Topic: Presidential Directive

President Obama issued an executive order delegating authority for "Security Sector Assistance" to Secretary of State John Kerry under Presidential Directive 23. This classified directive allows billions of dollars to flow to commercial contractors for military and civilian security operations globally. Funding is being directed to countries including Burkina Faso, Chad, and Libya for counter-terrorism, logistics, and surveillance capabilities.

The Obama administration released a fact sheet regarding the Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) on the use of lethal force in counter-terrorism operations outside active hostilities. President Obama defended the 2011 drone strike on U.S. citizen Anwar al-Awlaki by comparing him to a sniper firing on a crowd. Critics argue that the administration attempted to kill al-Awlaki as early as 2009, well before the specific allegations used to justify his eventual execution were established.

The U.S. government's standards for lethal force require "near certainty" that non-combatants will not be killed and an assessment that capture is not "feasible." The hosts criticize the vague legal definitions of "imminent threat" and "feasible," noting that these determinations are often made by department deputies and senior lawyers rather than through transparent judicial processes. The actual text of the Presidential Policy Directive remains classified, leaving the public with only a summarized fact sheet.

President Obama issued a Presidential Study Directive on Mass Atrocities, establishing an interagency Atrocities Prevention Board. The directive aims to institutionalize the government's response to potential genocides. The hosts argue this provides a legal framework for the U.S. to intervene in foreign conflicts without traditional war powers.

The discussion turns to the concept of binary weapons, where two seemingly harmless substances become lethal when combined. A theory is proposed that GMO foods, such as McDonald's french fries, could interact with H1N1 flu shots to cause sudden death. This is discussed in the context of Presidential Directive 51, which grants the president authority over forced vaccinations during emergencies.

The hosts read a list of donors who have contributed to the show, including several $50 and $100 contributions. One donor, Spongberg Enterprises, is identified as being involved in the oil and gas exploration industry. A $51 donation is noted as a reference to Presidential Directive 51, a recurring theme in the program's coverage of executive power.