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Against Ukraine War? Obama May Seize Your Assets

By Daniel McAdams | Ron Paul Institute | March 14, 2014

Do you, like 56 percent of the US population, believe that the US should “not get too involved” in the Ukraine situation? Do you think that the US administration putting us on a war footing with Russia is a bad idea? Are you concerned that the new, US-backed leaders of Ukraine — not being elected — might lack democratic legitimacy? Are you tempted to speak out against US policy in Ukraine; are you tempted to criticize the new Ukrainian regime?

Be careful what you say. Be careful what you write. President Obama has just given himself the authority to seize your assets.

According to the president’s recent Executive Order, “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Ukraine”, the provisions for seizure of property extend to “any United States person.” That 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.”

Declaring a “national emergency” over the planned referendum in Crimea to determine whether or not to join Russia, the US president asserts that asset seizure is possible for any US person “determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State”:

(i) to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have engaged in, directly or indirectly, any of the following:

(A) actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions in Ukraine;

(B) actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine; or

(C) misappropriation of state assets of Ukraine or of an economically significant entity in Ukraine;

The Executive Order is, as usual, so broadly written that it leaves nearly everything open to interpretation.

For example, what are “direct or indirect…actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine”? Could that be someone writing an article that takes issue with the US policy that the Crimea referendum is illegal and illegitimate? Could it be standing up in a public meeting and expressing the view that Ukraine would be better off with nationwide referenda to determine whether other regions should become autonomous or joined to neighboring countries? What if a Polish-American appears on a radio or television program suggesting that parts of Poland incorporated into Ukraine after WWII should be returned to Polish authority?

Probably the president will not seize the assets of Americans in the scenarios above. But he says he can.

As the US government moves ever-closer to war with Russia, it is reasonable to expect these attempts to squash dissent and to remove “threats” to the administration’s position. The historical pattern is clear.

Recall Eugene V. Debs sentenced to ten years in prison for his opposition to US involvement in WWI. Recall Japanese-Americans interned in camps during WWII because their loyalty to the United States was deemed suspect.

The stage is being set to silence dissent. It sounds alarmist to read this, agreed.

Probably the president will not use his Executive Order to seize the assets of Americans who disagree with his Ukraine policy. But he says he can.

March 15, 2014 - Posted by | Civil Liberties, Full Spectrum Dominance, Militarism, Progressive Hypocrite | , , , , ,

2 Comments »

  1. Obama as with all past presidents, does not have constitutional power to suspend the constitution, which a state of national emergency a cover for.

    What should be taking place is a total revolt by the congress, the courts, the troops, and all thoughtful people, by speaking out irrespective of who dislikes the content and fervor in which it is articulated.

    Impeachment is a slow process, but it must be initiated by public demand, congressional representation, and the US Senate making good on the oath of office, to defend and protect the US Constitution. It is the constitutional responsibility to impeach period.

    To awaken the politicians to the necessity of this constitutional action and responsibility, it is necessary to confront the issue in any and every public forum! From the classroom to the bar, gym, birthday parties, and at work.

    With 56% of the American public opinion opposed to the imperialistic aggression aimed at Russia, which constitutes an act of aggression against the world, for world war 3 could bring about the certain deaths of billions of people and with nuclear power plants targeted, “the end of the world” would necessarily follow in a matter of days or weeks, not years or decades!

    Like

    puredemocracyrevolution's avatar Comment by puredemocracyrevolution | March 16, 2014 | Reply

  2. Impeaching this president is a joke instituted by the lunacy wing of the republican party. My research on the matter showed where Pierre Omidyar, owner of eBay had sent money to support the rebels overthrow a legitimate government, but USA had a hand in that as well. Seems hypocritical to me for the President to do this, but I suspect he is saving face with the leaders of our allies. Supporting democracy in another country would be more helpful if you were a shiny example of it in this country, but we are not. We are really an Oligarchy and each election cycle only gets worse. Running around in foreign countries spouting democracy is a joke when you consider the approval rating for Congress is 14%. Ukraine’s government had a 24% approval rating!

    Stop and ponder that for a moment.

    Our government needs to represent the will of the people, and lose the corporate fascists who have control of the government. The regulatory bodies are a joke and the American people still believe there exists a burden of government on business. Look at our food and pharma systems. Our financial system. Our communications, media, etc. are all a joke at the federal level as the same folks who serve politicians are inside executives and vice versa, the revolving door is ridiculous. Lobbyists, public relations, defense contractors. It’s all about power, influence and money.

    Our economic system has infiltrated our political system creating this winner and loser polarity. Capitalists and the politicians it buys, are using our political system to inflict us with religion and hurt us with austerity. Instead of government serving the masses and making their lives better, it’s locked in with the selfish and greedy bastards at the top. This is the antithesis of a democracy – it’s a disease.

    And, we are spreading the disease around the world.

    Like

    Todd Smekens's avatar Comment by Todd Smekens | March 16, 2014 | Reply


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