National Emergency

Before I start talking about the Executive Orders that give rise to such concern, please let me make clear that although these Executive Orders were made by President Clinton, I have no “ax-to-grind” with President Clinton as a person. I suspect that almost any President in office during these times would place into effect similar Executive Orders. They are a response to existing conditions during these times. These Executive Orders are specifically justified by the President on the grounds described in the following excerpt from the following Executive Order:

CONTINUATION OF EMERGENCY REGARDING
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

On November 14, 1994, by Executive Order 12938, I declared a national emergency with respect to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States posed by the proliferation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons ("weapons of mass destruction") and the means of delivering such weapons. Because the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, the national emergency declared on November 14, 1994, and extended on November 14, 1995 and November 14, 1996, must continue in effect beyond November 14, 1997. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12938.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

-WILLIAM J. CLINTON-

Notice that the “single-stroke-of-the-pen” has already occurred, on November 14, 1994 and has been continually extended to this day. We continue to enjoy the continuation of our constitutional form of government, even to include the start of impeachment proceedings, because the time has not yet come for the President to start exercising the powers he enjoys while the Nation is under a state of “National Emergency.” While under this state, again with a “single-stroke-of-the-pen”, the President can begin to invoke those extraordinary powers this state of “National Emergency” bestows upon him. Note that the grounds for this state is based upon the threat of “weapons of mass destruction.” All it would take is some incident along these lines for the President to start using these powers.

Offered by Ron.