Explain to me why we have several Executive orders concerning Belarus..

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/06/20060619-4.html
Consistent with subsection 204(b) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(b)(IEEPA), and section 301 of the National Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1631 (NEA), I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order (the "order") blocking the property of persons in connection with the situation in Belarus. In that order, I declared a national emergency with respect to the policies and actions of certain individuals in Belarus, to address the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by the actions and circumstances involving Belarus, as described below. ---continued...

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Sets the groundwork

At least that would be my take on it given the recent news

[w8liftinglady]

2. 74 articles on Whitehouse.gov

http://www.whitehouse.gov/query.html?col=colpics&ht=0&qp=&qs=&qc=&pw=630&ws=0&la=en&si=0&text=0&fs=&qt=belarus,+&ex=&rq=0&oq=&text=0&qm=0&ql=&st=1&nh=10&lk=1&rf=1

[rogerashton]

3. Apparently

The US administration is not happy with Russian-Belarus military cooperation

http://en.rian.ru/world/20060619/49730439.html

(Evidently not mentioned in any US press). Or do I have that the wrong way round?

Much as the Rhineland was Germany's first step toward reconstructing its pre-WWI territory, anschluss of Belarus to Russian could be a first step toward recreation of the USSR, a prospect that our government would regard with great dismay.

[w8liftinglady]

4. Strange-Bush refers to belarus in commencement speech

[w8liftinglady]

5. BINGO-read Belarus ENERGY news...large oil field

http://energy.einnews.com/belarus/

[Che_Nuevara]

6. On a note of curiosity,

Belarus is the only European country that practices the death penalty.

[Arugula Latte]

7. The federal agencies that regulate banking are big on Belarus, as well.

Here's an example:

http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2006/fil06041.html

[Minnesota_Lib]

8. So what is Buscho’s problem with Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko?

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International accuse Lukashenko of widespread violations of human rights.

Can’t see where Bushco would have any objections here.

Lukashenko calls himself authoritarian and his detractors call him a dictator, criticizing him for restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion under his leadership and reports of electoral fraud.

Is also in the Bush camp here.


A 2005 World Bank report judged that "economic growth in Belarus has been genuine and robust", and the benefits have been widely shared among the population. Under Lukashenko, official unemployment stands at less than 2 percent, poverty has fallen, and the average monthly income is higher than in many other former Soviet republics.

Lukashenko stabilized Belarus’s economy by doubling the minimum wage and reintroducing state control of prices. While he has moved very gradually towards allowing a greater degree of private enterprise, he continues to oppose the privatization of larger state enterprises and has moved towards nationalization of many existing private businesses. Traditional orientation of Belarussian economy is towards Russia with 47% of exports and 67% imports. The other major trade partners being the UK, Netherlands, Germany.

Bingo! Nationalization, price controls and an economy that benefits all citizens instead of U.S. business interests. Plus they have oil.

Nuke ‘em!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko