[jjm2111]

I did a search, but didn't see this posted. If it's a double, I apologize.

Power corrupts, brought to you by the PATRIOT act. Feeling patriotic?

[jjm2111]

Then again, this is the N.Y. Times, so who knows if this is even true.

[Michael81Dus]

Did you criticize the PATRIOT ACT?

[widowithfoursons]

Gee, I wonder if they will add this up and figure we're in a surplus situation again, and figure out how to give everyone another tax break. Naaaaah.

[dead]

It's a crime to have wealth in this country.

If you play by the rules, they'll only take half of it from you.

If you don't, they'll take it all.

[albee]

"The authority to seize ill-gotten foreign funds "is a very powerful tool and one that can affect our international relationships," said Bryan Sierra,. a spokesman for the Justice Department."

This guy's initials say it all!

[b4its2late]

Law enforcement officials say the tool has proven invaluable in seizing ill-gotten money that criminals hide overseas and that was once out of the government's reach. Under the counterterrorism measures approved by Congress after the Sept. 11 attacks, prosecutors are not even required to trace the money back to the target of an investigation.

Officials at the State Department, however, have raised concerns over the practice — in part because most of the seizures have involved fraud and money-laundering investigations that are unrelated to terrorism.

State Department officials worry "that this might be seen by other countries as arbitrary or trying to extra-territorially impose our laws" under the guise of fighting terrorism, said a Bush administration official who demanded anonymity. Diplomats from several nations, including Switzerland, have voiced private objections, officials said.

The Justice Department has seized at least 15 foreign-based bank accounts in the United States in recent months, confiscating what prosecutors say they believe to be tainted money belonging to overseas banks in Israel, Oman, Taiwan, India, Belize and elsewhere, according to law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. Other seizures are also being considered, officials said.

Very good. The State Department is nothing but a bunch of Clintonites that should've lost their jobs when the new administration took over. The money laundering and fraudulent activities should've been addressed years ago, but it finally took the Patriot Act to get it done. Let Justice do their jobs.

[WoofDog123]

"Power corrupts, brought to you by the PATRIOT act. Feeling patriotic?"

As punishment for unpatriotic use of the word Patriot, you must attend a Newspeak nightly seminar for a week, and pass a written exam in duplicity.