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Friday 10 August 2007

"Due to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security ... of the United States"

Bush has enacted two new executive orders that allow the US govt to freeze the funds of anyone who opposes 'democracy' in Iraq and Lebanon (August 1, 2007) and blocking the entry of many Lebanese into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants (June 28, 2007).

This is the 279-page PDF document showing who has his assets frozen and who is blocked (August 7, 2007). "Although the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees that "No person shall ... be deprived of ... property, without due process of law," on July 17 President Bush issued an executive order authorizing the Treasury department to seize any and all property belonging to individuals who "pose a significant risk" of committing violent acts that undermine the "peace or stability" of Iraq. The action does not require congressional approval.

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow
clarified in a press briefing that the intent is to target "terrorists and insurgent groups," but the American Civil Liberties Union protested that the executive order "posed risks for residents of the United States." Michael Chossudovsky, professor of economics at the University of Ottawa, argued that the executive order in effect criminalized mere opposition to the war."
Did Bush Repeal the Fifth Amendment? More...