Monday 19 March 2012

The Fear of Martial Law


By Alan Caruba

The President of the United States of America, Barack Hussein Obama, has generated so much fear that the most common theme of posted comments and private communications is that he will refuse to relinquish power if defeated in November or that, under some pretext, he will declare a state of martial law.

Many, myself included, did not like the Patriot Act that was enacted following 9/11 but there is little evidence that this law has been abused to deprive Americans of their fundamental rights and freedom, though surely some suspected of being terrorists were detained.

An Executive Order posted on the White House website on Friday, March 16, 2012, has generated a wave of fear. It is officially about “National Defense Resources Preparedness” and its stated policy addresses “national defense resource policies and programs under the Defense Production Act of 1950.”

Its stated policy is that “The United States must have an industrial and technological base capable of meeting national defense requirements and capable of contributing to the technological superiority of its national defense equipment in peacetime and in times of national emergency.”  (Emphasis added)

In 1950 the nation was entering a new phase of history following World War II. It would be called the Cold War led by the then-Soviet Union, but 1950 is also important because on October 1, 1949, Mao Zedung had proclaimed the birth of the People’s Republic of China, instituting a Communist regime that continues to this day. With German and Japanese totalitarian threats vanquished, new ones were emerging.

The new EO evokes fear because it is occurring in peacetime and, more specifically, when the United States remains the strongest military power on Earth. There is no indication that an attack by any other nation is anticipated, so the implementation of the EO raises concerns that its purpose is not what it says.

In effect, the EO allows the federal government, directed by the President, to commandeer and control all aspects of the economy and the lives of all Americans. It centralizes control to an astonishing and frightening degree.

As just one example, it parcels out control to “ the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to food resources, food resource facilities, livestock resources, veterinary resources, plant health resources, and the domestic distribution of farm equipment and commercial fertilizer” and thereafter to:

The Secretary of Energy with respect to all forms of energy;

The Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to health resources;

The Secretary of Transportation with respect to all forms of civil transportation;

The Secretary of Defense with respect to water resources; and

The Secretary of Commerce with respect to all other materials, services, and facilities, including construction materials.

The obvious question is why is this EO necessary in the absence of any threat of an invasion or even an attack?

The obvious question is why should the President of the United States, in the run-up to a national election, feel that this is the time to issue such an EO?

I have frankly been dismissive of widely expressed fears that Obama would or could carry off a coup d’etat to establish himself as an American dictator. The problem, however, is that Obama has surrounded himself with Cabinet Secretaries and a shadow government of “czars” that would likely support him if he were to attempt such an audacious move.

The “legality” of such a move would be rubber-stamped by the Attorney General whose regard for the Constitution and laws of the nation is dubious at best, elastic at worst. The President’s views about the Constitution are well known and he resents the limits it puts on his powers.

Would Congress stand by and allow its powers be usurped? Imagine yourself a Senator or Representative fearful of arrest and detention. Rounding up all 435 members would not be a difficult task.

The nation’s media, with exceptions, has “covered” for this President regarding the legitimacy of his right to hold office, his absurd energy policies, and his takeover of various segments of the nation’s economic base; the auto industry, the insurance industry, and Obamacare’s attempt to takeover the healthcare sector.

That is why this EO has evoked such fear and concern and that is why Congress has to assert its Constitutional powers before this President is permitted to overthrow the legislative branch of government and seize control through an EO that is so broad that it is a breathtaking seizure of power that could only be considered if the nation was, in fact, under attack.

This EO is about “preparedness”, but for whom?

© Alan Caruba, 2012

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow......you guys know that the tin foil actually AMPLIFIES the radio waves into your brain, right?

Methinks somebody's gotta take a six pack and go lie down someplace.....

Anonymous said...

GHWB’s is here: http://t.co/5JZNyFWH
Slick Willys here : http://t.co/TvPYYZ3c
GWB’s version: http://t.co/OqQaCE7U He amended his Dad’s version
and the WH one : http://t.co/5K7ONxcA

Each of them had a version of this and 0bama's looks like it is Clinton's

I recall the left going bonkers over GWB taking over and stopping the elections because of his signing.

john joseph jay said...

theo, friends:

well, well, all very interesting, indeed.

the legislative acts which provide the underlying authority for this order need to be read, should be read, for any language which "triggers" the implementation of this executive order.

the order, in and of itself, cannot be the "bootstrap" creation of law, it has to have legislative authorization.

think i will go take a peak at the united states code.

john jay
milton freewater, oregon usa

p.s. and, oil the guns.

PacRim Jim said...

Not that I expect it to happen with President Whazzisname, but if the Executive Branch of the Federal Government were to take over the Internet and cell phone networks, I'll know that it's time for Americans to exercise their Second Amendment.

PacRim Jim said...

Right hand raised.
Glowering face.
Reminds me of somebody...on the tip of my tongue... processing... processing...

Unknown said...

Excellent assessment of the Manchurian President Alan.

Mike

Unknown said...

I also linked to this article at The Political Commentator here: http://bit.ly/AkzFef

Mike