19 July, 2007
King George: All Your Asset Belong To Us
King George has issued a new Executive Order that makes my blood run cold.
Nightshift, over at Shakesville writes a superb analysis of this chilling order, cutting through the legalese:
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Under this order, the Executive Branch can ’starve out’ a person by completely freezing their assets, without trial, without the need to present evidence, and without appeal. The Treasury Secretary has sole discretion to determine who is in violation of this order, in ‘consultation’ with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State. That last part is verbiage; Treasury has the power per this order. Even better, the Secretary of Treasury has the explicit authority to delegate this decision to any flunky or flunkies of his choice per Sec. 6. This order applies to all persons within the United States. If Treasury declares that a person is a ‘SIGNIFICANT RISK’ to commit violence in Iraq, or a ‘SIGNIFICANT RISK’ to support violence in Iraq in any way, or to have assisted in any way a person who is a ‘SIGNIFICANT RISK’ to do so, all their assets are to be immediately frozen.
It is a further violation of the order to make a donation to such a person whose assets have been frozen. (I was being literal when I said ’starve’ them. Such a person would have no legal means of acquiring food, clothing, or shelter. They couldn’t buy it with frozen assets, nor accept it as a gift, and stealing is already illegal.) [See here for the statute on which Bush relies to issue this order.]
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I recommend you go read Nightshift's post and the comment thread, unless you're already nearly suicidally-depressed by this clusterfuck of a government (this might set you right over the edge).
Let me emphasize a very important point here: THERE IS NO DUE PROCESS! Let's say King George or one of his court declares CodePink, by virtue of opposing the war on Iraq, threatens "the peace and stability of Iraq". All of CodePink's assets can be frozen, but it doesn't stop there. King George and the US Treasury can also freeze the assets of Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CodePink. King George and the US Treasury can go through the list of donors and freeze their assets. Let's say a friend of mine has donated to CodePink and has had his or her assets frozen and has lost his/her home and cannot buy anything to eat. I could have MY assets frozen if I gave them food or a gift card to a clothing store. Let me repeat: THERE IS NO DUE PROCESS! King George does NOT have to present evidence that CodePink (or I) are actually committing any acts that undermine the peace and stability of Iraq.
It occurs to me that, if King George and his court are able to access these frozen assets, it's a hell of a scam to continue to fund their war machine.
(UPDATE: Nightshift, in the comments thread at Shakesville, says that in theory, they cannot access the frozen assets to fund their war machine or anything else. But in reality, I don't put anything past these criminals.)
Confidential to Congress: Impeach. Them. NOW!
Labels: ITMFA, JesusBloodyChrist
~~ victoria on 8:02 PM ~~ 0 comments
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