Bush Executive Order Targets Domestic Assets
Editor's Note: Posted below is the recently dispatched Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten
Stabilization Efforts in Iraq, and notice to Congress of its issuance. It is a remarkably broad assumption of power
taken unto the executive branch by George W. Bush.
While there are references to making persons that "... pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence
..." specific targets of this action, the order also names a far broader spectrum of individuals and actions that may be
subject to punitive measures as well. Mr. Bush's order names persons that "have materially assisted, sponsored, or
provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of, such an act or
acts of violence or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order."
Further, while this order empowers/instructs "... officers and agencies of the United States Government ..." to assist
in its enforcement, ultimately judgment is rendered to members of the executive branch, each of whom serves at the
pleasure of Mr. Bush. Since the order seeks to circumvent both judicial and Congressional oversight, it renders unto the
executive branch, and ultimately Mr. Bush, absolute power of law.
Congress has moved in recent weeks to confront Mr. Bush, his cabinet and staff. At the center of each Congressional
action against the White House is what Congressional leaders view as misuse of executive privilege. - ma/TO
Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq
Office of the Press Secretary
Tuesday 17 July 2007
Fact sheet: Message to the Congress of the United States Regarding International Emergency Economic Powers Act
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, as amended (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)(IEEPA), the National Emergencies
Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)(NEA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,
I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, find that, due to the unusual and extraordinary threat to
the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by acts of violence threatening the peace and
stability of Iraq and undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq and to provide
humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people, it is in the interests of the United States to take additional steps with
respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 of May 22, 2003, and expanded in Executive Order
13315 of August 28, 2003, and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13350 of July 29, 2004, and
Executive Order 13364 of November 29, 2004. I hereby order:
Section 1. (a) Except to the extent provided in section 203(b)(1), (3), and (4) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(1), (3),
and (4)), or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and
notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the date of this order, all property
and interests in property of the following persons, that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United
States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of United States persons, are blocked and may not
be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in: any person determined by the Secretary of the
Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense,
(i) to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or
effect of:
(A) threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq; or
(B) undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian
assistance to the Iraqi people;
(ii) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or
goods or services in support of, such an act or acts of violence or any person whose property and interests in property
are blocked pursuant to this order; or
(iii) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly,
any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.
(b) The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section include, but are not limited to, (i) the making of any
contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and
interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order, and (ii) the receipt of any contribution or provision of
funds, goods, or services from any such person.
Sec. 2. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the United States that evades or avoids, has the
purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
Sec. 3. For purposes of this order:
(a) the term "person" means an individual or entity;
(b) the term "entity" means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other
organization; and
(c) the term "United States person" means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under
the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person
in the United States.
Sec. 4. I hereby determine that the making of donations of the type specified in section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C.
1702(b)(2)) by, to, or for the benefit of, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to
this order would seriously impair my ability to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 and
expanded in Executive Order 13315, and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided by section 1 of this order.
Sec. 5. For those persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order who might have a
constitutional presence in the United States, I find that, because of the ability to transfer funds or other assets
instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render these measures
ineffectual. I therefore determine that for these measures to be effective in addressing the national emergency declared
in Executive Order 13303 and expanded in Executive Order 13315, there need be no prior notice of a listing or
determination made pursuant to section 1(a) of this order.
Sec. 6. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, is
hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers
granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the
Treasury may redelegate any of these functions to other officers and agencies of the United States Government,
consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate
measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order and, where appropriate, to advise the
Secretary of the Treasury in a timely manner of the measures taken.
Sec. 7. Nothing in this order is intended to affect the continued effectiveness of any rules, regulations, orders,
licenses, or other forms of administrative action issued, taken, or continued in effect heretofore or hereafter under 31
C.F.R. chapter V, except as expressly terminated, modified, or suspended by or pursuant to this order.
Sec. 8. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right, benefit, or privilege, substantive or
procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies,
instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
July 17, 2007.