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Death by 1,000 Cuts » Publications » Family Security Matters

January 12, 2010

Death by 1,000 Cuts

Frank Gaffney, Jr.

Seasoned observers understand that, in official Washington, the so-called "death of a thousand cuts" technique is the preferred means of stealthily undermining, and ultimately defeating, initiatives and institutions too strong to be taken on via a frontal assault. The administration appears intent on applying this approach of inflicting myriad attacks on the essential ingredient of American exceptionalism – our sovereignty – in ways that seem individually innocuous but that will, over time, surely prove lethal to our Constitution and country.

The recent Executive Order 12425 is a case in point. Issued with no fanfare on December 17th in the run-up to the Christmas holidays, this document amends an earlier order promulgated by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. The Reagan directive granted the International Criminal Police Organization (popularly known as Interpol) limited immunity with respect to its operations inside the United States. Mr. Reagan, however, ensured that Interpol was subject to constitutional protections (notably, the Fourth Amendment's prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures) and U.S. laws (including the Freedom of Information Act).