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< BACK TO Fresh Intelligence Ron Paul's Army
Paul, the only Republican candidate advocating withdrawal from Iraq, wants to bring back a 2001 bill that would have allowed the president to commission private citizens and non-government groups to specifically target Osama and his cohorts. In other words, he wants to send assassins after Al Qaeda. He introduced the "Marque and Reprisal Act of 2001" almost immediately following 9/11 out of anxiety over how the U.S. might retaliate for the terrorist attacks. "I was fearful we would invade and occupy," says Paul. "It doesn't make sense to direct attention at an entire government when attention should be directed at its lawless individuals." He adds, "We wouldn't have been in Iraq [if the bill had passed], and none of these men and women would have been killed." The constitution, he says, has his back, allowing for Congress to appoint bounty hunters to kill and seize the property of anyone posing a serious threat to the country. Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 grants Congress permission to "To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water." But Georgetown University law professor and constitutional law expert Paul Rothstein isn't so sure. Paul's "thesis is not entirely off the wall," Rothstein says but calls it "bad policy." "This would take quite a stretch of constitutional interpretation. There is a tortured interpretation that might do it, but it's spurious." Constitutionality aside, what sort of person is suited for the task of hunting down the world's most wanted terrorist? The Rock? Boba Fett? Well, for one, says Paul, anyone commissioned to hunt down Bin Laden would have to be a non-government employee. More importantly, the congressman believes the hunt for Bin Laden to be "too great an undertaking for an individual." (Clearly, he's not familiar with Duane "Dog" Chapman.) Instead, he says, there are private companies out there with formally trained personnel who would be ideal for the mission. The bounty on Bin Laden's head now stands at a whopping $50 million, twice what it was before Congress raised the stakes in early July. Paul thinks it should be even more. "Say a private company went in and caught him in the first six months," Paul says. "I don't think a billion would be too much to spend. We've already spent $500 billion [in Iraq] and lost all our men." 
"And, you know, like..." that is a Gawker Media trademarked comedic / snark device. Please stop infringing. Posted by: Nick Denton on September 17, 2007 10:45 AM Wow, Sarah- You are right on. Why in the world would we subcontract the hunting of probably the most notorious criminal in US history to companies to professional ex-military experts? I definitely think we should keep sending our young (18 years old), inexperienced (12 weeks of training) soldiers to Iraq to die. I mean most casualties are coming from ied's and boobytraps, so hell yeah, keep sending thousands of our boys over to die, for what now? Exactly what will America win in this war? How exactly are they (Iraqis) threatning our National Security? 9-11? Oh that was the Suadi's. Hmm. WMD? None found. Stick to Us Weekly, it seems to be more your speed. Your website boasts "POP, POLITICS, SCANDAL & STYLE" This reminds me of a recurring skit on Sesame Street where there would be 4 items, say (1) a basesball (2) a basketball (3) a soccerball and finally (4) a hammer. A cheery limerick would then play encouraging viewers to determine 'Which one of these things is not like the other?' Well in the case of your website, which one would it be? I'll bet this story gets more hits that any story you've ever posted, simply because you mention Ron Paul. (doesn't apply if previous stories cover Ron though, but I'll bet they don't) Posted by: jerm001 on September 17, 2007 11:50 AM Sarah, awesome article - love your style. Posted by: wwwdotjenna on September 17, 2007 12:19 PM Interesting article, thanks. Funny comment by Paul Rothstein, "Constitutional law expert." How's the Patriot Act square with the Constitution? Posted by: AB on September 17, 2007 12:33 PM Advertisement Sarah - I think this is a witty, interesting view of an issue that supercedes most people's everyday insights. And the 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' reference is classic. To those that had nasty thing to say - 1) Nick Denton, who are you, Paris Hilton? You sound just about as relevant as she does when she claims that "That's Hot," is her catchphrase. 2) jerm001 - before you start questioning other people intelligence, why don't you pick up the lastest issue of Websters and learn how to spell BASEBALL? Those with subpar writing abilities shouldn't throw stones on the internet. I look forward to reading more from you Sarah. Posted by: Sarah Smith on September 17, 2007 2:45 PM No wonder Ron Paul comes up with such wacky ideas....he doesn't have a mouth! But seriously, Sarah, I think your performance at the VMA was pretty good...don't let Kanye get you down.... Posted by: RichardCC on September 17, 2007 3:11 PM What Ron Paul would like to see happen already is in some respects. Considering the number of Private Military Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan and the 150000 a year they get, why not pay them solely for results and turn them lose. Posted by: SOCguy on September 17, 2007 3:52 PM I say this with all seriousness. The country will probably disintegrate and be carved up the Chinese if Ron Paul does not win. It will take time, but we are on the road to perdition. America needs Ron Paul more than ever, and everyone who supports Ron Paul loves him as he is the closest thing to family we have ever seen in government. Ron Paul, for what is just, what is right, and what is our Nation's root modus, the Constitution and Freedom and Liberty for All. Think for yourself, question authority.
Posted by: mickrussom on September 18, 2007 12:44 AM Actually, subcontracting this exact sort of thing worked really well for the Israelis after the Munich killings. And it didn't drag them into a bloody war with a middle eastern country - in their case, Palestine. Posted by: hoorock on September 18, 2007 7:18 AM |
    
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