The New York Times reports that a secret order titled “Al Qaeda Network Exord,” authorized in spring 2004 allows U.S. military special ops teams to attack Al Qaeda militants anywhere in the world. This is a secret order because it "allows" senior officials to approve attacks on Qaeda outside the official war zones, and without notifying the countries being attacked. The most visible and recent example was the raid in Syria on October 26 in which at least 8 civilians were killed.
"According to a senior administration official, the new authority was spelled out in a classified document called 'Al Qaeda Network Exord,' or execute order, that streamlined the approval process for the military to act outside officially declared war zones. Where in the past the Pentagon needed to get approval for missions on a case-by-case basis, which could take days when there were only hours to act, the new order specified a way for Pentagon planners to get the green light for a mission far more quickly, the official said. "
No doubt my fellow Americans who live in constant fear of being attacked by terrorists are happy for this and any tactics - "legal" or otherwise - our all-powerful President and his former Secretary of Defense deemed necessary to pre-empt any further attacks on the U.S.
4 comments:
Just one more thing in the long, long list of signing statements, executive orders, etc. that Bush and Co. have enacted to undermine our Constitution. Good riddance! Seeya, Shrub!
I wonder just how these signed orders get un-done post-W? Or do they?
Ruth, in answer to your question, I heard on the radio that the Obama transition team will review all exec orders from the Bush era. Polls just came out today showing Bush to be the most unpopular president in history. I feel a little sorry that this does not include memories of icky forgotten creeps like Rutherford Hayes or Warren Harding, or popular but truly horrendous presidents like Andrew Jackson and James Knox Polk. But at least Bush can say he goes down in the Losers' Hall of Fame!
In our newspaper this morning, an AP article said that "O" could likely rescind orders by Bush that might include: stem-cell research funding, domestic drilling for oil and natural gas in Utah, restrictions on U.S. aid to orgainzations overseas that perform abortions, among others. Executive orders have the power of law and there's a lot the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action. Apparently, as easily as Bush enacted them, "O" can undo them with the stroke of a pen.
Post a Comment