President Trump – like Delta Force – being amassed to take them out.
However, Utah’s Senator Mike Lee has brought up an interesting concept: Bring Back Letters of Marque and Reprisal (read the full thread here: Thread by @BasedMikeLee on Thread Reader App – Thread Reader App
The Revival of Letters of Marque and Reprisal: A Bold Strategy Against Drug Cartels
In a striking throwback to bygone eras of maritime conflict, Utah Senator Mike Lee has proposed the use of Letters of Marque and Reprisal as a contemporary tool to combat the growing threat of Mexican drug cartels. Historically, these letters were government-issued commissions that legally empowered private citizens to act as privateers.
These privateers were authorized to carry out acts of piracy against enemy nations during wartime, with the incentive of claiming a portion of the spoils they captured. Although this practice has not been employed by the U.S. Congress in over a century, the constitutional basis for such actions remains intact under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.
Pros of Using Letters of Marque and Reprisal:
- Strategic Flexibility and Efficiency: Private entities, such as security firms or specially trained civilians, can often mobilize and act more quickly than government bodies. Their ability to adapt swiftly to the tactics of drug cartels could provide a tactical advantage.
- Cost-Effectiveness: This approach could potentially reduce the financial burden on taxpayers. Privateers would be compensated only with a fraction of the assets they successfully recover and return to the U.S., aligning their incentives directly with performance.
- Direct Impact: By disrupting cartel operations, including drug shipments and human trafficking networks, privateers could strike directly at the economic foundations of these criminal organizations, seizing assets and dismantling logistical chains.
Cons of Using Letters of Marque and Reprisal:
- Legal and Ethical Implications: The modern application of letters of marque and reprisal could blur the lines between sanctioned government actions and vigilantism. This raises significant legal and ethical questions, particularly under international law, which might view such actions as a form of unauthorized warfare.
- Control and Oversight: Managing and regulating the actions of privateers poses a significant challenge. Without stringent oversight, these actors could potentially violate international human rights standards or engage in unauthorized acts of aggression.
- Economic Viability of Seized Assets: Unlike historical contexts where seized assets typically included valuable goods like gold or spices, the primary “booty” from anti-cartel operations would likely include drugs and potentially involve human trafficking victims. These are not only morally reprehensible items to trade but also present significant challenges in terms of legal handling and disposability.
- Potential for Escalation: Employing privateers against drug cartels could escalate violence, leading to retaliatory attacks against U.S. interests or civilians. This escalation could destabilize regions and potentially draw the U.S. into greater military conflicts with international implications.
- Public Perception and Legitimacy: The use of private mercenaries in what could be seen as quasi-military operations might draw significant public and international criticism, potentially undermining the legitimacy of U.S. actions on the global stage.
Senator Lee’s proposal to revisit the concept of letters of marque and reprisal introduces a bold, if controversial, strategy into the debate on how best to combat the severe and ongoing threat posed by drug cartels. While the innovative approach acknowledges the need for new tactics in the face of evolving threats, it also opens a Pandora’s box of legal, ethical, and practical issues that would need careful consideration before such measures could be implemented effectively.
So… What do YOU think? Great strategy?
Oh well. I’ll just be over here memeing…
