Some of our more hard-core leftist commenters might try to convince you otherwise, but we really don’t roll with a rabid right wing crowd around here. Hell, we’ve got hard-core leftist commenters, for crying out loud … and we let them say whatever the hell they want.
Real rabid right-wingers just delete those nonsensical ramblings …
Anyway, as much as we try to refrain from “Black Helicopter” paranoia (and excessive teabagging), our antennae have been raised by yet another decidedly un-American decision by President Barack Obama, who issued an executive order way back on December 17 (before his Mele Kalikimaka getaway) that overturned Reagan-era restrictions on the U.S. activities of Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization.
What’s the big deal, you ask?
First, let’s look at the text of the executive order from the White House website …
Oops! It’s not there anymore.
What a comforting way to start a “black chopper story,” right?
Anyway, here’s what the order said …
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.”
Again, what’s the big deal?
Well, by rescinding these Reagan-era restrictions, Obama is granting Interpol the ability to operate inside the U.S. without any of the limitations we place on domestic law enforcement agencies – like the F.B.I., for example. Specifically, Interpol would be immune from federal prosecution, protected from search or seizure of its offices or assets, and its records would not be subject to public scrutiny through FOIA requests.
Say what? We’re placing an international law enforcement agency above U.S. law?
WTF? Why are we doing this?
Well, Obama issued no comment when he signed the untitled order, but according to his administration and Interpol officials, it’s because … get this … five desk cops at the global agency’s New York “liaison office” need to be afforded immunities similar to those the U.S. government grants other international organizations. Of course, those other organizations can’t have people arrested and hauled before International courts.
Oh, and never mind the Interpol office that’s tucked away inside the U.S. Department of Justice.
Frankly, the whole thing smells like complete and total B.S. to us, especially the part where Obama and Interpol officials challenged critics of the new policy by saying they were “ignorant” of the way the agency operates.
Duh … it’s not how Interpol currently operates that worries us, it’s how they would be permitted to operate under Obama’s new executive order.
Like we said, we don’t often see black helicopters, but we sure as hell are seeing ‘em today …
By The Colonel January 7, 2010 at 4:12 am
If you see that paticular helicopter you might better be concerned, it’s a Russian KA-52 alligator (NATO code named Hokum).
The Bell jet rangers don’t bother me to much but the idea of a Russian POS helicopter overhead scares the crap out of me.
By Ynotfirst January 7, 2010 at 7:05 am
Ok Sic, here is the other angle of the story:
Everyone knows there have been criminal, yes criminal manueverings done within the Fed and or the US Treasury, also related to the TARP and bailout of the banking industry. That is a given, right?? Let’s hope reason prevails and everyone can agree that something is terribly wrong in the financial sector anyway……
Now, add in the inefficiency of our current legal system/law enforcement/regulatory agencies, collectively.
Hopefully another given, but if it’s not, I have hard copy proof of it ok.
If anything, and I mean anything, is ever to be corrected, the efforts will have to begin with an out of the country agency.
Yes it’s sad, it’s tragic even, but our “system” and the ” people who run it” are more corrupt than at any other time in the history of this nation .
So I heard tell, that Interpol is here to give the financial sector a ” good housecleaning”.
If so, that would be a blessing for every single citizen of this nation Sic.
So before your panties get in a wad, consider that Interpol may have heard the pleas of many many US Citizens who cannot “get justice” any other way. Then consider which human beings have not allowed said justice.
It’s an interesting thought isn’t it?
And again, I have hard copy proof, that law enforcement agencies ignore valid and extremely well documented complaints of financial fraud… for more than two years now, penalizing me personally like no one has ever seen ( yet).
I call it ultimate abuse and it sucks for the record.
It’s extremely difficult to sit day after day , rights removed by the powers that be and listen to same powers say ” I’m sorry”.
By EM January 7, 2010 at 7:16 am
I was wondering if anyone would start complaining about this. No one from the networks, no one from the Sunday shows, none of the “big papers” have said anything. Maybe you can help get the word out. Obama is “fundamentally changing this country” just like he said he would, and I am willing to bet not in the way most people wanted.
By dirtbogger January 7, 2010 at 8:35 am
You sound like a nut job conspiracy theorist!
By 2 cents January 7, 2010 at 10:26 am
Any way you slice or dice it, this country is in severe trouble. Call it conspiracy nutjob theories or whatever you like, but it’s my personal opinion that America is in the position of pre-WWII Germany.
All one has to do is turn on the TV or internet and read the news. I am most disturbed by the fact that everyone from doctors to teachers to lawyers are turning out to be criminals in many cases. Our society is collapsing from within.
By Happy Quanzaa January 7, 2010 at 10:32 am
I hate this Global Warming MIA record cold. After Dear Leader sends all the terrorists to Yemen & Bermuda I wonder if I can request my re-education at the Gitmo facility?
By Skidmarks January 7, 2010 at 10:59 am
Here’s the NY Times story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/world/31interpol.html
Of course, the New Yawk Times version of the story will disturb the tea baggers.
And the fact, that Dubyah Bush was about to sign a similar order disturbs me.
By UpstateChris January 7, 2010 at 11:17 am
While this move is interesting, I think we can all agree that a sitting POTUS would not sign an order with such far reaching ramifications unless there was some end game in mind. Granting 5 desk cops rights is hardly worth that effort. Like him or not, Obama is not stupid. He is not the kind of fool that would just sign something like this because someone came in to his office and said, “Hey, these 5 guys are having some issues and need more rights!” (Unless of course it was Pelosi and she was in her leathers with whip in hand…) I have no idea what the motive behind this really is, but it should be clear to anyone with they ability to think independently (a rare gift in the U.S. these days) that something is not right. 20 years from now we will look back at this period and either be amazed at the brilliance of these moves, or realize that it was the current administration that made us a third world socialist country licking the sweat from China’s balls. For now, I am just jumping on the http://goooh.com/ bandwagon. A POTUS without a Congress to give him carte blanche is powerless. (Well, except for the Executive Order mentioned in this article)
By Ed January 7, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Gosh darn it, Fits- This article will just make buying any more ammo at Walmart dam near impossible.
All I can say is if an international police force comes to redneck country, they dam well better be prepared.
By Joseph Reynolds January 7, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Does that mean that if George W Bush is indicted at The Hague for War Crimes, that he can be arrested by Interpol?
By SnakeMD January 7, 2010 at 5:18 pm
A buddy of mine just built a portable howitzer than can fire a golf ball though a car windshield at 500 yards. He is working on a semi-automatic version with a hopper. It should deliver about 600 per min. If you start noticing a shortage of golf balls at the Walmart in Redbank you might know what’s up. FORE!
By Cooter Brown January 7, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Whut did ye ‘spect frum da empire?!?! Constitushun followin’, law-abidin’, common since gob-mint?!?! Forgit da empire an’ start putting folks in orifice closer t’ home…
By Geno January 7, 2010 at 7:48 pm
Do you really have to be stupid to read this site or is it just a full moon. Right wingers: Stay in the house, INTERPOL is coming.
By Noone January 7, 2010 at 9:53 pm
I’d like to see a black leave the white house
By No Way! January 7, 2010 at 9:55 pm
This is nothing unusual for this president. The guy probably has issues with his brothers who are in the can for 10 to life for their crimes and wants to turn all power over to those outside the U.S. I can hardly wait till turnover of the congress later this year and reversal of King Hussain’s crazy antics. He will be remembered as the worst president in the history of the USA!
By sid January 8, 2010 at 8:17 am
Let’s see, Geno, you’re reading, so I guess you support the former part of your question. And, based on your posting time, how smart would you have to be to look out your window to check the moon? Yup, Geno’s stupid. Not even smart enough to figure out basic punctuation. Is he(?) smart enough to explain his(?) post, or just smart enough to regurgitate boilerplate vitriol, giggle a few times over how clever he(?) is, then skulk off to his(?) next “Barry Supporters Who Are Simply Stupid Or Love to be Duped” meeting? Let’s see, shall we?
By UpstateChris January 8, 2010 at 8:39 am
Ed – Don’t kid yourself. I have seen more high-end collections of rifles in multi-million dollar houses in the Upstate than in any single wide. While not from here, I firmly believe that those who were born and raised in the South are honestly preparing for the Second War of Northern Aggression. D.C. being “The North”.
By Darth January 8, 2010 at 11:09 am
Globalists at play, here to rectify, one supposes via “extraconstitutionality” (q.v. extraterritoriality used to skirt local laws in uncivilized areas in the early 1900′s) to rectify the bill of rights and any notion that your rights come from anywhere but the soverign autocrats and czars appointed by Obama.
UN uber alles… gotta finish the the death star before the helicopters get to Coruscant.