Posted on 02/26/2011 10:23:51 AM PST by 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at thecable.foreignpolicy.com ...
Obama is getting ready to do something extremely stupid. I’m not sure what that might be, but hang on, it’s clearly coming.
Of course the incompetent coward will fail at whatever it is, as his actions cause America to fall further into the abyss.
Am I the only one who, upon reading this, immediately thought of martial law, take down the internet etc etc....? Why does Libya present a security issue to the U.S.? Unless you don’t want a crisis to go to waste....
He declared a National Emergency without a public announcement? The only reason I can see for this to be happening is not so much any more about Libya...Libya is pretty much a done deal except for the final killing. This has to do more with Saudi Arabia and their approaching "Day of Rage" on 3/11. SA is already mobilizing troops within their own country. SA falls and we will have a National Emergency on our hands here, gas lines, and ration cards.
And just remember we wouldn't be in this position if the Democrats had let us develop our own resources over the past 50 years.
“I get the sense that he’s doing something illegal here, under the guise of national emergency.”
Never let a crisis go to waste.
Trying out his new shutting-off-the-internet toy probably, now that Mubarak has given it a trial run.
Like everyone else hadn't recognized this was a problem at least a week agod. He had to have his Motown party on Thursday night first.
Ok had to reread that ...
“Possible next steps include a no fly zone over Libya, as has been advocated by senators, Washington experts, and over 200 Arab organizations.”
But hey here’s what else we don’t know...
“There’s no word yet on how the sanctions will affect the $100 million investment by Al-Saadi Qaddafi, one of the sons, in a film company that’s producing a movie entitles “The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer,” with Mickey Rourke.”
Seriously that’s what the article says.
Oh yeah, and he is also disbanding our legislature and supreme courts for national security reasons. /Sarc.
Once he gets the hang of these executive orders for national security we could have a problem.
He is drunk with power right now, telling the supreme court what is constitutional. I don't believe he recognizes his limits.
like airlifts of food and supplies hlped stop intertibla thuggery in Somalia? Or Haiti even?
nah, I suspect this is about european businesses using NATO to secure their oil rigs and pipelines, and maybe about preventing 300,000 Libyan refugees from making it across the Med to Italy
Both major issues, but not immediate national security threats to the US of A
One wonders what our shadow leader General Valerie Jarrett has in mind? Making it legal to kill former Farrakhan budd Qadaffi before he flees and spills the beans about obama and his Chicago black liberationist friends, maybe
OK. So how does Libya warrent a US national emergency? Under what circumstances could the National Guard be activated and under shat circumstances could Habeas Corpus be suspended as proper responses to Gaddafi?
lol here’s another funny I can’t believe this is a concern in the article.
“There’s no word yet on how the sanctions will affect the $100 million investment by Al-Saadi Qaddafi, one of the sons, in a film company that’s producing a movie entitles “The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer,” with Mickey Rourke.”
Yeah...and maybe related to the agreement signed last week with Canada for mutual use of troops on each others territory.
“The order declares a national emergency” See how easy it is to declare “Martial Law” if he feels it’s necessary?
The gas rationing you mention occurred under Nixon, not Carter, IIRC.
“And just remember we wouldn’t be in this position if the Democrats had let us develop our own resources over the past 50 years.”
Absolutely right! We could soon be in a very precarious if not devastating economic situation due to the shock of sharply rising oil prices. It’s like we’re starving from hunger while being surrounded by fertile fields.
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