[NYTr] Bush Executive Order: Criminalizing the Antiwar Movement

[nytr at olm.blythe-systems.com]

Global Research - Jul 20, 2007
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=6377

Bush Executive Order: Criminalizing the Antiwar Movement

by Prof. Michel Chossudovsky

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 organizatioins, 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 
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, 
<http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=6134>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.
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