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fund an International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in On August 1, 2007, Bush issued a similar executive order, E] Salvador, with satellite operations in Peru. With _ titled "Blocking Property of Persons Undermining the provision of immunity from charges of crimes against Sovereignty of Lebanon or Its Democratic Processes and humanity, each academy will train an average of 1,500 _ Institutions". While the text in this order is, for the most police officers, judges, prosecutors and other law __ part, identical to the first, the order regarding Lebanon is enforcement officials throughout Latin America per year in —_ more severe. "counterterrorism techniques". Bruce Fein, a constitutional lawyer and a former The academy in El Salvador is part of a network of ILEAs _—_ Department of Justice official in the Reagan administration, created in 1995 under US President Bill Clinton, who touted says of the order: "This is so sweeping it's staggering. I the training facilities as a series of US schools "throughout have never seen anything so broad. It expands beyond the world to combat international drug trafficking, terrorism, beyond seeking to use violence or the threat of criminality, and terrorism through strengthened international _ violence, to cower or intimidate a population." cooperation". There are also ILEAs in: Budapest, Hungary; Bangkok, Thailand; Gaborone, Botswana; and Roswell, 6. The Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act New Mexico, USA. In an effort to prevent people from becoming "prone to" According to ILEA directors, the facility radicalisation, a pre-emptive measure of in El Salvador is designed to make Latin policing thought specifically identifies the America "safe for foreign investment" by Internet as a tool of radicalisation. "The "providing regional security and economic Internet has aided in facilitating violent stability and combating crime". radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism 5. Seizing War Protesters' Assets process in the United States by providing President George W. Bush has signed ...some members access to broad and constant streams of wo executive orders that will allow tne US of Congress continue Crrorist relate’ propaganda to wD. reasury to seize the property of any ates citizens," said Jane Harman (D- person perceived to pose a threat, directly to push for Internet CA), chair of the House Subcommittee or indirectly, to US operations in the . on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Middle East. censorship and Terrorism Risk Assessment. The first of these executive orders, titled racial profiling as While civil liberties and religious "Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq", signed by President Bush on July 17, 2007, authorises the Secretary of Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, to confiscate the assets of US citizens and organisations that "directly or indirectly" pose a risk to US operations in Iraq. This executive order blocks the property of persons determined "(i) to approved the Violent Radicalization have committed, or pose a significant and Homegrown Terrorism risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the Prevention Act on 23 October 2007 by a 404-6 vote, but purpose or effect of: (A) threatening the peace or stability of | widespread opposition forced the Senate to shelve the bill. Iraq or the Government of Iraq; or (B) undermining efforts As of June 1, 2008, no vote was scheduled or expected to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in during the current legislative year. Iraq... or (i) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or The original bill was intended to set up a government provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support commission to investigate the supposed threat of for, or goods or services in support of, such an act or acts of | domestically produced terrorists and the ideologies that violence or any person whose property and interests in _ underpin their radicalisation. It singled out the Internet as a property are blocked pursuant to this order..." vehicle for terrorists to spread their ideology with the Section five of this order announces that "...because of the _ intention of recruiting and training new terrorists. ability to transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to 7. Guest Workers: Fraud and Human Trafficking this order would render these measures ineffectual. I While the guest worker program in the United States has therefore determine that...there need be no prior notice of a _ been praised and recommended for expansion by President listing or determination [of seizure]..." Bush and is likely to be considered by Congress as a freedom groups credit independent journalists and grassroots activists with helping to stall the passage of the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007, some members of Congress continue to push for Internet censorship and racial profiling as necessary to prevent "homegrown terrorism". The House of Representatives necessary to prevent "homegrown terrorism". On August 1, 2007, Bush issued a similar executive order, titled "Blocking Property of Persons Undermining the Sovereignty of Lebanon or Its Democratic Processes and Institutions". While the text in this order is, for the most part, identical to the first, the order regarding Lebanon is more severe. Bruce Fein, a constitutional lawyer and a former Department of Justice official in the Reagan administration, says of the order: "This is so sweeping it's staggering. I have never seen anything so broad. It expands beyond terrorism, beyond seeking to use violence or the threat of violence, to cower or intimidate a population." of Congress continue to push for Internet censorship and racial profiling as necessary to terrorism". 7. Guest Workers: Fraud and Human Trafficking While the guest worker program in the United States has been praised and recommended for expansion by President Bush and is likely to be considered by Congress as a NEXUS ¢ 13 ...some members prevent "homegrown DECEMBER 2008 — JANUARY 2009 www.nexusmagazine.com