No, seriously. ...the 'Yo Ho Ho' kind, that is. Peter Trei ----------- http://epw.senate.gov/hearing_statements.cfm?id=219545 <quote> U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works Hearing Statements Date: 03/24/2004 Statement of Peter Leitner Author Reforming the Law of the Sea Treaty Oversight hearing to examine the "United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea". [...] I am appearing before you today as a private citizen and author. Although I am a Senior Strategic Trade Advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense my views and statements are my own and do not represent the views of the Department or the U.S. government. [massive snippage] Additionally, I would suggest that the US may be well served by resurrecting the historic use of Letters of Marque in both the war on Terrorism and the protection of our coastal environment. It is obvious that the Federal government is facing many simultaneous missions that take precedence over traditional offshore environmental protection activities. This necessary overextension, arising from the war on terror, results in shortages of vessels and crews required for environmental patrols. Letters of Marque, last used during the War of 1812, effectively enabled privateers to destroy the Barbary Pirates and is a concept whose time has come, again! American Fishermen and merchant seamen idled by quotas, regulation, and predatory foreign competition can be mobilized to patrol the marine environment. They can also be authorized to seize terrorist assets and provide material assistance to the families of Americans victimized by terrorism awarded punitive damages by US courts. Such modern-day Privateers would be legally deputized to act as agents of the US Courts, the President, Congress, or State Governors to protect the environment or fight terrorism by depriving terrorists of their economic assets. [...] </quote>