{"id":417,"date":"2007-08-01T09:46:00","date_gmt":"2007-08-01T17:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pierrejoris.com\/blog\/?p=417"},"modified":"2007-08-01T09:46:00","modified_gmt":"2007-08-01T17:46:00","slug":"read-it-weep-bush-executive-order","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pierrejoris.com\/blog\/read-it-weep-bush-executive-order\/","title":{"rendered":"Read it &amp; Weep: Bush Executive Order"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">I did want to write about something else as I resume blogging here in the Pyrenees after a two week absence & despite a very shaky modem connection, but this piece of info from our so-called White House, has me infuriated. Although I haven\u2019t been able to catch much live news from the US, I may have  missed reactions to this, but as far as I can tell I haven\u2019t seen any \u2013 & certainly not on any of our favorite poetry blogs (where right now we seem to have a bunch of silly one-upmanship re who the 5 best film directors are, given the recent death of Bergman & Antonioni). At any rate, the piece below comes to me via an email from Marilyn Hacker:<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.globalresearch.ca\/index.php?context=va&aid=6377\">Read it and weep<\/a>.  \u2014<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<blockquote><p>*Bush Executive Order: Criminalizing the Antiwar Movement*<\/p>\n<p>*by Michel Chossudovsky, Global Research, 20 July 2007*<\/p>\n<p>*The Executive Order entitled \u201cBlocking Property of Certain Persons Who<br \/>Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq\u201d provides the President with the<br \/>authority to confiscate the assets of whoever opposes the US led war. *<\/p>\n<p>A presidential Executive Order issued on July 17th, repeals with the stroke<br \/>of a pen *the right to dissent* and to oppose the Pentagon\u2019s military<br \/>agenda in Iraq.<\/p>\n<p>The Executive Order entitled *\u201dBlocking Property of Certain Persons Who<br \/>Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq*\u201d provides the President with the<br \/>authority to confiscate the assets of  \u201ccertain persons\u201d who oppose the US<br \/>led war in Iraq:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have issued an Executive Order blocking property of persons determined to<br \/>have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts<br \/>of violence that have the purpose or effect of threatening the peace or<br \/>stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq or undermining efforts to<br \/>promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide<br \/>humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In substance, under this executive order, opposing the war becomes an<br \/>illegal act.<\/p>\n<p>The Executive Order criminalizes the antiwar movement. It is intended to<br \/>\u201cblocking property\u201d of  US citizens and organizations actively involved in<br \/>the peace movement. It allows the Department of Defense to interfere in<br \/>financial affairs and instruct the Treasury to \u201cblock the property\u201d and\/or<br \/>confiscate\/ freeze the assets of \u201cCertain Persons\u201d involved in antiwar<br \/>activities. It targets those \u201cCertain Persons\u201d in America, including civil<br \/>society organizatioins, who oppose the Bush Administration\u2019s \u201cpeace and<br \/>stability\u201d program in Iraq, characterized, in plain English, by an illegal<br \/>occupation and the continued killing of innocent civilians.<br \/>The Executive Order also targets those \u201cCertain Persons\u201d who are<br \/>\u201cundermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction\u201d, or who, again in<br \/>plain English, are opposed to the confiscation and privatization of  Iraq\u2019s<br \/>oil resources, on behalf of the Anglo-American oil giants.<\/p>\n<p>The order is also intended for anybody who opposes Bush\u2019s program of<br \/>\u201cpolitical reform in Iraq\u201d, in other words, who questions the legitimacy of<br \/>an Iraqi \u201cgovernment\u201d installed by the occupation forces.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, those persons or nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), who provide<br \/>bona fide humanitarian aid to Iraqi civilians, and who are not approved by<br \/>the US Military or its lackeys in the US sponsored Iraqi puppet government<br \/>are also liable to have their financial assets confiscated.<\/p>\n<p>The executive order violates the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments of the<br \/>US Constitution. It repeals one of the fundamental tenets of US democracy,<br \/>which is the right to free expression and dissent. The order has not been<br \/>the object of discussion in the US Congress. Sofar, it has not<br \/>been addressed  by the US antiwar movement, in terms of a formal statement.<\/p>\n<p>Apart from a bland Associated Press wire report, which presents the<br \/>executive order as \u201can authority to use financial sanctions\u201d, there has been<br \/>no media coverage or commentary of a presidential decision which strikes at<br \/>the heart of the US Constitution..<\/p>\n<p>*Broader implications*<\/p>\n<p>The criminalization of the State is when the sitting President and Vice<br \/>President use and abuse their authority through executive orders,<br \/>presidential directives or otherwise  to define \u201cwho are the criminals\u201d when<br \/>in fact they they are the criminals.<\/p>\n<p>This latest executive order criminalizes the peace movement. It must be<br \/>viewed in relation to various pieces of \u201canti-terrorist\u201d legislation, the<br \/>gamut of presidential and national security directives, etc., which are<br \/>ultimately geared towards repealing constitutional government and installing<br \/>martial law in the event of a \u201cnational emergency\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The war criminals in high office are intent upon repressing all forms of<br \/>dissent which question the legitimacy of the war in Iraq.<\/p>\n<p>The executive order combined with the existing anti-terrorist legislation is<br \/>eventually intended to be used against the anti-war and civil rights<br \/>movements. It can be used to seize the assets of antiwar groups in America<br \/>as well as block the property and activities of non-governmental<br \/>humanitarian organizations providing relief in Iraq, seizing the assets of<br \/>alternative media involved in a reporting the truth regarding the US-led<br \/>war, etc.<\/p>\n<p>In May 2007, Bush issued a major presidential National Security Directive<br \/>(National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive NSPD 51\/HSPD<br \/>20), which would suspend constitutional government and instate broad<br \/>dictatorial powers under martial law in the case of a \u201cCatastrophic<br \/>Emergency\u201d ( e.g. Second 9\/11 terrorist attack).<\/p>\n<p>On July 11, 2007 the CIA published its \u201cNational Intelligence Estimate\u201d<br \/>which pointed to an imminent Al Qaeda attack on America, a second 9\/11<br \/>which, according to the terms of NSPD 51, would immediately be followed by<br \/>the suspension of constitutional government and the instatement of martial<br \/>law under the authority of the president and the vice-president. (For<br \/>further details, see Michel Chossudovsky, Bush Directive for a \u201cCatastrophic<br \/>Emergency\u201d in America: Building a Justification for Waging War on Iran?<br \/><http: ca=\"\" context=\"va&aid=6134\">  June 2007)<\/p>\n<p>NSPD 51 grants unprecedented powers to the Presidency and the Department of<br \/>Homeland Security, overriding the foundations of Constitutional government.<br \/>It allows the sitting president to declare a \u201cnational emergency\u201d without<br \/>Congressional approval. The implementation of NSPD 51 would lead to the de<br \/>facto closing down of the Legislature and the militarization of justice and<br \/>law enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>*\u201dThe President shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for<br \/>ensuring constitutional government\u2026.\u201d<br \/>*<br \/>Were NSPD 51 to be invoked,  Vice President Dick Cheney, who constitutes the<br \/>real power behind the Executive, would essentially assume de facto<br \/>dictatorial powers, circumventing both the US Congress and the Judiciary,<br \/>while continuing to use President George W. Bush as a proxy figurehead.<\/p>\n<p>NSPD 51, while bypassing the Constitution, nonetheless, envisages very<br \/>precise procedures which guarantee the powers of Vice President Dick Cheney<br \/>in relation to \u201cContinuity of Goverment\u201d functions under Martial Law:<\/p>\n<p>\u201c*This directive shall be implemented in a manner that is consistent with,<br \/>and facilitates effective implementation of, provisions of the<br \/>Constitution concerning succession to the Presidency or the exercise of its<br \/>powers, and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (3 U.S.C. 19),<br \/>\n with<br \/>consultation of the Vice President and, as appropriate, others involved.<br \/>Heads of executive departments and agencies shall ensure that appropriate<br \/>support is available to the Vice President and others involved as necessary<br \/>to be prepared at all times to implement those provisions.\u201d ( *NSPD 51, op<br \/>cit.)<\/p>\n<p>The executive order to confiscate the assets of antiwar\/peace activists is<br \/>broadly consistent with NSPD 51. It could be triggered even in the absence<br \/>of a \u201cCatastrophic emergency\u201d as envisaged under NSPD 51. It repeals<br \/>democracy. It goes one step further in \u201ccriminalizing\u201d all forms of<br \/>opposition and dissent. to the US led war and \u201cHomeland Security\u201d agenda.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n<p>*ANNEX *<\/p>\n<p>*TEXT OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER*<\/p>\n<p>*July 17, 2007*<\/p>\n<p>*Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten<br \/>Stabilization Efforts in<br \/>Iraq<><br \/>*<\/p>\n<p>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws<br \/>of the United States of America, including the International Emergency<br \/>Economic Powers Act, as amended (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)(IEEPA), the<br \/>National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)(NEA), and section 301 of<br \/>title 3, United States Code,<\/p>\n<p>I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, find that, due<br \/>to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign<br \/>policy of the United States posed by acts of violence threatening the peace<br \/>and stability of Iraq and undermining efforts to promote economic<br \/>reconstruction and political reform in Iraq and to provide humanitarian<br \/>assistance to the Iraqi people, it is in the interests of the United States<br \/>to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in<br \/>Executive Order 13303 of May 22, 2003, and expanded in Executive Order 13315<br \/>of August 28, 2003, and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive<br \/>Order 13350 of July 29, 2004, and Executive Order 13364 of November 29,<br \/>2004. I hereby order:<\/p>\n<p>Section 1. (a) Except to the extent provided in section 203(b)(1), (3), and<br \/>(4) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(1), (3), and (4)), or in regulations,<br \/>orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order,<br \/>and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit<br \/>granted prior to the date of this order, all property and interests in<br \/>property of the following persons, that are in the United States, that<br \/>hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come<br \/>within the possession or control of United States persons, are blocked and<br \/>may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in:<br \/>any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with<br \/>the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense,<\/p>\n<p>(i) to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act<br \/>or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of:<\/p>\n<p>(A) threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq; or<\/p>\n<p>(B) undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political<br \/>reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people;<\/p>\n<p>(ii) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial,<br \/>material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in<br \/>support of, such an act or acts of violence or any person whose property and<br \/>interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or<\/p>\n<p>(iii) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for<br \/>or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and<br \/>interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.<\/p>\n<p>(b) The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section include, but are not<br \/>limited to, (i) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods,<br \/>or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and<br \/>interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order, and (ii) the<br \/>receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from<br \/>any such person.<\/p>\n<p>Sec. 2. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the United<br \/>States that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or<br \/>attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is<br \/>prohibited.<\/p>\n<p>(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in<br \/>this order is prohibited.<\/p>\n<p>Sec. 3. For purposes of this order:<\/p>\n<p>(a) the term \u201cperson\u201d means an individual or entity;<\/p>\n<p>(b) the term \u201centity\u201d means a partnership, association, trust, joint<br \/>venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization; and<\/p>\n<p>(c) the term \u201cUnited States person\u201d means any United States citizen,<br \/>permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United<br \/>States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign<br \/>branches), or any person in the United States.<\/p>\n<p>Sec. 4. I hereby determine that the making of donations of the type<br \/>specified in section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) by, to, or<br \/>for the benefit of, any person whose property and interests in property are<br \/>blocked pursuant to this order would seriously impair my ability to deal<br \/>with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 and expanded<br \/>in Executive Order 13315, and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided<br \/>by section 1 of this order.<\/p>\n<p>Sec. 5. For those persons whose property and interests in property are<br \/>blocked pursuant to this order who might have a constitutional presence in<br \/>the United States, I find that, because of the ability to transfer funds or<br \/>other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be<br \/>taken pursuant to this order would render these measures ineffectual. I<br \/>therefore determine that for these measures to be effective in addressing<br \/>the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 and expanded in<br \/>Executive Order 13315, there need be no prior notice of a listing or<br \/>determination made pursuant to section 1(a) of this order.<\/p>\n<p>Sec. 6. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of<br \/>State and the Secretary of Defense, is hereby authorized to take such<br \/>actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ<br \/>all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry<br \/>out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate<br \/>any of these functions to other officers and agencies of the United States<br \/>Government, consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United<br \/>States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures<br \/>within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order and, where<br \/>appropriate, to advise the Secretary of the Treasury in a timely manner of<br \/>the measures taken.<\/p>\n<p>Sec. 7. Nothing in this order is intended to affect the continued<br \/>effectiveness of any rules, regulations, orders, licenses, or other forms of<br \/>administrative action issued, taken, or continued in effect heretofore or<br \/>hereafter under 31 C.F.R. chapter V, except as expressly terminated,<br \/>modified, or suspended by or pursuant to this order.<\/p>\n<p>Sec. 8. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right,<br \/>benefit, or privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in<br \/>equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies,<br \/>instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or any other<br \/>person.<\/p>\n<p>*GEORGE W. BUSH*<\/p>\n<p>*THE WHITE HOUSE,*<\/p>\n<p>*July 17, 2007.*<br \/>\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Below is the text of the Message to the<br \/>\n Congress of the United States<br \/>Regarding International Emergency Economic Powers Act<br \/><><\/p>\n<p>[There has been no response by the US congress or commentary by individual<br \/>Senators or Representatives.]<\/p>\n<p>*Office of the Press Secretary July 17, 2007*<\/p>\n<p>*Message to the Congress of the United States Regarding International<br \/>Emergency Economic Powers Act*<\/p>\n<p>*White House News*<\/p>\n<p>*Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten<br \/>Stabilization Efforts in Iraq*<\/p>\n<p>Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, as amended (50<br \/>U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)(IEEPA), I hereby report that I have issued an Executive<br \/>Order blocking property of persons determined to have committed, or to pose<br \/>a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the<br \/>purpose or effect of threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the<br \/>Government of Iraq or undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction<br \/>and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the<br \/>Iraqi people.<\/p>\n<p>I issued this order to take additional steps with respect to the national<br \/>emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 of May 22, 2003, and expanded in<br \/>Executive Order 13315 of August 28, 2003, and relied upon for additional<br \/>steps taken in Executive Order 13350 of July 29, 2004, and Executive Order<br \/>13364 of November 29, 2004.<\/p>\n<p>In these previous Executive Orders, I ordered various measures to address<br \/>the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign<br \/>policy of the United States posed by obstacles to the orderly reconstruction<br \/>of Iraq, the restoration and maintenance of peace and security in that<br \/>country, and the development of political, administrative, and economic<br \/>institutions in Iraq.<\/p>\n<p>My new order takes additional steps with respect to the national emergency<br \/>declared in Executive Order 13303 and expanded in Executive Order 13315 by<br \/>blocking the property and interests in property of persons determined by the<br \/>Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and<br \/>the Secretary of Defense, to have committed, or to pose a significant risk<br \/>of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of<br \/>threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq or<br \/>undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform<br \/>in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people.<\/p>\n<p>The order further authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation<br \/>with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, to designate for<br \/>blocking those persons determined to have materially assisted, sponsored, or<br \/>provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods<br \/>or services in support of, such an act or acts of violence or any person<br \/>designated pursuant to this order, or to be owned or controlled by, or to<br \/>have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly,<br \/>any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to<br \/>this order.<\/p>\n<p>I delegated to the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the<br \/>Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, the authority to take such<br \/>actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ<br \/>all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry<br \/>out the purposes of my order. I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I<br \/>have issued.<\/p>\n<p>*GEORGE W. BUSH*<\/p>\n<p>*The White House,*<\/p>\n<p>*July 17, 2007*<\/p>\n<p>\u2014\u2013 End forwarded message \u2014\u2013<\/p>\n<p>http:\/\/www.globalresearch.ca\/index.php?context=va&aid=6377<\/p>\n<p>Bush Executive Order: Criminalizing the Antiwar Movement<\/p>\n<p>by Michel Chossudovsky, Global Research, 20 July 2007<\/p>\n<p>The Executive Order entitled \u201cBlocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq\u201d provides the President with the authority to confiscate the assets of whoever opposes the US led war.<br \/>A presidential Executive Order issued on July 17th, repeals with the stroke of a pen the right to dissent and to oppose the Pentagon\u2019s military agenda in Iraq.<\/p>\n<p>The Executive Order entitled \u201cBlocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq\u201d provides the President with the authority to confiscate the assets of  \u201ccertain persons\u201d who oppose the US led war in Iraq:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In substance, under this executive order, opposing the war becomes an illegal act.<\/p>\n<p>The Executive Order criminalizes the antiwar movement. It is intended to  \u201cblocking property\u201d 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 \u201cblock the property\u201d and\/or confiscate\/ freeze the assets of \u201cCertain Persons\u201d involved in antiwar activities. It targets those \u201cCertain Persons\u201d in America, including civil society organizatioins, who oppose the Bush Administration\u2019s \u201cpeace and stability\u201d program in Iraq, characterized, in plain English, by an illegal occupation and the continued killing of innocent civilians.<\/p>\n<p>The Executive Order also targets those \u201cCertain Persons\u201d who are \u201cundermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction\u201d, or who, again in plain English, are opposed to the confiscation and privatization of  Iraq\u2019s oil resources, on behalf of the Anglo-American oil giants.<\/p>\n<p>The order is also intended for anybody who opposes Bush\u2019s program of  \u201cpolitical reform in Iraq\u201d, in other words, who questions the legitimacy of an Iraqi \u201cgovernment\u201d installed by the occupation forces.<br \/>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. <\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Apart from a bland Associated Press wire report, which presents the executive order as \u201can authority to use financial sanctions\u201d, there has been no media coverage or commentary of a presidential decision which strikes at the heart of the US Constitution..<\/p>\n<p>Broader implications<\/p>\n<p>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 \u201cwho are the criminals\u201d when in fact they they are the criminals. <\/p>\n<p>This latest executive order criminalizes the peace movement. It must be viewed in relation to various pieces of \u201canti-terrorist\u201d 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 \u201cnational emergency\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The war criminals in high office are intent upon repressing all forms of dissent which question the legitimacy of the war in Iraq.<\/p>\n<p>The executive order combined<br \/>\n 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.<\/p>\n<p>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 \u201cCatastrophic Emergency\u201d ( e.g. Second 9\/11 terrorist attack).<\/p>\n<p>On July 11, 2007 the CIA published its \u201cNational Intelligence Estimate\u201d 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 \u201cCatastrophic Emergency\u201d in America: Building a Justification for Waging War on Iran?   June 2007)<\/p>\n<p>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 \u201cnational emergency\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe President shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for ensuring constitutional government\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>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. <\/p>\n<p>NSPD 51, while bypassing the Constitution, nonetheless, envisages very precise procedures which guarantee the powers of Vice President Dick Cheney in relation to \u201cContinuity of Goverment\u201d functions under Martial Law:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis 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.\u201d ( NSPD 51, op cit.)<\/p>\n<p>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 \u201cCatastrophic emergency\u201d as envisaged under NSPD 51. It repeals democracy. It goes one step further in \u201ccriminalizing\u201d all forms of opposition and dissent. to the US led war and \u201cHomeland Security\u201d agenda.<\/p>\n<p>ANNEX<\/p>\n<p>TEXT OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER<\/p>\n<p>July 17, 2007<\/p>\n<p>Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq<\/p>\n<p>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,<\/p>\n<p>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:<\/p>\n<p>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,<\/p>\n<p>(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:<\/p>\n<p>(A) threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq; or<\/p>\n<p>(B) undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people;<\/p>\n<p>(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<\/p>\n<p>(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.<\/p>\n<p>(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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.<\/p>\n<p>Sec. 3. For purposes of this order:<\/p>\n<p>(a) the term \u201cperson\u201d means an individual or entity;<\/p>\n<p>(b) the term \u201centity\u201d means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization; and<\/p>\n<p>(c) the term \u201cUnited States person\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Sec. 5. For those persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this or<br \/>\nder 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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>GEORGE W. BUSH<\/p>\n<p>THE WHITE HOUSE,<\/p>\n<p>July 17, 2007.<\/http:><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><http: ca=\"\" context=\"va&aid=6134\"><\/p>\n<p>Below is the text of the Message to the Congress of the United States Regarding International Emergency Economic Powers Act<\/p>\n<p>[There has been no response by the US congress or commentary by individual Senators or Representatives.]<\/p>\n<p>Office of the Press Secretary July 17, 2007<\/p>\n<p>Message to the Congress of the United States Regarding International Emergency Economic Powers Act<\/p>\n<p>White House News<\/p>\n<p>Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>GEORGE W. BUSH<\/p>\n<p>The White House,<\/p>\n<p>July 17, 2007<\/p>\n<p><\/http:><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I did want to write about something else as I resume blogging here in the Pyrenees after a two week absence &#038; despite a very shaky modem connection, but this piece of info from&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pierrejoris.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pierrejoris.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pierrejoris.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pierrejoris.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pierrejoris.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=417"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pierrejoris.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/417\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pierrejoris.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pierrejoris.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pierrejoris.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}