Why Does Interpol Need Immunity from American Law? [Andy McCarthy]

National Review ^ | December 23, 2009 | Andy McCarthy

[greyfoxx39]

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Why Does Interpol Need Immunity from American Law?   [Andy McCarthy]

You just can't make up how brazen this crowd is. One week ago, President Obama quietly signed an executive order that makes an international police force immune from the restraints of American law.

Interpol is the shorthand for the International Criminal Police Organization. It was established in 1923 and operates in about 188 countries. By executive order 12425, issued in 1983, President Reagan recognized Interpol as an international organization and gave it some of the privileges and immunities customarily extended to foreign diplomats. Interpol, however, is also an active law-enforcement agency, so critical privileges and immunities (set forth in Section 2(c) of the International Organizations Immunities Act) were withheld. Specifically, Interpol's property and assets remained subject to search and seizure, and its archived records remained subject to public scrutiny under provisions like the Freedom of Information Act. Being constrained by the Fourth Amendment, FOIA, and other limitations of the Constitution and federal law that protect the liberty and privacy of Americans is what prevents law-enforcement and its controlling government authority from becoming tyrannical.

On Wednesday, however, for no apparent reason, President Obama issued an executive order removing the Reagan limitations. That is, Interpol's property and assets are no longer subject to search and confiscation, and its archives are now considered inviolable. This international police force (whose U.S. headquarters is in the Justice Department in Washington) will be unrestrained by the U.S. Constitution and American law while it operates in the United States and affects both Americans and American interests outside the United States.

Interpol works closely with international tribunals (such as the International Criminal Court — which the United States has refused to join because of its sovereignty surrendering provisions, though top Obama officials want us in it). It also works closely with foreign courts and law-enforcement authorities (such as those in Europe that are investigating former Bush administration officials for purported war crimes — i.e., for actions taken in America's defense).

Why would we elevate an international police force above American law? Why would we immunize an international police force from the limitations that constrain the FBI and other American law-enforcement agencies? Why is it suddenly necessary to have, within the Justice Department, a repository for stashing government files which, therefore, will be beyond the ability of Congress, American law-enforcement, the media, and the American people to scrutinize?

Steve Schippert has more at ThreatsWatch, here.

12/23 07:59 AMShare

[corvus]

“Being constrained by the Fourth Amendment, FOIA, and other limitations of the Constitution and federal law that protect the liberty and privacy of Americans is what prevents law-enforcement and its controlling government authority from becoming tyrannical.”

Yes, this appears to have far reaching and worrisome implications. But it could be, to keep it simple, more Clintonian CYA. And that’d have to be my first guess.

[RightCenter]

If they catch any crooks or terrorists that our law enforcement agencies are too chickensh!# to pursue then I’m all for it.

[greyfoxx39]

If they catch any crooks or terrorists that our law enforcement agencies are too chickensh!# to pursue then I’m all for it.

Pardon my skepticism, but I hardly think that is the motive or the purpose behind this.

[huldah1776]

How will this army get organized?

[Travis McGee]

CW2 Ping

[norraad]

Well, we already are, and if we are "allowed", we could easy peasy "make the Taliban look like girl scouts", not only that, we'd eat their cookies.

[CodeToad]

“Interpol claims immunity “

Then American goes to court and claims they are not a member of the political corps of a nation but a law enforcement agency and cannot be held unaccountable.

[CodeToad]

“How will this army get organized?”

No need. A few million people taking out aggressors will have one hellova chilling affect on their activities.

[norraad]

"Party on , Garth."

[teenyelliott]

interpol ping

[DTogo]

How will this army get organized?

That's reminds me, I need to post a thread.

[Vendome]

Wolverines?

[wolfcreek]

Find a jpg or gif pix. Right click on picture and choose properties. Copy complete website. Paste to reply space and then use above formula. Example: http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb254/gahamm_photos/fashion.jpg Put on the back (don't forget the space between img and src) Here's the complete cheat sheet. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/757944/posts

[MrB]

It's not too hard - you find an image hosted on some site (ie, it comes up on your web browser when you go to the site), right click and get properties, get the URL, paste the URL in an img tag, thusly:
< img src="put the url here" />

and voila (voy La!)

[MrB]

How will it organize?

Oh, 2, 3, half a dozen, a dozen at a time.

You’re not “bubbaing up”?

[paul51]

after the last 12 months, this administration knows it is all talk and no fight and zero and the congress also know they can do whatever they want and expect the people to bend over and take it while they fax, phone and belly ache. Meanwhile, the leaders chuckle while they put on the charade for the ignorant tax payers and line their own pockets

[Shermy]

“My current theory is that Interpol has “the goods” on Obama”

Liberals think anything “global” is good. They use it rhetorically as verification of their own views.

[2ndDivisionVet]

What Good Can a Handgun Do Against An Army?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/2312894/posts

[stephenjohnbanker]

” Any agent authorized by a foreign or domestic government or quasi-governmental organization who is discovered operating contrary to the American Constitution or contrary to the Consitutional rights of any American citizen, will be summarily executed.

How’s that for a counter-balance? “

It is workin for ME!

[usurper]

I think it sounds like preparation for an all out military style assault on the citizenry.

I am not worried, I know enough people in the military to know they would never follow such an order and in all likelihood turn their guns on those who issued the illegal orders.