Conservative bloggers and opinion outlets in recent days have expressed mounting alarm about an executive order by President Obama that extended certain privileges and immunities to the International Criminal Police Organization, better known as Interpol.
Bloggers have accused Mr. Obama of ceding American sovereignty, painting a portrait of an international police force operating on United States soil without legal restraints. They have also argued that the order is part of a plot to allow international courts to arrest and prosecute American officials for war crimes.
That theme is making its way from the blogosphere to more mainstream news outlets.
In a Web post for the conservative National Review last week, the commentator Andrew C. McCarthy declared that an “international police force” could now operate inside the United States “unrestrained by the U.S. Constitution and American law.” He also suggested that the order created in the Justice Department “a repository for stashing government files” beyond the reach of Congress and the public.
And an editorial in The Washington Examiner this week declared that “this new directive from Obama may be the most destructive blow ever struck against American constitutional civil liberties.”
Obama administration and Interpol officials say the fears and accusations are based on ignorance about how Interpol works and about the context and impact of the order, which was issued on Dec. 17 without any statement.
“There is nothing newsworthy here,” said Christina Reynolds, a White House spokeswoman.
Contrary to its portrayal in some movies, Interpol has no police force that conducts investigations and makes arrests. Rather, it serves its 188 member countries by working as a clearinghouse for police departments in different nations to share law enforcement information — like files on wanted criminals and terrorists, stolen cars and passports, and notices that a law enforcement agency has issued an arrest warrant for a fugitive.
In the United States, a bureau at the Justice Department staffed by American officials transmits information between law enforcement agencies and Interpol. If a foreign country issues an arrest warrant for a person inside the United States, it is up to the United States government, based on its own laws, to decide whether to apprehend the suspect.
“We don’t send officers into the field to arrest people; we don’t have agents that go investigate crimes,” said Rachel Billington, an Interpol spokeswoman. “This is always done by the national police in the member country under their national laws.”
When public international organizations are operating on United States soil, a law allows the president to grant them certain rights and immunities, just as foreign embassies receive privileges. More than 70 organizations — including the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Bank and the International Pacific Halibut Commission — receive those rights.
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan extended some rights — including immunity from lawsuits or prosecution for official acts — to Interpol, which was holding its annual meeting in the United States. But Mr. Reagan’s order did not include other standard privileges — like immunity from certain tax requirements and from having its property or records subject to search and seizure — because at the time, Interpol had no permanent office or employees on United States soil.
That changed in 2004, when Interpol opened a liaison office at the United Nations in New York City. The office consists of five staff members, Ms. Billington said, and they have access to law enforcement information submitted by other countries with restrictions on who may receive it.
“When the office opened in 2004, we said look, we’d like to have the Interpol staff working in the office in New York afforded the same immunities as other international organizations,” Ms. Billington said. “It’s only for the New York office.”
The State Department recommended approving the request, but the Bush White House did not complete the matter before its term ended, and so it rolled over.
The White House said it put out no statement with Mr. Obama’s order because it viewed the matter as uninteresting.
LaTonya Miller, the spokeswoman for the Justice Department’s Interpol bureau, said the order would have no effect on the bureau. It routinely receives and responds to Freedom of Information Act requests, she said, and will continue to do so.
“Nothing has changed,” she said. “We’ve been really concerned about all the misinformation that has been out there on the blogs.”
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Obama's Interpol Executive Order Makes American Liberals Into Conservatives
Order on Interpol Work Inside U.S. Irks Conservatives
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Obama Did Not Go To Church For Christmas
No matter. For most Progressive-Fundamentalists- him being in office IS their Christmas present.
No Churchgoing Christmas for the First Family
Obama: "Church is just not as exiting without Rev Wright to motivate me to come every Sunday."
No Churchgoing Christmas for the First Family
Obama: "Church is just not as exiting without Rev Wright to motivate me to come every Sunday."
Monday, December 28, 2009
Obama Photoshopped - Strawman
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
The Left: Obama Just Like Bush (Yeah Right)
Some people reading the frustration from the left on various subjects might be inclined to believe that the left actually is speaking with conviction regarding their equation of Obama to Bush.
Don't believe it for a second. This is merely anger.
Their dreams of "Hope and Change" has been smashed by reality.
It was not OBAMA who lied to them. Obama is now in the seat of power and has to deal with harsh realities.
They remain disconnected and in as much as their theories are abstract as to what one man can actually do - they are disappointed.
I am thankful that it is so difficult to execute radical policy changes through the legislative and executive process. It keeps our ship steady.
Yet even though the Democrats control the US House, the US Senate and the Presidency - the blame for the obstructionism goes to the Republicans. This Health Care Bill was passed thus far with only one GOP Representative voting in the affirmative.
I will measure the credulity of the left wing comments against Obama by how much they work to unseat him.
Today the very same procedures that they attacked Bush about are being executed but the sustained attacks from the left is what has diminished:
- USA Launches Missile Attack Into the nation of Yemen - No Protests
- Federal Democrats Pass $636 Billion Defense Package w/ $128B For War - No Protests
The truth is that the LEFT set all of this up as they PLAYED THEMSELVES for the sake of getting their favored people into power back in Nov 2008.
Sadly - despite them now having the run of things - they are inclined to still attack the conservative minority rather than performing "Introspection Surgery" on their own.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Ditty - A 40 Year Old Man Wants To Be Adopted By Obama
Diddy wants to be adopted by Obama
P Diddy wants to be adopted by US President Barack Obama.
The 40-year-old rapper thinks America's first black leader is a great dad and he would be proud to be his son.
P Diddy - real name Sean Combs - said: "I ain't going to lie - if God said I could pick one person to be my father, I'd want to be Sean Combs Obama.
"That's how dope he is. I hope he reads this interview and adopts me. I wouldn't even have to be in the will. I got my own money!"
P Diddy also believes hip-hop may have played a part in the Democratic senator winning the race for the White House.
He said: "I think we are probably responsible for Obama being in office, ye the confidence, the swagger we instilled in our communities made that possible."
Meanwhile, it has been reported P Diddy is set to marry the mother of his children Kim Porter, even though he is still living with his 23-year-old girlfriend Cassie Venture.
A source said: "He is ready to marry Kim in the New Year and there is no stopping him.
"He has bought her a 12-carat diamond engagement ring and has given Cassie her marching orders."
However, the rap superstar - who has three children, 11-year-old Christian Casey and two-year-old twins D'Lila
Star and Jessie James, with Kim - has already denied the claims.
His spokesperson said: "This rumour happens every year - it isn't true."
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