8 ms·

18 U.S.C. 960 > Whoever, within the United States, knowingly begins or sets on foot or provides or prepares a means for or furnishes the money for, or takes pa

18 U.S.C. 960 > Whoever, within the United States, knowingly begins or sets on foot or provides or prepares a means for or furnishes the money for, or takes part in, any military or naval expedition or enterprise to be carried on from thence against the territory or dominion of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States is at peace, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

fluoridation 3y ago
So what you're saying is that it's legal for an American to nuke a country as long as the US is already at war with that country.
- glasshug 3y ago
  Ha! No, 42 U.S.C. 2122.
  - fluoridation 3y ago
    Nanny state.
  - civilitty 3y ago
    Thanks for ruining my weekend plans!
  - thghtihadanacct 3y ago
    The crazy part is how old those codes are. Someone saw shenanigans from a long time off.
  - throwaway58480 3y ago
    Am I reading this wrong or are foreign heads of state that produce nuclear weapons technically committing a crime which the US considers itself to have jurisdiction over? If so why aren't they arrested when they travel to the US?
9991 3y ago
The U.S. hasn't declared war since WWII, so it looks like the entirety of the U.S. military is in violation of this. It's looking more and more like what actually gets prosecuted is a political decision.
- afthonos 3y ago
  Yes, this is true, but in a far more boring way than you imagine. Prosecutors have huge latitude on what to prosecute, and the police on what to direct investigatory resources to. At every point, the unconscious and sometimes conscious politics of the people making those decisions are in play. That’s what makes reforming the system so hard.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
Obscurity4340 3y ago
Where would this leave Elon Musk and his possible servicing of Putin? He'a got money so I know he'll be fine but still kind of shocked such a high-profile government contractor can get away with this kind of thing with no collateral damage to their business or personal effects

fluoridation 3y ago

So what you're saying is that it's legal for an American to nuke a country as long as the US is already at war with that country.

glasshug 3y ago
Ha! No, 42 U.S.C. 2122.
- fluoridation 3y ago
  Nanny state.
- civilitty 3y ago
  Thanks for ruining my weekend plans!
- thghtihadanacct 3y ago
  The crazy part is how old those codes are. Someone saw shenanigans from a long time off.
- throwaway58480 3y ago
  Am I reading this wrong or are foreign heads of state that produce nuclear weapons technically committing a crime which the US considers itself to have jurisdiction over? If so why aren't they arrested when they travel to the US?

9991 3y ago

The U.S. hasn't declared war since WWII, so it looks like the entirety of the U.S. military is in violation of this. It's looking more and more like what actually gets prosecuted is a political decision.

afthonos 3y ago
Yes, this is true, but in a far more boring way than you imagine. Prosecutors have huge latitude on what to prosecute, and the police on what to direct investigatory resources to. At every point, the unconscious and sometimes conscious politics of the people making those decisions are in play. That’s what makes reforming the system so hard.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

Obscurity4340 3y ago

Where would this leave Elon Musk and his possible servicing of Putin? He'a got money so I know he'll be fine but still kind of shocked such a high-profile government contractor can get away with this kind of thing with no collateral damage to their business or personal effects