According to The Washington Post, Obama has just issued an executive order claiming the power to freeze any assets you own, if you "directly or indirectly" obstruct the new government of Yemen.
There are hardly any criteria for judging just how broadly this order can be interpreted.
Here's the background:
Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi is the new Yemeni president, and the former Vice President of long-time dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh. Hadi was recently installed after an "election" where he ran unopposed, prompting celebrations about a new blooming democracy in the Middle East.
Subsequently, the U.S. has sent millions in aid and military assistance to the Hadi government, despite its unpopularity among observers in the West and most importantly, the Yemeni people.
Do you oppose this? Better not say or do anything to protest it, or your bank account is getting frozen.
The Washington Post sums it up:
President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen.
The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counter-terrorism.
Unlike similar measures authorizing terrorist designations and sanctions, the new order does not include a list of names or organizations already determined to be in violation. Instead, one official said, it is designed as a “deterrent” to “make clear to those who are even thinking of spoiling the transition” to think again. . . .
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
