Bush once again reminds us of the freedoms we stand to lose to terrorism, by taking them away from us. It's a patriotic thing, really, since he's just giving a taste of what it would be like if the terrorists won, right?
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come within the possession or control of United States persons, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in: any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense,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
You would think that the United States, not Iraq, was being used as a launchpad of terrorism against the new government of Iraq based on this executive order. Given the fact that President Bush has made no discernible attack on the influence of Wahabi Islam, which is the motivating ideology for most of the terrorists, the President clearly does not deserve the benefit of the doubt. Even now, it is a known fact that Saudi Arabia is the biggest source of this trouble, period, yet nothing is being done about that.
There can be no mistaking the fact that this is just another blind power grab by the President. Not only is this not a war power, it is one that is completely prohibited by the fifth amendment, which prohibits the seizure of wealth without compensation outside of a court-imposed punishment. The only legitimate response from Congress, if they could get their hands out of the cookie jar long enough to care, would be to impeach both the President and the Vice President over this.
And as Radley Balko points out, if the President wants to get incensed about people who are undermining the stability of Iraq, he need only look to his own poor decisions. Most of the people who deserve the blame for letting the terrorism get out of hand are sitting in or politically connected to the White House.
There definitely needs to be a discernible attack on the influence of Wahabi Islam, the ideology of al-Qaida. Moderate Muslims and non-Muslims must work together against the Wahhabis who have no regard for non-Wahhabi lives.
I don't think anything can be done against Saudi without threatening the Bretton Woods treaty. This is why they are off the table as far as our invasions go. And as so many countries are now leaving the PetroDollar we cannot afford to debase it any further by attacking our only ally (as far as the PetroDollar goes)
I think you underestimate how much Saudi Arabia's royal family needs our government's support to stay in power. If we pulled our troops out of their country and stopped selling them weapon systems, they'd be screwed. Remember, these are people who can't even repair buses without imported German engineers being paid big bucks. Without our weapons, training and support, they'd lose their heads in an Islamic revolution.
I think you underestimate how much Saudi Arabia's royal family needs our government's support
As much as they need us, we need them. The requirement of Breton Woods to use US Dollars for oil has financed the US economy and war machine for 30 years. (guns and butter)
I think in Saudi we saw both weakness (domestically) and a position of strength as far as influence. This made them the ideal candidate for our treaty which allowed us to go off the gold standard completely while at the same time creating a worldwide demand for both our dollars and our debt, which our Gov could profit from.
In turn, of course, this has allowed for a tremendous dilution of our money (inflation) and the incredible growth of the various Governments, of which the Fed grew the most.
I hate reading legalese. I'm just so glad my parents gave me a KJV to read when I was younger, so that my brain can compute the passive voice easier.
That said, I wonder if this statute involves that pesky due process or are undermining Babylon because "we say so"?
I think the KJV was part of the reason that I couldn't believe. Seriously, it made the Gospel seem like an old english story to me.
Fair dues. But it's still the keystone to all English literature.
Well if the Washington Post is still in business tomorrow then we will know that that regulation is toothless.
Regulations are only as toothless as the willingness of a bureaucrat to get off his or her butt and enforce them. Once the State Fatwa(tm) comes down, the police will cheerfully enforce it at gun point without question.