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Is Clinton a target of Trump’s order freezing foreign assets of “human rights abusers?”

Link here. The executive order, quietly issued last week, froze the U.S. assets of 52 people, several of which have ties to the Clintons and the Clinton Foundation.

The article suggests this order might be the first shot across the bow by the Trump administration that it is going to go after the Clintons in connection with the Uranium One deal. I am not so sure about that specifically. However, the order does fit with Trump’s stated hostility to lobbists.

Last Week’s Executive Order could have serious implications for D.C. lobbyists who provide “goods and services” (e.g. lobbying services) to despots, corrupt foreign politicians or foreign organizations engaging in the crimes described in the EO. “Virtually every lobbyist in DC has got to be in a cold sweat over the scope of this EO,” said an attorney consulted in the matter who wishes to remain anonymous.

And because the phrase “person” means “an individual or entity” in the order – any US organization which merely employs a foreigner engaging in the listed offenses is also subject to frozen assets. “Consider, what would happen if Apple, say employed a foreign national who bribed a PRC official for government approvals? How about a hypothetical case of a company like Northrop or Boeing where an employee, or consultant, who is a foreign national bribes a Saudi official to direct government purchases of airplanes and military equipment?

Those lobbyists could include the Clintons, but I suspect the order will affect many smaller fish before it gets to them.

Genesis cover

On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.

 
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.


The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
 

"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News

34 comments

  • Cotour

    Another angle to this, is this a concerted effort the new power paradigm on planet earth? Unprecedented moves by the new possessors of power, Saudi Prince Bin Salmon, who not so long ago meets with Trump, locks up a bunch of corrupt billionaire fellow princes and houses them in the Ritz Carton and Trump rolls out our own version of the same?

    http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/wtf/the-opulent-ritzcarlton-riyadh-becomes-prison-for-dozens-of-saudi-princes-and-dignitaries/news-story/e05432f9ed81897e7eff68d7b2d84aa0

    The only American politician who might have the mega granite stones to make moves sooo bold, big and power shifting? TRUMP.

    Its big, its deep and, ITS COMING.

  • Cotour

    And this is how the NYT’s chooses to interpret Trumps moves.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/28/us/politics/trump-world-diplomacy.html

    The Status Quo American diplomacy of the past 30 years is no longer IMO acceptable. Why? Because the status quo leads America down the Leftist / Globalist ? One World Government road. Trump being “unpredictable” goes to his and our strength. As long as in the end our Constitution is preserved and the power exercised is done so in a benevolent manner WE and the rest of the world will on balance be OK.

    And if we are once again allowed to move towards the Left and their un American Globalist goals we all will suffer. So let the badly needed cleansing begin and let few of the lawless and guilty political operators escape without there at the minimum being at least an honest accounting (As honest as anything in Washington and government can be anyway) and there must be Federally mandated vacations for the worst of them, democrat, republican or anything in between.

  • ken anthony: This article is essentially a lot of empty blather. It really doesn’t provide one with any deeper understanding of the strategies being used by Trump, or any other political leader, in their foreign policy maneuvers.

  • Cotour

    The take away is how the NYT’s CHOOSES to interpret the story and spin it using empty blather in order to neuter Trumps actions. Trump is beginning to be effective and they, the media, must attempt to relieve him of that accomplishment.

  • Cotour: As I said in a more recent thread, the press does a horrible job of analyzing the news. This article is only another example. That the NYT chooses to do a bad job, for partisan reasons, only reinforces how incompetent, brainless, and childish they have become.

  • Cotour

    Agreed, but that being said the NYT’s is “The paper of record”, its the top of the heap, and their plainly visible partisanship and need to choose to cover for what has been being revealed and attempting to dull Trumps actions and positive accomplishments must be recognized for what it is.

    I am reading between the lines and many times that is where the real meat of the story lies.

    The NYT’s sits at the epicenter of Leftist agenda and Globalism.

  • Edward

    From the ken anthony linked article: “He has broken with decades of U.S. policy in the Middle East by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

    If the rest of the article is that inaccurate, then it is useless.

    For decades, US policy has been to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. For decades, Congress has continually affirmed that policy, but until Trump no president has implemented it. Not implementing it does not negate the policy, it just means that previous presidents have not performed their jobs.

  • Cotour wrote, “The NYT’s sits at the epicenter of Leftist agenda and Globalism.”

    Which to my mind, as I have just said, has become partisan, shallow, and childish. No need to read very deeply to see that. It is the tragedy of our time, and the reason I fear we are facing a coming dark age.

  • Cotour

    I read your posted articles and your comments and understand your apprehension and glass half empty position and “coming dark ages” tag line.

    I tend to see these things as a part of a necessary part of the cycle and like I have pointed out many times in the past what makes these cycles different for “US” is the fact that we operate under our unique Constitution and IT gives us the edge and the opportunity to break the cycle where we all must suffer the extremes of failure I.E. the Roman Empire.

    In the Founders brilliance lies our collective salvation, and it is by design whether fully understood by them or not. The Constitution is the difference.

    I am optimistic that all of these offences to the peoples freedoms are being revealed, after the storm there will be fair weather. And then there will be another storm, you can bet on it. But the sun is beginning to shine on the darkest places where corruption lives and grows. Cheer up.

    ITS COMING, and IT will be good!

  • Garry

    Cotour, nothing would make me more content than to see what you say come to pass. However, I don’t share your confidence that it will happen to a degree that will be epoch-making, and am struggling to find a parallel in history. After all, if it’s a cycle, it must have happened some time in the last 230 years since the Constitution was ratified.

    Other than faith in Trump, what makes you so sure it will happen? It’s getting harder and harder to have faith in the institutions that should be making this happen.

    Again, I truly would like to see it happen, but don’t have your optimism.

  • Garry

    I should have mentioned a parallel in US history.

    A friend from Peru recently tole me that 6 of Peru’s ex presidents are either in jail or on the way to jail; I remarked that we are the true banana republic, because our corrupt politicians don’t go to jail.

    However, despite these jailings, nothing ever seems to change in Peru; president after president robs the treasury, and in one recent case one even came back to be elected again!

    And right on cue, yesterday I heard that ex-president Fujimori was released from jail, in a political deal made by his adult children politicians.

    Unless I’m missing something, we’ve never really tried this approach in our country, and I’m having a hard time finding an example of a country where this approach worked in the long term (meaning that there was no revolution; the system remained largely intact and the abusers of the system were brought to justice).

  • Garry: I can think of one example where a democratic government, weighed down with patronage and corruption, managed to right itself: Great Britain in the late 1700s into the early 1800s. One of the reasons the British Empire lost its North American colonies was because of this corruption. It made it difficult for them to adjust to changing circumstances.

    At the same time, this also occurred at the end of the Enlightenment. The culture of Great Britain was nowhere as debased as America’s culture is today. You need an upright moral culture to fix such problems. (For example, even as Great Britain was struggling to clean up the corruption in its government in the early 1800s, it was also moving to support strongly the abolitionist movement, using its gigantic navy (which comprised a lot of that patronage) to shut down the slave trade in Africa.)

    My worry is that we no longer have such a strong moral culture in the United States. I also hope, as an optimist at heart, that my worry is wrong, and that things will right themselves. I remain skeptical however.

  • wayne

    “The Gods of the Copybook Headings”
    by Rudyard Kipling
    https://youtu.be/hTwHCsTq3IU
    3:14

  • Cotour

    Gary, like I pointed out:

    “In the Founders brilliance lies our collective salvation, and it is by design whether fully understood by them or not. The Constitution is the difference.”

    The Constitution is unique, there really are no direct correlations except possibly in our own history. History like the Tea Pot Dome, taking people down like Boss Tweed these are but two more obscure examples and American history is littered with many examples where ultimately the people had enough and the individuals empowered took care of business. You and others here are unable to see what must be seen because you are what I call “Immersed” in the moment. You (And others, high IQ they may be. Kind of counter intuitive, no?) can not see the forest for the trees.

    The Founders and their scheme of governance that they dared contrive, which was never before seen on the face of the earth gives us, the people, both pedestrian and empowered the responsibility and the opportunity and the tools to do what must be done. There are no guarantees but we have the opportunity.

    (Fear of taking care of business is the enemy and there in lies the value of Trump. I understand Trump, there comes a point in his brain where he says tear it down and rebuild instead of lets fix it up. Trump may be seen as manna from heaven, a unique personality on the world stage at the correct time. Timing in life is everything. And there are no guarantee’s in this game though, but there are opportunity’s to do what must be done.)

    Now where we find ourselves at the moment is IMO very unique. We find ourselves at the intersection of arrogant corruption which includes world conspiracy to control never seen before which attempts to subvert and hollow out our foundation, the Constitution, and a unique level of technology which gives both the corrupt government and the people super communication abilities.

    Our Constitution was built for exactly what we see before us, the Founders could not imagine what we are dealing with but their design encompasses it all.

    AND WHAT MUST BE DONE MUST BE DONE. We may only get a half a loaf, but ITS COMING. And you may not like the compromises and accomodations that are arrived at.

    If it is not done we are doomed.

    I remain optimistic and look forward to a Happy New Year and beyond.

  • wayne

    Cotour–
    Ref:
    ” You and others here are unable to see what must be seen because you are what I call “Immersed” in the moment. You (And others, high IQ they may be. Kind of counter intuitive, no?) can not see the forest for the trees.”

    HAR–If anyone is immersed in the moment, it’s You! Immersed in minutia!!

    “the Founders could not imagine what we are dealing with but their design encompasses it all.”

    I would put forth the proposition; our Founder’s knew, up close & personal, the changing face of tyranny and the propensity for humans to be cruel to each other.
    Our one and last Tyranny Escape Hatch , is an Article 5 meeting of States. The System is unwilling and totally incapable of being reigned in by internal forces, it must be imposed onto them by the vary Institutions that created them.

    Lacking that, we are going to have to go full-tilt kinetic, all over them. Arrest, render, and disappear, all-the-way.

    “The Second Coming”, W. B. Yeats
    https://youtu.be/KP7-mXNYhDE
    2:03

    “The Best lack all conviction, while the Worst are filled with passionate intensity.”

  • Cotour

    Wayne:

    Pay attention, ITS COMING, all the signs are there.

    You and many others here on BTB are and have been behind the curve on this subject.

    Hope you are well, all the best to you in the new year.

  • Garry

    Cotour, I clearly see the necessity for a day of reckoning, and also clearly see that the Constitution uniquely gives the tools to bring one on. I also see that Trump is the best-equipped to spearhead the effort. I’m just looking for signs that it’ll actually happen.

    I asked for examples because, although I consider myself more knowledgeable than the average citizen about history, I’m still woefully ignorant about many events in US history. I knew very little about Teapot Dome and Boss Tweed; thank you for mentioning them, so that I could upgrade from “very little knowledge” to “little knowledge.” These are instructive, but not necessarily encouraging examples.

    The main outcomes of Teapot Dome was a 1-year sentence for Albert Fall (the first conviction of a serving Cabinet Secretary), and a 6-month sentence for Sinclair (an oil executive) for jury tampering. We need much more than that. Also, in the end this was a clear-cut example of fraud that didn’t help anyone but the parties involved; the rats nest we have going on is a lot more complicated with a lot more players.

    Boss Tweed was punished more severely than anyone in Teapot Dome, and the scandal led to some badly-needed reforms, but I’m not sure the elements that made those consequences possible are present today.

    One element is a press devoted to uncovering corruption. Yes, we have some of that, but the mainstream hasn’t done much to publicize a lot of the corruption; ask a liberal about Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s IT guys, or about Obama backing off of Hezbollah’s drug running operation, and you get a blank stare. It’s theoretically possible to turn that ship around, but it’ll take less shrill, more factual reporting than that given by Hannity et al, who seem to be the only ones uncovering it. I’d rather the press be more objective and the public outraged; an overly outraged non-mainstream press isn’t as effective as it ought to be.

    Another element is a prosecutor determined to prosecute; we may have that, but it’s hard to tell at this point.

    As overused as the comparison is, Watergate remains perhaps the best analog of what we need: a lot of high-ranking people going down for corruption, and a rebalancing of power (in that case, more power went to Congress). In a way Watergate is encouraging, because the crimes committed in Watergate are dwarfed by what it appears has happened in recent years. But Watergate was driven largely by a press determined to bring down Nixon; the majority of today’s press is determined to protect Hillary, Obama, et al.

    I’d be interested in hearing more examples as Cotour (and others) think of them.

    Wayne, I also thought about the Article 5 Convention, but don’t know that the will is there is convene one, never mind to enact the proper amendments to make the difference we sorely need.

    I hope that Sessions et al are quietly gathering evidence as we speak, and that large-scale justice is the result. Of course, it’ll all be in vain if we don’t simultaneously keep other threats at bay; financial, military, etc.

    The ancient Chinese curse applies (May you live in interesting times)

  • Mitch S

    I think the NYT piece is quite useful.
    (Thanks for the link Ken).
    It’s a good window into the establishment’s thinking.
    An almost humorous contrast between their desire to remain in their comfortable bubble and Trump’s shining a light on the fantasy.
    The McMaster quote sums it up nicely:

    Trump’s unorthodox approach “has moved a lot of us out of our comfort zone, me included,” the national security adviser, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, said in an interview. McMaster defined Trump’s foreign policy as “pragmatic realism” rather than isolationism.

    Yup “pragmatic realism” is now a dangerous, misguided policy.
    They are freaked, but to a sensible, thinking person why is it horrible that Trump was upset by NATO blowing 1.2 billion of mostly our dollars building a new European palace? Why shouldn’t Germany be asked to pay their share?
    Why is it wrong to follow through with a US policy set 20 years ago and declare Israel will have a capitol in Jerusalem, that the Palestinians will have to become pragmatic and accept the existence of a State of Israel if they want a Palestinian state? (Which possibly, as Trump stated, include a presence in Jerusalem)

    The NYT wrings it’s hands that China treats Trump with respect – when China wouldn’t even send out a staircase so Obama could get off AF One! Hmm, is there a lesson here?
    And the US etc has finally vanquished ISIS… hmm, perhaps cooperating with Putin can be beneficial? (Doesn’t make Putin our friend, but as FDR understood sometimes the enemy of my enemy can be worked with).

    The NYT and friends coo over the Emperor’s beautiful threads and hate Trump for saying “The Emperor is naked – I can see his wee-wee!”
    This piece is a good conversation starter. Hard to take the NYT seriously when we all can see the Establishment’s “wee-wee”.

  • Mitch S

    I agree with Garry:
    “it’ll take less shrill, more factual reporting than that given by Hannity et al….
    I’d rather the press be more objective and the public outraged; an overly outraged non-mainstream press isn’t as effective as it ought to be.

    But let’s remember the non-mainstream media has been effective, enough people saw through the fog to elect Trump.
    In our system the ultimate power is in the people.
    Political maneuvering, Article 5 conventions etc cannot succeed if the people are against it.
    The real battle is for the hearts and minds, we need to calmly, point out that the Establishment cannot be stylishly dressed if we can see it’s wee-wee!
    I’m not as optimistic as Cotour that Trump is a great spokesperson – the need to reach out and educate falls on all of us.

  • Cotour

    Gary,

    Nothing like this corruption and collusion has ever been seen before in America, it does not get any bigger or dirtier, right up to murder. Thats how high stakes the entire operation has been. My long suffered observation has been “Anything will be done to acquire or retain power, anything!”, this is the foundation of abuse of power (S.O.M.). The evidence is right in front of our eyes for all to see.

    As it all shakes out it will turn out that Hillary is too sick to suffer a Federally mandated vacation, she may just drop dead from shock after the possibility of being stripped of her coveted massive personal wealth (Read stolen assets. Watch the E.O.). And interestingly there are many, many women involved in this, so much for “equality”. They turn out to be the deadliest players of the most corrupt and dirtiest game.

    Look towards the middle or so of January for the solid indicators to begin to show up.

    And be flexible, the half a loaf accommodations for some will seem unfair, but thats politics, the dirtiest game that humans play.

    I remain optimistic.

  • Cotour

    Mitch S:

    “I’m not as optimistic as Cotour that Trump is a great spokesperson – the need to reach out and educate falls on all of us.”

    I am not saying that Trump is a great spokesperson, as a matter of fact he makes me cringe sometimes. What I am saying is that he is a unique person with a unique skill set that finds himself on the stage of history at the correct place and moment in time and he alone has the ability to do what must be done, to do what others shy away from.

    And I have abandoned attempting to convince others in my personal orbit to think differently, they have to get there on their own. And when they arrive what do they say to me?

    How did you understand all of this?

  • Cotour

    Are these resignations normal or are they abnormal?

    https://youtu.be/7x5jFRjT1Kw

    What if anything is driving this? The presidents E.O.?

  • Cotour

    A big pharma CEO and billionaire and his wife found hung side by side in Canada.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/16/canadian-pharmaceutical-billionaire-wife-found-dead-toronto/

    Friends of the Clinton’s? Related to the E.O.?

    Lots of strange and extreme things going on at the highest levels of society.

  • Cotour

    Here is a quick tutorial of what may be going on and may transpire.

    https://youtu.be/S_vhsSg47KM

  • ken anthony

    Trump is getting a lot of things done that the media is mostly ignoring. That’s just what adults do.

    What the founders knew and told us is no document means anything if people don’t ‘keep it.’

    The bad guys have been learning, although in arrogance they keep making the same mistakes… they laugh at the thought that our constitution will protect the people. What have they learned?

    They have moles in key positions and in depth. They are playing the long, relentless game, because they know if they move too fast they get burned. OTOH, they know the good guys are ineffective and they have effective damage control when they do (and often) screw up. They can’t really hide who they are, but since opposition has been neutered for the most part it doesn’t matter.

    The good guys have convinced themselves that the bad guys can’t really be that bad so even when they do something effective they never follow through to its conclusion, leaving the rot to carry on.

    Adults have abandoned their responsibility in the culture war, letting the left frame the battlefield. The left, in turn, have become experts at divide and conquer.

    People that think writing a good op-ed against the left is being in the fight are deluding themselves. We have to pick targets and define results before engaging, then judge entirely on how close the result is to the goal. Giving up before the goal is achieved is failure and failure can not be acceptable.

    We must win the culture war which means every school and most media. Every school because we pay for them and most media because we don’t (the marketplace and the corrupt do.)

  • Cotour

    Update, verified by Tom Fitton, Judicial Watch, that the Anthony Weiner lap top contains secure information.

    https://youtu.be/aODf6nP6T0Y

    Like that was not understood, but it has now been verified.

    And we build to critical mass, at this point IMO it is a certainty.

  • Cotour

    Another critical mass indicator.

    https://youtu.be/eHbqqhwBkx0

    Even a CNN legal analyst is able to see what needs to be seen. And stepping back a bit the Democrat party understands that with Hillary, who becomes a bigger and bigger liability as time goes on and is constantly in the mix they can not move forward and will be bogged down.

    Add it all up and what do you have?

  • Edward

    Garry wrote: “Wayne, I also thought about the Article 5 Convention, but don’t know that the will is there is convene one, never mind to enact the proper amendments to make the difference we sorely need.

    The creation of additional amendments only works if the various governments are willing to follow the supreme law of the land. However, there are (mis)interpretations by the Supreme Court that negate various portions of the Constitution and there are cases of blatant disregard for the Constitution’s law.

    A good instance of the former is the SCOTUS ruling that any of our liberties may be taken away so long as a tax is associated with it.

    A good instance of the latter is the disregard of the second conditional in the first section of the Fourteenth Amendment. “Article XIV 1: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and … , are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” The ellipsis is the disregarded part of that amendment.

    If the various levels of our government are willing to ignore the laws of the land, then adding more laws does not help. It is just like gun control. There are continual calls for more gun control laws, but many or most of the current laws are not enforced either. Just ask the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas, about Air Force compliance with current law.

    Even the Democrats were so corrupt that they allowed themselves to be blackmailed into giving away secrets and protecting the blackmailers.

    An Article 5 convention’s amendments can only have as much effect as the corrupt governments will give to them. The problem is not that the Constitution or the laws need improvement; it is that the corrupt governments do not follow them. The fix must be done at the corruption, not the law.

  • Cotour

    INDICTMENTS BEGIN IN THE URANIUM ONE CASE
    And it will grow and grow from here.

    https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-president-maryland-based-transportation-company-indicted-11-counts-related-foreign

    So much for no uranium not leaving the country.

    ITS COMING.

  • Cotour

    “IT” may be beginning this afternoon.

    And “IT” will roll down hill from here.

  • Cotour

    A little more of “IT” has arrived.

    http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/372861-uranium-one-informant-makes-clinton-allegations-in-testimony

    David Campbell has testified in front of Congress. (I am surprised that he survived to tell his tale)

    “The contract called for four payments of $750,000 over twelve months. APCO was expected to give assistance free of charge to the Clinton Global Initiative as part of their effort to create a favorable environment to ensure the Obama administration made affirmative decisions on everything from Uranium One to the U.S.-Russia Civilian Nuclear Cooperation agreement. “

    Nothing ever bigger and this Uranium One issue is just one of about 13 levels of different Obama / DNC / Hillary involved schemes to subvert our country. Stay tuned

  • Cotour

    David Campbell: “My FBI handlers praised my work. They told me on various occasions that details from the undercover probe had been briefed directly to FBI top officials. On two occasions my handlers were particularly excited, claiming that my undercover work had been briefed to President Obama as part of his daily presidential briefing,” he testified ”

    And who was running the FBI during this period and briefed the president (Obama) and still allowed this deal to happen?

    One, Robert Mueller? What is he doing these days?

    Never allow anyone to ever argue that elections really do not matter.

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