From: Andrew Johnson
Date: 2007-07-28 08:56:17
Civil rights are further decimated in the USA by this. Consider following the suggestions here – and forward this message. This article (fairly short) is linked in the message below and explains the serious issues this executive order forces American People to confront. www.globalresearch.c… Please consider forwarding – esp. to US people The Alliance for DemocracyAction Alert-July 27, 2007 Urgent! Act NOW!We have 30 Days from July 19 to Stop Bush: Executive Order 13438 Shuts Down Iraq Dissent and Overturns the Bill of Rights Call the Office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Call members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and your Congressperson. Ask to speak to the legislative aide who handles judicial matters Fax the letter below, if you can Forward this alert to your friends Senate Switchboard: 1-202-224-3121House Switchboard: 1-202-225-3121On July 17, 2007, Pres. Bush signed Executive Order 13438: “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq.”On the same day, he sent a “Message to Congress” stating that “Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act,” he was issuing this new Executive Order 13438, and cites other Executive Orders of 2003 and 2004 which this new one enhances.Executive Order 13438 was published in the Federal Registry on July 19, 2007 and Congress has 30 days to rescind the President’s most recent power grab.Read “Bush Executive Order: Criminalizing the Antiwar Movement,” by Michael Chossudovsky. His article analyzes the threat possessed by this and other Orders and the National Security Directive (National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive) of May 2007, and includes the text of the executive order and the message to Congress. Taken together the July 17 executive order and the May National Security Directive are an unwarranted expansion of unchecked Executive power.Lou Hammann and Nancy Price, Co-Chairs of the Alliance for Democracy signed the letter below and faxed it to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and additional Senators and Members of the House. Please use this letter for speaking points.Please ACT today and next week. Here’s the text of the letter:Dear We are writing to you out of a great sense of urgency.On July 17, 2007, President Bush issued Executive Order 13438: “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq .” This Executive Order allows people’s assets to be seized without notification and is so broad as to threaten our fundamental rights and liberties protected by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We urge you and other members of Congress to act immediately to overturn this Order.This Executive Order strikes at the very heart of our democracy by undermining our fundamental Constitutional rights of freedom of speech and right of assembly which protect our right to dissent. In this case the dissent is in relation to the Administration’s policies in Iraq . It also sets a precedent for further repression of such rights.In his Letter to Congress, President Bush cites Executive Orders (13303, 13315, 13350, and 13364); however, Order 13438 goes far beyond these earlier orders in its ramifications for civil liberties, and combined with the National Security Directive NSPD51 of May 2007, it represents a totally unwarranted expansion of unchecked Executive power.Congress has just thirty days from July 19 when the Order was published in the Federal Register to overturn this Executive Order. We urge you to act immediately to ensure that there will be a floor vote scheduled to overturn the Order before Congress recesses.This abuse of Executive Privilege is central to your debate over the Iraq war. We urge you to speak about this on the floor to help ensure that a vote is scheduled.Congress will soon recess for its August break. It is urgent that you take immediate action. When you return, it will be too late!Sincerely,Nancy Price and Lou Hammann, Co-chairs Alliance for Democracy Links to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee: Patrick J. Leahy, Chairman, D-VermontEdward M. Kennedy, D-MassachusettsArlen Specter, Ranking Member, R-PennsylvaniaJoseph R. Biden, D-DelawareOrrin G. Hatch, R-UtahHerb Kohl, D-WisconsinCharles E. Grassley, R-IowaDianne Feinstein, D-CaliforniaJohn Kyl, R-ArizonaRussell D. Feingold, D-WisconsinJeff Sessions, R-AlabamaCharles F. Schumer, D-New YorkLindsey Graham, R-South CarolinaRichard J. Durbin, D-IllinoisJohn Cornyn, R-TexasBenjamin L. Cardin, D-MarylandSam Brownback, R-KansasSheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode IslandTom Coburn, R-Oklahoma The Alliance for DemocracyPO Box 540115, Waltham, MA 02454781-894-1179 * www.theallianceforde…