Treasury Secretary can now confiscate your property.

I mentioned this in an earlier post, but take a look at the details of this new attack on your rights by Bush.

Executive Order issued by Bush 7/17/07


The order will block the use of "/all property and interests in property" /(including bank accounts?) of the following persons,

1. /"any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense,"/to have committed violence to destabilize Iraq. That means no trial, no hearing, just three cabinet members consult, and one makes the decision. If this is not unconstitutional it ought to be.

2. Further, the order promises the same punishment for any person giving aid to someone whose property has been taken. This includes anyone found by the Secretary of the Treasury
/ "to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order." / Does this include speaking on behalf of a such a person? Or writing in a blog in favor of such a person?

3. Additionally the order will block the funds and property of those who provide the following to persons whose property is blocked. / "(i) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order, and (ii) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person."/ This seems to include anyone, even a relative, who in any way helps out the person whose property is blocked. That would include providing living space, food, living expenses, and may even include under the term "provision" anyone who sells goods or services to a person who is blocked. Would "services" also include advocating on that person's behalf. Would a lawyer not be permitted to represent the person? It seems also to include anyone who accepts a gift from such a person.

The order seems designed to make homeless paupers out of anyone whom the Secretary of the Treasury -- an unelected official -- deems to be a threat to Iraq's "stability." And that's whether violence is involved or not. And it is aimed also those who help that person, not in planning the violence, but after the person's property has been blocked.

Another step on the road to dictatorship.

Bush claims dictatorial powers,

Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq

This order permits the seizure of all property belonging to anyone suspected of "threat[ening] stabilization efforts in Iraq.
Anyone, including citizens of the US, can be deprived of property without benefit of any legal process or appeal. Only the word of the President is enough to put it into effect.

Together with the declaration today that the Executive Branch cannot be brought to court by the D.C. prosecutor, constitutes complete dictatorial power, now claimed by Bush.


One former Reagan official says "something is in the works."

He notes that the Dems are going to wait Bush out till the election:

However, Roberts emphasized, "the problem with this reasoning is that it assumes that Cheney and Rove and the Republicans are ignorant of these facts, or it assumes that they are content for the Republican Party to be destroyed after Bush has his fling." Roberts believes instead that Cheney and Rove intend to use a renewal of the War on Terror to rally the American people around the Republican Party. "Something's in the works," he said, adding that the Executive Orders need to create a police state are already in place.

"Something is in the works." If not an attack on Iran, what else? Another 9/11?

UPDATE: It occurs to me that now Hillary Clinton might be subject to this order, since the Pentagon yesterday accused her of "reinforc[ing] enemy propaganda" for asking questions about our plans for withdrawal from Iraq.