Story perspectives

U.S. Warns Reviving Letters of Marque Risks “Gray” Policy

8/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

The article compares a modern program to the Age of Sail’s letters of marque, which authorized private vessels to attack state enemies.
Governments historically issued letters of marque to legalize privateering, turning piracy into state-sanctioned warfare.
The United States stopped issuing letters of marque after the Civil War, ending formal privateering.
The article warns that reviving quasi-military licensing creates “shades of gray” that could cause major policy problems today.

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Story summary

The article compares a modern program to the Age of Sail’s letters of marque, which authorized private vessels to attack state enemies.
Governments historically issued letters of marque to legalize privateering, turning piracy into state-sanctioned warfare.
The United States stopped issuing letters of marque after the Civil War, ending formal privateering.
The article warns that reviving quasi-military licensing creates “shades of gray” that could cause major policy problems today.