Senator Mike Lee's proposal to reinstate letters of marque and reprisal has ignited a debate about unconventional methods to combat drug cartels and rogue states. These historic proclamations allowed privateers to operate with government backing in seizing enemy ships and goods. Lee suggests this tactic could adapt to modern threats, especially from Mexican cartels classified as foreign terrorist groups. Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, endorsed this strategy, highlighting the decisive action possible through private organizations, emphasizing the need for flexibility in addressing contemporary security challenges.
In an era of asymmetric warfare, a new breed of US privateers could allow America to fight its enemies where they lurk.
Lee proposed bringing back letters of marque in a thread on X last month, suggesting them as a tool for going after Mexican drug cartels.
Only a private organization is going to be able to move that decisively with the flexibility required,
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