National Review
The Corner blog
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Andy McCarthy
Why Does Interpol Need Immunity from American Law? [Andy McCarthy]
You just can't make up how brazen this crowd is. One week ago, President Obama quietly signed an executive order that makes an international police force immune from the restraints of American law.
Interpol is the shorthand for the International Criminal Police Organization. It was established in 1923 and operates in about 188 countries. By executive order 12425, issued in 1983, President Reagan recognized Interpol as an international organization and gave it some of the privileges and immunities customarily extended to foreign diplomats. Interpol, however, is also an active law-enforcement agency, so critical privileges and immunities (set forth in Section 2(c) of the International Organizations Immunities Act) were withheld. Specifically, Interpol's property and assets remained subject to search and seizure, and its archived records remained subject to public scrutiny under provisions like the Freedom of Information Act. Being constrained by the Fourth Amendment, FOIA, and other limitations of the Constitution and federal law that protect the liberty and privacy of Americans is what prevents law-enforcement and its controlling government authority from becoming tyrannical.
On Wednesday, however, for no apparent reason, President Obama issued an executive order removing the Reagan limitations. That is, Interpol's property and assets are no longer subject to search and confiscation, and its archives are now considered inviolable. This international police force (whose U.S. headquarters is in the Justice Department in Washington) will be unrestrained by the U.S. Constitution and American law while it operates in the United States and affects both Americans and American interests outside the United States.
Interpol works closely with international tribunals (such as the International Criminal Court — which the United States has refused to join because of its sovereignty surrendering provisions, though top Obama officials want us in it). It also works closely with foreign courts and law-enforcement authorities (such as those in Europe that are investigating former Bush administration officials for purported war crimes — i.e., for actions taken in America's defense).
Why would we elevate an international police force above American law? Why would we immunize an international police force from the limitations that constrain the FBI and other American law-enforcement agencies? Why is it suddenly necessary to have, within the Justice Department, a repository for stashing government files which, therefore, will be beyond the ability of Congress, American law-enforcement, the media, and the American people to scrutinize?
That's an understatement. A foreign police organization, operating within the borders of the U.S., without any restraints, immune from the laws that our police forces are required to operate under. They will basically have diplomatic immunity. So they can do anything they want, and suffer no consequences of their actions.
I don't understand. I just don't understand.
Diplomacy is the Art of Letting Someone Have Your Way
TSRA
Colt Gov't Model .380
When they arrest a Tea Party Patriot for "Instigating Rebellion & other High Crimes against world Peace" there will be no recorse & the emporer hussein will only shrug his shoulders & hate that he he cannot help.
Blame it on Reagan
"President Reagan recognized Interpol as an international organization and gave it the privileges and immunities customarily extended to foreign diplomats."
He will state something like the above but fail to tell you that 2 word are left out.
Do you recognize them w/o carefully re-reading the original.
"and gave it some of the privileges.......
Simple Country Boy thoughts.
Carry 24-7 or guess right.
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NRA/TSRA Life Member - TFC Member #11
joe817 wrote:That's an understatement. A foreign police organization, operating within the borders of the U.S., without any restraints, immune from the laws that our police forces are required to operate under. They will basically have diplomatic immunity. So they can do anything they want, and suffer no consequences of their actions.
I don't understand. I just don't understand.
Here's the thing, though. Technically, it's not so much "foreign" as "international". Read "international" as "global" and you'll start to get the picture...
This is a precursor to Obama recognizing the authority of the International Criminal Court and placing the US under its jurisdiction. In case you don't realize it, Interpol is the ICC's investigative and enforcement arm. There are several members of the ICC who want to try Bush and Cheney for war crimes related to the Iraq/Afghanistan wars.
If Obama makes the US a signatory of the ICC, and the ICC brings charges against Bush/Cheney, Omaba will have no option but to hand them over and tell the American people "Let me be clear - this shows that NO President may commit these acts without answering to the international community. I had no hand in these charges, but this is the decision of the international community, of which we must be a good neighbor."
“I’m all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let’s start with typewriters.” - Frank Lloyd Wright
"Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of arms" - Aristotle
I'm starting to really believe this guy is dangerous to our way of life as we knew it a couple of years ago. I'm also very concerned that he got elected by Americans, well mostly, er...uh, well, quite a few Americans.
Where are our values, our traditions and our mores? We have elections in 2010 and again in 2012 to preserve our history and traditions. ; however, the opposition parties have to come forth with real and viable candidates AND a platform that appeals to the working American public.
suthdj wrote:Just sent a letter to Senator against ANY action by ANY entity in our government having this kind of power.
That's just the thing. This is not an entity in our government. This is an international organization which now supersedes our own Constitution.
The US Interpol office is located in the US Justice Department building. Does anyone else feel uncomfortable about a record repository which resides at the US Dept of Justice that is inviolate and cannot be subpoenaed in any US court and is immune from any Freedom of Information Act request?
“I’m all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let’s start with typewriters.” - Frank Lloyd Wright
"Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of arms" - Aristotle
suthdj wrote:Just sent a letter to Senator against ANY action by ANY entity in our government having this kind of power.
That's just the thing. This is not an entity in our government. This is an international organization which now supersedes our own Constitution.
The US Interpol office is located in the US Justice Department building. Does anyone else feel uncomfortable about a record repository which resides at the US Dept of Justice that is inviolate and cannot be subpoenaed in any US court and is immune from any Freedom of Information Act request?
Entity meaning the POTUS,congress etc.... having the power to give control of American lives over to an external organization no matter who they are.
I emailed Jon-David Wells(host of the Wells Report on KLIF, 570AM-Dallas, a FOX News affiliate) last night regarding this. I also sent him the link. He responded back to me at 6:44am this morning. Here is his reply:
"Joe....
Near as I can tell, this is a relatively benign extension of diplomatic privilege that is similar to the international rights currently enjoyed by the FBI in countries around the world.
While the political possibilities of this amendment to Executive Order 12425 cannot be underestimated; especially when considering the current administration, there are a couple of things to keep in mind...
*
What is extended to others internationally by the Obama Administration, is often ignored. While administration officials have shown a limitied capacity to gauge their actual power, officials of most international organizations are aware of a much different reality. And,
*
Don't underestimate the administration's ignorance of real America. As ridiculous as this may sound, President Obama, and his strategic circle are foolishly out of touch with the American People. What would any of us do if an international police unit tried to enforce any law within the borders of this nation?
Thanks for the email.
God Bless You, and Yours....Merry Christmas!
J-D
Jon-David Wells
The Wells Report"
BTW Jon-David is a forum member, and a CHL holder.
Diplomacy is the Art of Letting Someone Have Your Way
TSRA
Colt Gov't Model .380
The unrestrained investigative multinational police force allowed loose in the USA is a disaster of incalculable proportions. When President Reagan granted the limited provisions for INTERPOL'S operations the bounds of our liberties were seriously encroached. But at least there were some significant limits to their operational latitude, their equipment, premises and most importantly their documentation and document transmission capabilities were subject to inspection and over site. And upon determination of violation of USA laws, regulations, ordinances, administrative rules etc could be examined and even seized. Those limits have been lifted and the organization has now been elevated to the status of a diplomat of a sovereign nation not subject to interdiction, detainment, or accountability to any US authority. They have been given carte blanch to operate on USA soil with impunity. There is no other "law enforcement origination" which has unrestrained and uncountable latitude of operations in our nation! INTERPOL does not have to answer to any US citizen for any activity they may engage in, every other LEO must account to one or more levels of authority, which ultimately means "WE THE PEOPLE". Our forefathers would not recognize the republic which they handed off to their children in this day and time. May God help our nation to come to its senses and gain our balance before we tumble over the precipice.
