Latest Obama Executive Order

14 January 2010

The following is a White House press release:

Washington, D.C.--(ENEWSPF)--January 11, 2010. The President today signed an Executive Order establishing a Council of Governors to strengthen further the partnership between the Federal Government and State Governments to protect our Nation against all types of hazards. When appointed, the Council will be reviewing such matters as involving the National Guard of the various States; homeland defense; civil support; synchronization and integration of State and Federal military activities in the United States; and other matters of mutual interest pertaining to National Guard, homeland defense, and civil support activities.
The bipartisan Council will be composed of Ten State Governors who will be selected by the President to serve two year terms. In selecting the Governors to the Council, the White House will solicit input from Governors and Governors’ associations. Once chosen, the Council will have no more than five members from the same party and represent the Nation as a whole.

Federal members of the Council include the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs, the U.S. Northern Command Commander, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. The Secretary of Defense will designate an Executive Director for the Council.

The Council of Governors will provide an invaluable Senior Administration forum for exchanging views with State and local officials on strengthening our National resilience and the homeland defense and civil support challenges facing our Nation today and in the future.
The formation of the Council of Governors was required by the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act which stated, “The President shall establish a bipartisan Council of Governors to advise the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the White House Homeland Security Council on matters related to the National Guard and civil support missions.” (NDAA FY2008, Sec 1822)

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release January 11, 2010.

The actual Executive Order text is one of those nebulous lawyer authored piece of writing that is designed to make no good sense. I read it and was not really impressed with the language of cooperation that was intended to inspire.
What I read was just another step toward the federal government, namely Obama himself, increasing its control and oversight of individual States.

Bringing bi-partisan state governors into a Council designed to address national security issues is a statement that gets annulled by the fact that Obama would be the one to chose the governors to sit on the Council. The executive order also opens the door for a greater control over National Guards on the part of the federal government, beyond the system currently used for the use of National Guard units under federal control for deployment to combat zones. While today these units are under federal control for areas like Iraq and Afghanistan, the order could give the government in Washington D.C. control over them for domestic deployment in the case of declaration of Martial Law.

I have stated this before and this is just another piece of the puzzle that confirms my concerns: President Obama is clearing legal obstacles for the federal government take over of much of the power in America. In the eventuality of a major cathastrophy in the country, i.e. a major terrorist attack, all the steps taken by Mr. Obama may allow him to declare Martial Law at which point he would have the control of all Military forces in the land, including National Guard units, who would practically go along with the situation as called for by their oath of allegiance.

I am not much for conspiracy theories, but any of these steps taken by Obama aimed at increasing his control over the lives of the American people are personally a great source of concern.

And these are my thoughts!

Frank Semperpapa