[Leanan]

...that may or may not be peak-oil related.

I came across a couple of articles this weekend, that didn't make much of a splash, but I found interesting.

Russia has cut loose from the dollar:

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/cb1cd3e0-771b- ... 511c8.html

Leading to speculation that they will begin selling their oil in euros rather than dollars.

Then there's the "Real ID Act," HR 418:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.418:

It bans drivers' licenses for illegal immigrants. Though that's the provision that's getting all the attention, there's another one, called WAIVER OF LAWS NECESSARY FOR IMPROVEMENT OF BARRIERS AT BORDERS.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')
`(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall have the authority to waive, and shall waive, all laws such Secretary, in such Secretary's sole discretion, determines necessary to ensure expeditious construction of the barriers and roads under this section.

`(2) NO JUDICIAL REVIEW- Notwithstanding any other provision of law (statutory or nonstatutory), no court shall have jurisdiction--

`(A) to hear any cause or claim arising from any action undertaken, or any decision made, by the Secretary of Homeland Security pursuant to paragraph (1); or

`(B) to order compensatory, declaratory, injunctive, equitable, or any other relief for damage alleged to arise from any such action or decision.'.

[SD_Scott]

Thats seems like pretty big news. Asia times had talked about that very thing being a possibility, and the big Asian economies were watching Putin to see what he would do. The Asia times article predicted that the Asian economies would likely follow suit.

Thanks for the article. Good find.

[No-Oil]

"Does that mean the Secretary of Homeland Security can suspend the Constitution?"

To late they already did, the neo-cons have used 911 to undermine much of the US constitution & your so-called "Freedom".

I agree be afraid, in fact be very afraid. Remember the communits trials of the late 40's early 50's ? I expect to see something similar happening in a state near you soon !

[Cash]

The "no judicial review" clause has been tried before on an anti-environmental measure and was quickly knocked down on Constitutional grounds. There is simply no way the Executive or Legislative can excuse themselves from review by the Judiciary regarding the Constitution.

Cash

[Liamj]

Cash: Think you've missed last few years, what about imprisonment without trial or appeal (Guantanamo, Bhagram AFB, ..) of US & allied nation citizens? What about going to war without declaring war?

[Cash]

We haven't gone to war with a declaration of war since 1941, and I still don't understand that. But the point I was making was the "no judicial review" claus. And the administration has been knocked down on holding US citizens without trial, despite Bush/Ashcroft & Company's attempt to declare them enemy hostiles.

I'm most definitely NOT taking the administration's side on this or excusing their actions, but I will point out that Guantanamo and the rest dealt with non-US citizens held as POWs. The US Constitution doesn't come into play there. The Japanese-Americans, German-Americans, and Italian-Americans interned during WWII, now that was a flagrant case of violating Constitutional rights of US citizens.

Cash

[Liamj]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cash', '.')..Guantanamo and the rest dealt with non-US citizens held as POWs. The US Constitution doesn't come into play there. The Japanese-Americans, German-Americans, and Italian-Americans interned during WWII, now that was a flagrant case of violating Constitutional rights of US citizens. Cash

[savethehumans]

Well, I'm scared!

[No-Oil]

It may just be me being pedantic, but if no declaration of war was made, then no POW status can be assigned. There is no such thing as a "Prisoner Of NO War" PONW. Thus the Geneva convention does not apply & neither does US or International law. This is how GWB has been able to hold those guys in gitmo.

Now there are lots of International Laws that have been breached by both the USA & the UK in the invasion of Afghanistan & Iraq. I find it hard to believe that the UN has not lauched sanctions against botht hese countries & revoked theoir places on the security council, after all if they can't play by the rules they helped create, then they should not be allowed to play !

Obviously the rest of the world has confirmed my worst fears, they have let the USA & Britain literally get away with murder & GWB & Tony Blair should have been arrested long ago for international murder. How do you think they would like being held in the Hague along side Serb war criminals awaiting trial ?

The sooner the world melts down the better, just get it over with & let the survivors (if any) get on with the future.