Obama exempts INTERPOL from Constitution

[skidder]

Here is the latest Presidential order that Obama has signed off on. Read it and weep. It's "all" going down according to "plan"! This latest analysis from the Ron Paul forum. BTW, this organization just got special passports to enter any NATO country in the world without restriction.

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?p=2460296

"Hat tip to an ATS poster that found this EO item originally. This analysis is mine however. Yeah it's long but this is VERY Important!!! Please read, understand and SPREAD!)

Signed by Obama just 6 days ago.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-...ve-order-12425


Quote:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 1 of the International Organizations Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288), and in order to extend the appropriate privileges, exemptions, and immunities to the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), it is hereby ordered that Executive Order 12425 of June 16, 1983, as amended, is further amended by deleting from the first sentence the words "except those provided by Section 2(c), Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, and Section 6 of that Act" and the semicolon that immediately precedes them.

Here is the original EO12425, signed by Reagan in 1983:
http://www.answers.com/topic/executive-order-12425


Quote:

By virtue of the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and statutes of the United States, including Section 1 of the International Organizations Immunities Act (59 Stat. 669, 22 U.S.C. 288), it is hereby ordered that the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), in which the United States participates pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 263a, is hereby designated as a public international organization entitled to enjoy the privileges, exemptions and immunities conferred by the International Organizations Immunities Act; except those provided by Section 2(c), the portions of Section 2(d) and Section 3 relating to customs duties and federal internal-revenue importation taxes, Section 4, Section 5, and Section 6 of that Act. This designation is not intended to abridge in any respect the privileges, exemptions or immunities which such organization may have acquired or may acquire by international agreement or by Congressional action.

So Obama's Amendment turns Reagan's EO 12425 into:


Quote:

By virtue of the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and statutes of the United States, including Section 1 of the International Organizations Immunities Act (59 Stat. 669, 22 U.S.C. 288), it is hereby ordered that the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), in which the United States participates pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 263a, is hereby designated as a public international organization entitled to enjoy the privileges, exemptions and immunities conferred by the International Organizations Immunities Act. This designation is not intended to abridge in any respect the privileges, exemptions or immunities which such organization may have acquired or may acquire by international agreement or by Congressional action.

Wow, that's a lot of "except those provided by sections" deleted! So there's NO restrictions anymore? Keep reading....

Here's a link to Int'l Organizations Immunities Act:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/ht..._20_XVIII.html

Section 2(c) covers SEARCH AND SEIZURE! INTERPOL is now untouchable on US soil. Remember, the original EO excluded these exemptions! These exemptions now apply to INTERPOL on US soil.

Quote:

(c) Property and assets of international organizations, wherever located and by whomsoever held, shall be immune from search, unless such immunity be expressly waived, and from confiscation. The archives of international organizations shall be inviolable.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/inviolable

Quote:

1. prohibiting violation; secure from destruction, violence, infringement, or desecration: an inviolable sanctuary; an inviolable promise. 2. incapable of being violated; incorruptible; unassailable: inviolable secrecy.

Section 3 exempts duties and taxation from baggage. INTERPOL now can bring in (or out) a bag with whatever it wants in it. How can you impose duty or tax on something inside a bag you can't search?

Quote:

§ 288b. Baggage and effects of officers and employees exempted from customs duties and internal revenue taxes Pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Commissioner of Customs with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, the baggage and effects of alien officers and employees of international organizations, or of aliens designated by foreign governments to serve as their representatives in or to such organizations, or of the families, suites, and servants of such officers, employees, or representatives shall be admitted (when imported in connection with the arrival of the owner) free of customs duties and free of internal-revenue taxes imposed upon or by reason of importation.

Section 4 exempts all property taxes being levied. INTERPOL can now build or occupy whatever properties it wants within the US and not have to pay any property taxes of any sort.

Quote:

§ 288c. Exemption from property taxes International organizations shall be exempt from all property taxes imposed by, or under the authority of, any Act of Congress, including such Acts as are applicable solely to the District of Columbia or the Territories.

Section 5 gives immunity from any sort of registration of foreign agents. INTERPOL now doesn't even need to declare themselves or presumably even need a passport to enter the US. SHADOW POLICE! Don't believe me? Read it for yourself! Oh and you can't sue any of them for any reason.

Quote:

§ 288d. Privileges, exemptions, and immunities of officers, employees, and their families; waiver (a) Persons designated by foreign governments to serve as their representatives in or to international organizations and the officers and employees of such organizations, and members of the immediate families of such representatives, officers, and employees residing with them, other than nationals of the United States, shall, insofar as concerns laws regulating entry into and departure from the United States, alien registration and fingerprinting, and the registration of foreign agents, be entitled to the same privileges, exemptions, and immunities as are accorded under similar circumstances to officers and employees, respectively, of foreign governments, and members of their families. (b) Representatives of foreign governments in or to international organizations and officers and employees of such organizations shall be immune from suit and legal process relating to acts performed by them in their official capacity and falling within their functions as such representatives, officers, or employees except insofar as such immunity may be waived by the foreign government or international organization concerned.

Section 6, last but not least, sets requirements that foreign agents be "recognized" by the State Dept in order to receive the immunities in this Act. Not anymore!

Quote:

§ 288e. Personnel entitled to benefits (a) Notification to and acceptance by Secretary of State of personnel No person shall be entitled to the benefits of this subchapter, unless he (1) shall have been duly notified to and accepted by the Secretary of State as a representative, officer, or employee; or (2) shall have been designated by the Secretary of State, prior to formal notification and acceptance, as a prospective representative, officer, or employee; or (3) is a member of the family or suite, or servant, of one of the foregoing accepted or designated representatives, officers, or employees. (b) Deportation of undesirables Should the Secretary of State determine that the continued presence in the United States of any person entitled to the benefits of this subchapter is not desirable, he shall so inform the foreign government or international organization concerned, as the case may be, and after such person shall have had a reasonable length of time, to be determined by the Secretary of State, to depart from the United States, he shall cease to be entitled to such benefits. (c) Extent of diplomatic status No person shall, by reason of the provisions of this subchapter, be considered as receiving diplomatic status or as receiving any of the privileges incident thereto other than such as are specifically set forth herein.

So here's the bottom line:

INTERPOL, an international law enforcement agency, has just been granted complete and utter "diplomatic immunity" within the borders of the United States, courtesy of Obama. They are not subject to any Constitutional limitations within the United States. Good luck filing for discovery, documents, witnesses or subpoenas against a police force that is operating outside of the Constitution in your own country! You can't sue them. Their records can't be searched. They are not subject to FOIA requests. You probably won't even know the name of the agent prosecuting you if INTERPOL comes to visit. And they don't have to tell you either."

[don]

Re: Obama exempts INTERPOL from Constitution

So here's the bottom line:

INTERPOL, an international law enforcement agency, has just been granted complete and utter "diplomatic immunity" within the borders of the United States, courtesy of Obama. They are not subject to any Constitutional limitations within the United States. Good luck filing for discovery, documents, witnesses or subpoenas against a police force that is operating outside of the Constitution in your own country! You can't sue them. Their records can't be searched. They are not subject to FOIA requests. You probably won't even know the name of the agent prosecuting you if INTERPOL comes to visit. And they don't have to tell you either.

Is that how the FBI works in foreign lands. Remember when they were the federal police force- for a limited list of federal crimes that superseded states' jurisdiction. Now they're all over the world. Prison Planet begins to make sense.

[ThePythonicCow]

Re: Obama exempts INTERPOL from Constitution

This is serious. From the Whitehouse.gov website itself Executive Order 13524 - Amending Executive Order 12425 Designating Interpol as a Public International Organization Entitled To Enjoy Certain Privileges, Exemptions, and Immunities :

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 17, 2009

Executive Order -- Amending Executive Order 12425

- - - - - - -

AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDER 12425 DESIGNATING INTERPOL
AS A PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION ENTITLED TO
ENJOY CERTAIN PRIVILEGES, EXEMPTIONS, AND IMMUNITIES

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 1 of the International Organizations Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288), and in order to extend the appropriate privileges, exemptions, and immunities to the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), it is hereby ordered that Executive Order 12425 of June 16, 1983, as amended, is further amended by deleting from the first sentence the words "except those provided by Section 2(c), Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, and Section 6 of that Act" and the semicolon that immediately precedes them.

BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 16, 2009.

This gives INTERPOL free rein in the USA without any constitutional protections.

P.S. -- My thoughts on this are by and large not suitable for this August forum.

P.P.S. -- A google search for "Executive Order 12425 obama" will mostly just find the initial alerts on this. One of the more detailed hits is http://noisyroom.net/blog/2009/12/22...trojan-horses/

[WildspitzE]

Re: Obama exempts INTERPOL from Constitution

P.S. -- My thoughts on this are by and large not suitable for this August forum.

!@#$!$@#%#@%##%O#@%I#@#O$@#$I#@I!I!!!!!!!!!
:mad:

[ThePythonicCow]

Re: Obama exempts INTERPOL from Constitution

By the way Skidder, that was a well done post. Of the several I have read so far on various websites, yours is the most informative. Thanks.

[Ghent12]

Re: Obama exempts INTERPOL from Constitution

Holy @#$%...

[aaron]

Re: Obama exempts INTERPOL from Constitution

It is OK. Everything will be fine...

I just emailed my Congressman. He will take care of it.

[c1ue]

Re: Obama exempts INTERPOL from Constitution

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Perhaps it is time to write 2009: 1984 in America.

Or perhaps Animal Farm: Donkeys and Elephants.

[BrianL]

Re: Obama exempts INTERPOL from Constitution

Totally random speculation, but I wonder if the US is trying to untangle itself from being an international police force.

For example, I could imagine this as a path to transfer enemy combatants out of the US into a separate legal system, potentially outside the US. By giving them an independent sandbox outside legal jurisdiction, they could deal with accused terrorists on US soil with plausible deniability about the international force acting on the US's behalf.

I'm not trying to make a call on how good/bad this order is, I'm just curious about the motivation behind it. I expect there is something much more pragmatic than some of the motives people are throwing around.

[DToM67]

Re: Obama exempts INTERPOL from Constitution

Totally random speculation, but I wonder if the US is trying to untangle itself from being an international police force.

For example, I could imagine this as a path to transfer enemy combatants out of the US into a separate legal system, potentially outside the US. By giving them an independent sandbox outside legal jurisdiction, they could deal with accused terrorists on US soil with plausible deniability about the international force acting on the US's behalf.

I'm not trying to make a call on how good/bad this order is, I'm just curious about the motivation behind it. I expect there is something much more pragmatic than some of the motives people are throwing around.

Its just more bad.

Who is, or can be an "enemy combatant"? Since Patriot I & II the govt. has routinely used the term to define anyone it sees (un)fit. Everything from 'subversive' behaviour, like free speech (in a public place), to the right to peaceful assembly (demonstration/marches on govt. buildings or on University campus') to someone growing weed in their dorm has been sufficient to haul out the enemy combatant label & prosecution under Patriot. This... from legislation that was 'supposed' to help catch terrorists/prevent terrorism (ostensibly)

[pwcmba]

Re: Obama exempts INTERPOL from Constitution

It seems to me that we are past the point of joking about calling congress or being freaked out. I am honestly at the point of trying to find the best country for me and my wife to leave/flee to and fairly soon. If anyone knows of countries that are not allowing such thing as this INTERPOL situation and have relatively low tax rates (but not required) with nice weather and respects the rule of law (a true republic) etc.. I am all ears.

Thanks.

[shiftwist]

Re: Obama exempts INTERPOL from Constitution

It might just be a simple tradeoff, like in order for the FBI to get similar treatment in another country, INTERPOL had to get immunity. (Maybe Cheney will finally STFU...)

What is so interesting is that a simple quiz can determine which political team you support (or fear):

Which is worse for the USA?

A. PATRIOT Act
B. Executive Order 13524
C. both A and B
D. none of the above

Good related resources:

http://regulations.justia.com/ (look up executive orders, etc.)
http://www.govtrack.us/ (easier to use than thomas.gov)

Unfortunately, no expert analysis on the Web yet.

[sn1p3r]

Re: Obama exempts INTERPOL from Constitution

I'm not trying to make a call on how good/bad this order is, I'm just curious about the motivation behind it. I expect there is something much more pragmatic than some of the motives people are throwing around.

My WAG is that Obama is preparing for the possibility of us not being able to police ourselves and requiring foreign assistance...but then again, I'm paranoid

[jtabeb]

Re: Obama exempts INTERPOL from Constitution

It seems to me that we are past the point of joking about calling congress or being freaked out. I am honestly at the point of trying to find the best country for me and my wife to leave/flee to and fairly soon. If anyone knows of countries that are not allowing such thing as this INTERPOL situation and have relatively low tax rates (but not required) with nice weather and respects the rule of law (a true republic) etc.. I am all ears.

Thanks.

NZ is high on my priority list

[skidder]

Re: Obama exempts INTERPOL from Constitution

Its just more bad.

Who is, or can be an "enemy combatant"? Since Patriot I & II the govt. has routinely used the term to define anyone it sees (un)fit. Everything from 'subversive' behaviour, like free speech (in a public place), to the right to peaceful assembly (demonstration/marches on govt. buildings or on University campus') to someone growing weed in their dorm has been sufficient to haul out the enemy combatant label & prosecution under Patriot. This... from legislation that was 'supposed' to help catch terrorists/prevent terrorism (ostensibly)

If you were to search this list of "censored" stories
http://www.projectcensored.org/top-s...tegory/y-2009/
You'd find this one about seizing assets of individuals who disagree with gov't policy (specifically war in this story but I think you'll agree that this policy will experience "creep" into other areas as well).
http://www.projectcensored.org/top-s...esters-assets/

"
President Bush has signed two executive orders that would allow the US Treasury Department to seize the property of any person perceived to, directly or indirectly, pose a threat to US operations in the Middle East.
The first of these executive orders, titled “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq,” signed by Bush on July 17, 2007, authorizes the Secretary of Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, to confiscate the assets of US citizens and organizations who “directly or indirectly” pose a risk to US operations in Iraq. Bush’s order states:

I have issued an Executive Order blocking property of persons determined 1) to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq or undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq . . . or 2) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of, such an act or acts of violence or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order . . .

Section five of this order announces that, “because of the ability to transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render these measures ineffectual. I therefore determine . . . there need be no prior notice of listing or determination [of seizure] . . .”
On August 1, Bush issued a similar executive order, titled “Blocking Property of Persons Undermining the Sovereignty of Lebanon or Its Democratic Processes and Institutions.” While the text in this order is, for the most part, identical to the first, the order regarding Lebanon is more severe.
While both orders bypass the Constitutional right to due process of law in giving the Secretary of Treasury authority to seize properties of those persons posing a risk of violence, or in any vague way assisting opposition to US agenda, the August 1 order targets any person determined to have taken, or to pose a significant risk of taking, actions—violent or nonviolent—that undermine operations in Lebanon. The act further authorizes freezing the assets of “a spouse or dependent child” of any person whose property is frozen. The executive order on Lebanon also bans providing food, shelter, medicine, or any humanitarian aid to those whose assets have been seized—including the “dependent children” referred to above.
Vaguely written and dangerously open to broad interpretation, this unconstitutional order allows for the arbitrary targeting of any American for dispossession of all belongings and demands ostracism from society. Bruce Fein, a constitutional lawyer and former Justice Department official in the Reagan administration says of the order, “This is so sweeping it’s staggering. I have never seen anything so broad. It expands beyond terrorism, beyond seeking to use violence or the threat of violence to cower or intimidate a population.”
In an editorial for the Washington Times, Fein states, “The person subject to an asset freeze is reduced to a leper. The secretary’s financial death sentences are imposed without notice or an opportunity to respond, the core of due process. They hit like a bolt of lightning. Any person whose assets are frozen immediately confronts a comprehensive quarantine. He may not receive and benefactors may not provide funds, goods, or services of any sort. A lawyer cannot provide legal services to challenge the secretary’s blocking order. A doctor cannot provide medical services in response to a cardiac arrest.” Fein adds, “The Justice Department is customarily entrusted with vetting executive orders for consistency with the Constitution. Is the Attorney General sleeping?”1 (see Story #8). "

I think it is totally appropriate to be paranoid at this time. Congress and the rest of the gov't are deconstructing the constitution for some unknown reason. I find it hard to believe that everyone on the hill is either crooked or brainwashed but these laws/bills speak for themselves.