Obama declares national state of emergency over Libya

Foreign Policy ^ | 2/25/2011 | Josh Rogin

[FromLori]

President Obama issued an executive order Friday evening that imposes immediate sanctions on Libyan ruler Muammar al Qaddafi, his sons and his accomplices in the slaughter of civilians. In a letter accompanying the order, Obama declared a national emergency over the situation.

"I have determined that the actions of Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, his government, and close associates, including extreme measures against the people of Libya, constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. The order declares a national emergency to deal with this threat," Obama wrote in the letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH).

The executive order itself condemns the "wanton violence against unarmed associates" perpetrated by Qaddafi, his sons, his government, and his close associates. Effective immediately, all U.S.-based assets of Qaddafi and his four sons are to be frozen and transactions intended to move those assets are prohibited. The order allows the measures to be expanded to include any member of the Libyan government who are determined to be complicit in Qaddafi's brutality.

In a personal statement issued by the White House at the same time as the order, Obama referenced what he called the Libyan government's continued violation of human rights, brutalization of its people, and outrageous threats.

"By any measure, Muammar el-Qaddafi's government has violated international norms and common decency and must be held accountable," the statement read. "We will stand steadfastly with the Libyan people in their demand for universal rights, and a government that is responsive to their aspirations. Their human dignity cannot be denied."

[silverleaf]

In PA it was the license plate FRiend
I remember renting cars for my wedding party and making sure we had enough even and odd license plates to get everyone around

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_454893.html

[concerned about politics]

I get the sense that he’s doing something illegal here, under the guise of national emergency.

He's notifying the Republicans (because he doesn't care about foreign matters)- He's preparing to take over here. He's already neutered the house and senate (czars), and the court (lawlessness).
He's trying to rally the unions to violence. If he can get that, "for our own good", the top will have to come down - with great force and power - to "save us."

The left creates a crises (real or imagined). People then cry out for a savior. The left, who already has the socialist/communist "remedy", will come in to save us from the very chaos they created. "Never waste a good (created) crises."
This is how they've gotten as far as they have today.

They tried to incite the TEA party to violence, but it didn't work. Nancy Pelosi was even trembling when she said she hadn't seen such violence like that of the TEA party since the protests of her youth. Since they couldn't get the right to be the source of the meltdown, they're going to use the left anyway. Their time is growing short. They're willing to sacrifice a few unwashed union members for the sake of the revolution.

Do NOT get drawn into it. Self restraint is very, very important right now. No crises = no socialist revolution!

[Marty62]

Here is a copy of the Letter. It looks like they are using the Economic Act to level sanctions: THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release February 25, 2011 TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE February 25, 2011 Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:) Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order (the "order") that takes steps with respect to the situation in Libya. I have determined that the actions of Colonel Muammar Qadhafi,his government, and close associates, including extreme measures against the people of Libya, constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. The order declares a national emergency to deal with this threat. The order blocks the property and interests in property of persons listed in the Annex to the order, who I have determined meet the first or second of the six criteria set forth below. The order also provides criteria for designations of persons determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:  to be a senior official of the Government of Libya;  to be a child of Colonel Muammar Qadhafi;  to be responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, or to have participated in, the commission of human rights abuses related to political repression in Libya;  to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of the activities described above or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the order;  to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the order; or  to be a spouse or dependent child of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the order. In addition, the order blocks the property and interests in property of the Government of Libya. 2 I have delegated to the Secretary of the Treasury the authority, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the order. All executive agencies of the United States Government are directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of the order. Additionally, the Secretary of State is suspending all existing licenses and other approvals for the export of defense articles and services to Libya. The order, a copy of which is enclosed, became effective at 8:00 p.m. eastern standard time on February 25, 2011. Sincerely, BARACK OBAMA # # #

[Fred]

All bark and no bite...just throwing out raw meat for those clinging to their guns and bibles....

[DoughtyOne]

The Muslim Brotherhood (worth checking out)

Food for thought... (wikipedia)

I know Wikipedia entries can be suspect. This material doesn’t seem to be gamed. In places it states MB stated policy, but seems to voice skepticism at the same time.

You’ll find individual descriptions of the MB in specific nations at the bottom.

I believe this is an entry worth checking out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_Brotherhood

[concerned about politics]

“The order declares a national emergency” See how easy it is to declare “Martial Law” if he feels it’s necessary?

Not only is the left here trying to incite the U.S. unions to violence, they're the ones who stared the unrest in Egypt that started this whole "oil crises" we're facing now.
In order to create a socialist society, the society in existence has to be destroyed first. Once destroyed, the people will cry out for a savior. Be he God or the devil, the people will accept him, and the new society can be rebuilt in the "saviors" own image.

[Marty62]

Apparently Bush used this extensively after 9-11.
The big difference is the motives. Bush was interested in the well being of Americans.

Obama craves power, would not hesitate to use AGAINST Americans.

[Liberty Valance]

bttt

[concerned about politics]

Obama craves power, would not hesitate to use AGAINST Americans.

Look at what he's accomplished so far.
He wasted a trillion dollars on his "special interests."
He drove the deficit to unsustainable levels.
He's neutered the house and senate through czar authority.
He's ignoring the courts and the law.
States are in bankruptcy status.
Millions have lost their homes.
Unemployment is at @20%.
His union armies are starting to spam the nation in the name of social justice.
Government officials are engaging in lawlessness and denying the states their right to democracy.
His activist groups have set the middle east on fire, and the cost of oil is about to destroy what little there is left.

What will people do in the near future? They'll either go crazy and Oboma will have no choice but to declare marshal law and become dictator for life, or the system will crash so hard Oboma will have no choice but to declare marshal law and become dictator for life. Either way, Oboma is in a win win situation, and it was all created. Never waste a good created crises!

And he did it all in less than two years. "He destroyed wonderfully."

[PghBaldy]

THANK YOU! I knew there was a reason.

[stormer]

Many here are apparently unaware that the United States has been under a state of emergency since September 14, 2001. The SOE in regards to Libya probably has more to do with economics and the relationship between the Libyans and US companies doing business there than anything else...

[ozzymandus]

Was this before or after Motown night at the Whitey House?

[353FMG]

>Qadaffi is now a real and present danger to the US?<

.
Not so, obammy is the real danger.

[fightinJAG]

Boxer ARG, 13th MEU leave on deployment

[fightinJAG]

On Drudge now.

[LuvFreeRepublic]

“Hopeless”. For sure we are almost there.

[Library Lady]

The cost of gas went up 17 cents while we were pumping gas on Wednesday.

[Marty62]

Your post succinctly list the situation we are in with this Administration. Using the ECONOMIC National Emergency powers is where I think the REAL danger lies. Your list is repleat with Economic problems of Republic destroying size. IF the States begin declaring bankrupcy, would Zero attempt to fold ALL state powers under the umbrella of the FED? We are in a minefield right now. One false move and the commie/fascist/socialist/marxist/progressive/Dummies will pull off a win in 2012. We must have a strong Constitution oriented Presidential Candidate. I keep praying that SOMEONE will have the courage to stand up to this nightmare and rally the people to send them back under the rocks from which they crawled.

[DrC]

“Apparently Bush used this extensively after 9-11.”

FWIW, we’ve BEEN in a national state of emergency ever since 9-11. Last September, Obama announced that it would continue for another year, i.e., until this coming September.

I believe the rationale for a new state of emergency is that each declaration has to specify what statutory authorities the president is invoking under his emergency powers that couldn’t be done without such a declaration (e.g., having Treasury seize assets etc.).

I don’t support or like Obama, but the reality is that if he’d want to abuse his powers under a state of emergency, the opportunity has been there ever since he took office. So we might want to dial down the rhetoric a bit over this newest move.