| The War on Terror | | | | Targeted Wealth Confiscation Can Be Used By |
| Following the horrendous 9/11 terrorist attacks, | | | | Many Groups To Further Their Evil Agendas |
| the Bush Administration issued executive orders | | | | Investors have to consider far more risks from |
| to accomplish the following objectives: | | | | potential Washington asset seizures than just the |
| 1. Broadened the definition of terrorist. This gives | | | | prudent or out of control actions of our |
| the president, or anyone so designated by the | | | | government responding to terrorist attacks and |
| president, the right to label any individual or | | | | actions. Our enemies can use Washington |
| organization as a "terrorist" without a court order, | | | | property seizures blamed on other groups to |
| evidence or additional proof. This immediately | | | | target even friends of the United States. For |
| freezes the assets of the person or entity in | | | | example, bin Laden and other terrorists who |
| question. Please note that in the future, the new | | | | obviously hate the Saudi establishment and |
| definition could be expanded to cover any liberal, | | | | government as much as the US and Israel, could |
| anti-war advocates, or traditionally conservative | | | | hypothetically launch an attack that might appear |
| groups and individuals. In other words, any | | | | to be from certain rogue elements in the |
| individual or group the government feels may | | | | government of Saudi Arabia, thus giving our |
| threaten their position. | | | | government the right to confiscate Saudi public |
| 2. Closure of U.S. financial markets to 'suspect' | | | | and private assets. Given the fact that this |
| institutions. Washington can close U.S. financial | | | | situation is not too far-fetched to consider how |
| markets to any country or banking institution that | | | | other governments and peoples who would |
| they claim have facilitated terrorist transactions. | | | | benefit from the financial collapse of Saudi Arabia |
| This includes any institution that maintained any | | | | and many other Arab nations where the |
| terrorist funds involved in any such acts even if | | | | leadership supports the US. Innocent investors and |
| the institution or nation was unaware of such | | | | nations could be caught up in turf battles between |
| activities. Whatever happened to "innocent until | | | | terrorist groups trying to blame other groups or |
| proven guilty?" Read Case Study # 10 in Chapter | | | | nations for their actions. |
| 16, titled "Inadequate Due Diligence." | | | | The same could be said for organizations and |
| 3. The option to end all private contracts with | | | | individuals on the far left and right spectrums of |
| 'suspect' terrorists. Finally they now have the | | | | American politics. What if the political |
| option to end all private contracts involving such | | | | establishment choose to target an innocent |
| persons or organizations labeled as terrorists. | | | | domestic group in order to destroy their wealth |
| Although these new executive orders were | | | | and political power. Foreign governments and |
| issued in the aftermath of 9/11, innocent | | | | citizens, as well as non-establishment Americans, |
| American and foreign investors have much to | | | | have much to fear from the threat of fabricated |
| fear from these actions. The problem is that | | | | attacks, false blame, and the resulting confiscation |
| unpopular or non-establishment political | | | | of assets. |
| organizations and individuals can now be labeled as | | | | Provides law enforcement the right to conduct |
| "terrorists", and once under federal investigation, | | | | "roving" electronic surveillance of suspects instead |
| all assets can be frozen and unavailable for | | | | of specific computer terminals or telephones Now |
| investment, liquidation, or use in legal actions to | | | | instead of having to request permission to |
| defend them from potential false charges or to | | | | investigate suspicious activities, law enforcement |
| unfreeze the assets. | | | | has a free hand to snoop at will. Here again, this |
| This financial freeze is further complicated by the | | | | shows how much our former constitutional and Bill |
| fact that individuals, including U.S. citizens, can now | | | | of Rights protections have fallen by the wayside |
| be subjected to indefinite detention and jail time | | | | in the War on Terror. |
| without the right to the courts, the benefit of | | | | Requires all trades and businesses to report cash |
| counsel, or even being charged with a crime. | | | | transactions greater than $10,000 to the |
| Individuals may also be imprisoned and held | | | | Treasury and to explain the "suspicious |
| incommunicado without the right and opportunity | | | | transaction" If the feds decide to consider |
| to contact their family, loved ones, supporters, or | | | | anything an American citizen or foreign investor |
| even a lawyer. The courts have generally held in | | | | does as a "suspicious transaction", note that all |
| the past that these types of unconstitutional | | | | persons are subject to investigation and the |
| infringements are legal for the president to | | | | threat of having their assets frozen without being |
| employ during times of war. The fact that the | | | | convicted or even prosecuted for a single crime. |
| United States has not been in a legally declared | | | | Again, today you are guilty until proven innocent, |
| "war" since 1945 does not appear to have | | | | but during this period a simple bureaucratic |
| impressed the "rubber stamp" Supreme Court. | | | | mistake or a false charge could cause your |
| Now I expect some readers will say that this is | | | | assets to be frozen. What is worse, all aspects of |
| just fear mongering, and that the President of the | | | | your business, financial, and personal life can be |
| United States would never use an Executive | | | | delved into and your property and portfolio assets |
| Order to take our wealth or property unless the | | | | confiscated. |
| nation were in a major crisis situation. Well, | | | | Gives the IRS the Right to Share Tax Data With |
| suggest that to the people of Southern Utah. | | | | Other Outside Investigators |
| They are very much aware of the Clinton | | | | The Patriot Act makes any pretext of remaining |
| Executive Order in which the President created | | | | personal or financial privacy just pure wishful |
| the 1.7 million acre Escalante-Staircase National | | | | thinking. The act ends restrictions on domestic |
| Monument in Utah, without any consultation with | | | | investigations if the feds claim the investigation |
| the Utah Governor, or their members of the | | | | involves national security. This act allows real or |
| Senate and the House of Representatives. | | | | contrived claims of national security, which do not |
| Evidently, the precedent has been established to | | | | have to be backed up with evidence, to be used |
| use this power even in everyday policy matters. | | | | by the feds to nullify any remaining shreds of |
| The power of Executive Orders and the Patriot | | | | privacy or civil liberty protections. |
| Act make the United States a risky place for | | | | Allows enforcement agencies and the police the |
| American and foreign investors (especially Arab | | | | right to obtain e-mail message information and |
| nations and/or private investors) to hold their | | | | review your browsing patterns and Internet sites |
| wealth. For example, law enforcement can now | | | | you look at without a wiretap order |
| apply for wiretaps and surveillance against | | | | Your rights of privacy and protection against |
| innocent American citizens using the conditions | | | | unreasonable search and seizure have simply |
| once required for foreign intelligence work. If a | | | | evaporated since 9/11. |
| government agent wants to wiretap you, all he | | | | Its Even Worse With The Homeland Security Act |
| has to indicate is that he is trying to gather | | | | of 2002 |
| foreign intelligence-- and the tap is in place without | | | | "Our most basic freedoms as Americans - privacy |
| review, constitutional protections or any reason to | | | | in our homes, persons, and possessions; |
| question illegal activities. | | | | confidentiality in our financial and medical affairs; |
| The current War on Terror and Washington's | | | | openness in our conversations, telephone, and |
| foreign policy means the United States will remain | | | | internet use; unfettered travel; indeed the basic |
| in a terrorist war with the related costs, threats, | | | | freedom not to be monitored as we go through |
| and attacks on our liberty for many years to | | | | our daily lives - have been dramatically changed." - |
| come. This will translate into more national or | | | | --Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) |
| financial emergencies that will continue to threaten | | | | This Act extends a list of dangerous and |
| our remaining liberties and, not to mention, the | | | | unconstitutional powers-- from warrant-less |
| narrow thread by which the Constitution hangs. | | | | searches, to federal information databases |
| The "Misnamed" Patriot Act of 2001 | | | | containing groups on the left and the right who |
| "The Patriot Act of 2001 is the greatest single | | | | are concerned about individual privacy and liberty. |
| assault on personal and financial privacy in U.S. | | | | Here are just a few of the troublesome |
| history." - Bob Bauman, The Sovereign Society | | | | implications: |
| On October 26, 2001, President George W. Bush | | | | Authorizes the Department of Defense to |
| signed into law the Uniting and Strengthening | | | | establish a system of "Total Information |
| America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required | | | | Awareness" so they can compile electronic |
| to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, | | | | records about you. These include all bank records |
| simply known as the Patriot Act. Here are just a | | | | and all financial information to e-mail messages in a |
| few of the provisions of the Patriot Act that can | | | | centralized database. |
| negatively impact your life, liberty, and wealth. | | | | Allows police to eavesdrop on personal telephone |
| This legislation makes it very easy for the | | | | and internet communications without obtaining a |
| Treasury to confiscate the assets of foreign and | | | | court order. It requests all Internet Service |
| American investors with U.S. bank and brokerage | | | | Providers (ISPs) to voluntarily disclose information |
| accounts. | | | | concerning any "immediate threat to a |
| The act allows the government to immediately | | | | national-security interest" to all state, federal, and |
| seize the property of any individual, organization, | | | | local government entities. Again, they use the |
| or country that attacks the United States. Note, | | | | "national security" excuse in order to destroy our |
| this is the most threatening provision to foreign | | | | rights and liberties. |
| investors because it is difficult to judge the | | | | Places limitations on the information American |
| country or organization behind the next terrorist | | | | citizens can request under the Freedom of |
| attack. For example, as more documents are | | | | Information Act, but does provide criminal |
| now being released we are not 100% sure who | | | | penalties for any government employees who |
| was behind the 9/11 attacks and the government | | | | might leak or divulge this information to the public |
| is not willing, even now, to publicize the | | | | or individuals. |
| investigation. Americans will probably never learn | | | | Allows the Attorney General to authorize federal |
| the truth about 9/11, but for the purposes of this | | | | inspectors to carry firearms and make arrests |
| book, we will concentrate on the repercussions | | | | even without the formality of a warrant. Yet |
| from the attack on your liberties and wealth | | | | again, warrants and even our former right to |
| security rather than who was behind the attack. | | | | make requests under the Freedom of Information |
| While our politicians and other American interests | | | | Act are being curtailed. |
| will make this decision, remember that any | | | | Allows more latitude for government advisory |
| terrorist can use this provision to target the | | | | committees to meet in secret...not subject to the |
| wealth of their enemies offshore-- whether | | | | requirements of the open meeting laws. |
| individual, organizational, or national in nature. We | | | | Provides new powers to government officials to |
| will cover this in Case Study # 6 in Chapter 7 | | | | declare national health emergencies, which would |
| titled "Terrorist Nightmare on Wall Street." | | | | include quarantines and forced vaccination. |