Rafael Jesús González wrote:
> Family, friends, colleagues - it is of utmost urgency that we respond > to this outrage the soonest possible. It is frightening to realize how > close we are to having a tyrannical, totalitarian government imposed > upon us. This latest outrage is of such import that it behooves us to > read the analysis and text of Bush's latest executive order carefully. > > How much further can we allow Bush to trample over the Constitution > and the Bill of Rights, do away with our civil liberties before > impeachment proceedings (nay, criminal charges) are brought against > him? Let us call our representatives to demand they do so. > > Now more than ever is the time to protest if we are to save what we > have of democracy. > > Rafael J. González > > > Bush Executive Order: Criminalizing the Antiwar Movement > > by Prof. Michel Chossudovsky > Global Research, July 20, 2007 > www.globalresearch.ca/index.php <http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php> > > > The Executive Order entitled "Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who > Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq" provides the President with > the authority to confiscate the assets of whoever opposes the US led war. > > A presidential Executive Order issued on July 17th, repeals with the > stroke of a pen the right to dissent and to oppose the Pentagon's > military agenda in Iraq. > > The Executive Order entitled "Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who > Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq" provides the President with > the authority to confiscate the assets of "certain persons" who oppose > the US led war in Iraq: > > "I have issued an Executive Order blocking property of persons > determined to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of > committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect > of threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of > Iraq or undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and > political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the > Iraqi people." > > In substance, under this executive order, opposing the war becomes an > illegal act. > > The Executive Order criminalizes the antiwar movement. It is intended > to "blocking property" of US citizens and organizations actively > involved in the peace movement. It allows the Department of Defense to > interfere in financial affairs and instruct the Treasury to "block the > property" and/or confiscate/ freeze the assets of "Certain Persons" > involved in antiwar activities. It targets those "Certain Persons" in > America, including civil society organizations, who oppose the Bush > Administration's "peace and stability" program in Iraq, characterized, > in plain English, by an illegal occupation and the continued killing > of innocent civilians. > > The Executive Order also targets those "Certain Persons" who are > "undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction", or who, > again in plain English, are opposed to the confiscation and > privatization of Iraq's oil resources, on behalf of the Anglo-American > oil giants. > > The order is also intended for anybody who opposes Bush's program of > "political reform in Iraq", in other words, who questions the > legitimacy of an Iraqi "government" installed by the occupation forces. > > Moreover, those persons or nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), who > provide bona fide humanitarian aid to Iraqi civilians, and who are not > approved by the US Military or its lackeys in the US sponsored Iraqi > puppet government are also liable to have their financial assets > confiscated. > > The executive order violates the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments of > the US Constitution. It repeals one of the fundamental tenets of US > democracy, which is the right to free expression and dissent. The > order has not been the object of discussion in the US Congress. Sofar, > it has not been addressed by the US antiwar movement, in terms of a > formal statement. > > Apart from a bland Associated Press wire report, which presents the > executive order as "an authority to use financial sanctions", there > has been no media coverage or commentary of a presidential decision > which strikes at the heart of the US Constitution.. > > > Broader implications > > The criminalization of the State is when the sitting President and > Vice President use and abuse their authority through executive orders, > presidential directives or otherwise to define "who are the criminals" > when in fact they they are the criminals. > > This latest executive order criminalizes the peace movement. It must > be viewed in relation to various pieces of "anti-terrorist" > legislation, the gamut of presidential and national security > directives, etc., which are ultimately geared towards repealing > constitutional government and installing martial law in the event of a > "national emergency". > > The war criminals in high office are intent upon repressing all forms > of dissent which question the legitimacy of the war in Iraq. > > The executive order combined with the existing anti-terrorist > legislation is eventually intended to be used against the anti-war and > civil rights movements. It can be used to seize the assets of antiwar > groups in America as well as block the property and activities of > non-governmental humanitarian organizations providing relief in Iraq, > seizing the assets of alternative media involved in a reporting the > truth regarding the US-led war, etc. > > In May 2007, Bush issued a major presidential National Security > Directive (National Security and Homeland Security Presidential > Directive NSPD 51/HSPD 20), which would suspend constitutional > government and instate broad dictatorial powers under martial law in > the case of a "Catastrophic Emergency" (e.g. Second 9/11 terrorist > attack). > > On July 11, 2007 the CIA published its "National Intelligence > Estimate" which pointed to an imminent Al Qaeda attack on America, a > second 9/11 which, according to the terms of NSPD 51, would > immediately be followed by the suspension of constitutional government > and the instatement of martial law under the authority of the > president and the vice-president. (For further details, see Michel > Chossudovsky, Bush Directive for a "Catastrophic Emergency" in > America: Building a Justification for Waging War on Iran? June 2007) > > NSPD 51 grants unprecedented powers to the Presidency and the > Department of Homeland Security, overriding the foundations of > Constitutional government. It allows the sitting president to declare > a "national emergency" without Congressional approval. The > implementation of NSPD 51 would lead to the de facto closing down of > the Legislature and the militarization of justice and law enforcement. > > "The President shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for > ensuring constitutional government...." > > Were NSPD 51 to be invoked, Vice President Dick Cheney, who > constitutes the real power behind the Executive, would essentially > assume de facto dictatorial powers, circumventing both the US Congress > and the Judiciary, while continuing to use President George W. Bush as > a proxy figurehead. > > NSPD 51, while bypassing the Constitution, nonetheless, envisages very > precise procedures which guarantee the powers of Vice President Dick > Cheney in relation to "Continuity of Goverment" functions under > Martial Law: > > "This directive shall be implemented in a manner that is consistent > with, and facilitates effective implementation of, provisions of the > Constitution concerning succession to the Presidency or the exercise > of its powers, and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (3 U.S.C. > 19), with consultation of the Vice President and, as appropriate, > others involved. Heads of executive departments and agencies shall > ensure that appropriate support is available to the Vice President and > others involved as necessary to be prepared at all times to implement > those provisions." (NSPD 51, op cit.) > > The executive order to confiscate the assets of antiwar/peace > activists is broadly consistent with NSPD 51. It could be triggered > even in the absence of a "Catastrophic emergency" as envisaged under > NSPD 51. It repeals democracy. It goes one step further in > "criminalizing" all forms of opposition and dissent. to the US led war > and "Homeland Security" agenda. > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > ANNEX > > TEXT OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER > > July 17, 2007 > > Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten > Stabilization Efforts in Iraq > > By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the > laws of the United States of America, including the International > Emergency Economic Powers Act, as amended (50 U.S.C. 1701 et > seq.)(IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et > seq.)(NEA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, > > I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, find > that, due to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national > security and foreign policy of the United States posed by acts of > violence threatening the peace and stability of Iraq and undermining > efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in > Iraq and to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people, it is > in the interests of the United States to take additional steps with > respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 of > May 22, 2003, and expanded in Executive Order 13315 of August 28, > 2003, and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order > 13350 of July 29, 2004, and Executive Order 13364 of November 29, > 2004. I hereby order: > > Section 1. (a) Except to the extent provided in section 203(b)(1), > (3), and (4) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(1), (3), and (4)), or in > regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued > pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into > or any license or permit granted prior to the date of this order, all > property and interests in property of the following persons, that are > in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or > that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of United > States persons, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, > exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in: any person determined by > the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of > State and the Secretary of Defense, > > (i) to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an > act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of: > > (A) threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of > Iraq; or > > (B) undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and > political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the > Iraqi people; > > (ii) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, > material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services > in support of, such an act or acts of violence or any person whose > property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or > > (iii) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to > act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose > property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order. > > (b) The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section include, but > are not limited to, (i) the making of any contribution or provision of > funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person > whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this > order, and (ii) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, > goods, or services from any such person. > > Sec. 2. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the > United States that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or > avoiding, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in > this order is prohibited. > > (b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth > in this order is prohibited. > > Sec. 3. For purposes of this order: > > (a) the term "person" means an individual or entity; > > (b) the term "entity" means a partnership, association, trust, joint > venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization; and > > (c) the term "United States person" means any United States citizen, > permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the > United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including > foreign branches), or any person in the United States. > > Sec. 4. I hereby determine that the making of donations of the type > specified in section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) by, to, > or for the benefit of, any person whose property and interests in > property are blocked pursuant to this order would seriously impair my > ability to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive > Order 13303 and expanded in Executive Order 13315, and I hereby > prohibit such donations as provided by section 1 of this order. > > Sec. 5. For those persons whose property and interests in property are > blocked pursuant to this order who might have a constitutional > presence in the United States, I find that, because of the ability to > transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such > persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render > these measures ineffectual. I therefore determine that for these > measures to be effective in addressing the national emergency declared > in Executive Order 13303 and expanded in Executive Order 13315, there > need be no prior notice of a listing or determination made pursuant to > section 1(a) of this order. > > Sec. 6. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the > Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, is hereby authorized > to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and > regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by > IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. The > Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any of these functions to > other officers and agencies of the United States Government, > consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United States > Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures within > their authority to carry out the provisions of this order and, where > appropriate, to advise the Secretary of the Treasury in a timely > manner of the measures taken. > > Sec. 7. Nothing in this order is intended to affect the continued > effectiveness of any rules, regulations, orders, licenses, or other > forms of administrative action issued, taken, or continued in effect > heretofore or hereafter under 31 C.F.R. chapter V, except as expressly > terminated, modified, or suspended by or pursuant to this order. > > Sec. 8. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right, > benefit, or privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law > or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, > agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, > or any other person. > > GEORGE W. BUSH > > THE WHITE HOUSE, > > July 17, 2007. > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Below is the text of the Message to the Congress of the United States > Regarding International Emergency Economic Powers Act > > > [There has been no response by the US congress or commentary by > individual Senators or Representatives.] > > Office of the Press Secretary July 17, 2007 > > Message to the Congress of the United States Regarding International > Emergency Economic Powers Act > > White House News > > Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten > Stabilization Efforts in Iraq > > Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, as > amended (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)(IEEPA), I hereby report that I have > issued an Executive Order blocking property of persons determined to > have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or > acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of threatening the > peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq or undermining > efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in > Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people. > > I issued this order to take additional steps with respect to the > national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 of May 22, 2003, > and expanded in Executive Order 13315 of August 28, 2003, and relied > upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13350 of July 29, > 2004, and Executive Order 13364 of November 29, 2004. > > In these previous Executive Orders, I ordered various measures to > address the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security > and foreign policy of the United States posed by obstacles to the > orderly reconstruction of Iraq, the restoration and maintenance of > peace and security in that country, and the development of political, > administrative, and economic institutions in Iraq. > > My new order takes additional steps with respect to the national > emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 and expanded in Executive > Order 13315 by blocking the property and interests in property of > persons determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation > with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, to have > committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts > of violence that have the purpose or effect of threatening the peace > or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq or undermining efforts > to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to > provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people. > > The order further authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in > consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, > to designate for blocking those persons determined to have materially > assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or > technical support for, or goods or services in support of, such an act > or acts of violence or any person designated pursuant to this order, > or to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act > for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property > and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order. > > I delegated to the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the > Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, the authority to take > such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and > to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be > necessary to carry out the purposes of my order. I am enclosing a copy > of the Executive Order I have issued. > > GEORGE W. BUSH > > The White House, > July 17, 2007. > > other sites: http://www.rense.com/general77/asset.htm > www.perspectives.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=149990&forum_id=71 > www.nineeleven.co.uk/board/viewtopic.php?p=82419 > >-- > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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