So Sue Me

PSYCH! You can't.

This Order, with broad language that seems to sweep aside federal statutes, including the Alien Tort Claims Act, has received no public attention. It has been brought to light by a researcher with the Sustainable Energy and Environment Network (SEEN).

Under this Order, an oil company complicit in human rights violations, or one that causes environmental damage, (Froz: or anything else, apparently) would be immune from lawsuits. The language of the Executive Order is so broad that it might as well have been written by lawyers for Halliburton, ExxonMobil and ChevronTexaco.

Read Executive Order 13303 here. You'll have to grab a PDF off the page.

Now, I understand that the war booty business involves some serious risks. And heaven knows these whiny second-guessers of the strategic importance of securing the second largest petroleum reserves on the planet by force are your typical litigious types. But golly, "any attachment, judgment, decree, lien, execution, garnishment, or other judicial process is prohibited, and shall be deemed null and void"? That seems a little over the top, Shrub, ol' buddy.

We all know that Presidents aren't above the law, but damnit, these guys and these guys sure as hell will be.