Ron Paul Wants US Privateers to Hunt Pirates

I liked Dirty Harry.

Article 1 of the United States Constitution lists issuing letters of marque and reprisal in Section 8 as one of the enumerated powers of Congress, alongside the power to "declare War."

Because the difference between a privateer and a pirate was a subtle (often invisible) one, in 1856 the issuance of Letters of Marque and Reprisal to private parties was banned for signatories of the Declaration of Paris. The United States was not a signatory to that Declaration and is not bound by it. The Confederate States of America issued Letters of Marque and Reprisal during the Civil War.

The issue of Marque and Reprisal was raised before Congress after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and again on July 21, 2007 by congressman Ron Paul. The attacks were defined as acts of "air piracy," and the Marque and Reprisal Act of 2001 was introduced, which would have granted the president the authority to use Letters of Marque and Reprisal against the specific terrorists, instead of warring against a foreign state. The terrorists were compared to pirates in that they are difficult to fight by traditional military means.

Something needs to be done, especially since Somalia is a lawless country without a government central to bringing the pirates to justice.  I think Letters of Marque might be a good alternative if utilized similar to "bounty-hunters" that are commonplace in bringing fugitives to justice and thereby relieving other lawful authorities of this burden.