September 2002 Selected News Clips

(Especially noteworthy articles’ headings highlighted in gold.)

BERMUDA BANKS UNFAZED BY IRS CREDIT CARD HUNT

HAMILTON: Little impact seen on island's banks.

Which business records the IRS wants for offshore credit card use: links here and here.

F.A.T.F. MONEY LAUNDERING BLACKLIST MAY END

LONDON: Internal disputes between the OECD's Financial Action Task Force and its IMF partners may mean an end to the hated FATF blacklist.

ANOTHER REASON AMERICAN CORPORATIONS GO OFFSHORE

Stock market tank gives rise to class actions lawsuits aimed at assets.

Securities Class Action Clearinghouse site here.

GOVERNMENTS EXPLOIT 9-11, ASSAULT LIBERTY

The Economist gives a chilling world roundup of rampant government curtailment of citizens' freedoms with the anti-terrorism excuse.

WHAT IS LIBERTARIANISM?

Sovereign Society Council of Experts member, Pierre Lemieux explains the philosophical meaning in practical terms.

THE SOVEREIGN INDIVIDUAL

What is a sovereign individual?

THE UNITED STATES IN DECLINE?

Thoughtful historical and current analysis of the economic and political position of the U.S. in the world.

US AND EU IN SECRET TREATY NEGOTIATIONS TO EXPAND POLICE POWERS

Secret Europe-US terror treaty plan raises rights fears.

Protest to your Senator, Representative, the White House, and the European Union.

MORE PROOF TAX HAVENS ARE NOT A TERRORIST THREAT

The Washington Post has led the way in exposing how terrorism really is financed and here's the latest example: Sudan gold shipments.

WHAT IF THE F.A.T.F. BLACKLIST DIES?

LONDON: One view of the possible death of the notorious OECD Financial Action Task Force tax haven blacklist.

DOES ANYONE IN THE BUSH GOVERNMENT CARE ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION?

WASHINGTON: Military trials of civilians, indefinite detention, secret deportation hearings, prisoners in isolation, attorneys denied access.

GENERAL ASHCROFT'S DETENTION CAMPS

Nat Hentoff says the AG's latest outrage calls for his resignation.

THE SURVEILLANCE SOCIETY; WHO'S WATCHING YOU?

Wherever we go, there they are ... tracking us.

SECURITY VS. FREEDOM

The Cato Institute: Society of Suspects: The War on Drugs & Civil Liberties. Link here.

Radio Free Europe: Crackdown Provokes Debate Over Civil Liberties. Link here.

Boston Herald: Half of Americans anticipate trading freedoms for security. Link here.

BUSH ADMINISTRATION I.R.S. BATTLE CONTINUES

If these guys at the US Treasury really are “conservatives”, why are they arguing over the EU's high tax directive? Just say NO!

A HISTORIAN LOOKS AT TAX HAVENS

From the Old Testament to Hawaiian kings, places of safe refuge always beckon.

U.S. BANKS OBJECT TO PATRIOT RULES

WASHINGTON: Impossible to track correspondent accounts.

RON PAUL ON BUSH II'S IRAQ WAR II

The Texas US congressman asks the right questions.

HOW F.A.T.F. DESTROYS FINANCIAL PRIVACY

Monetary expert Richard Rhan exposes the FATF gang.

A PEAN TO GOLD

He likes it; we like it; you like it; we all like gold.

9/11 ONE YEAR AFTER

Alexander Cockburn has his typically caustic-but-interesting say!

U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES 9/11 CASUALTY

Are we really defending freedoms or are we losing them?

FBI WANTS YOUR FINANCIAL RECORDS

Commercial databases now used to spy on you.

HAVEN EXPERT URGES LEGAL RESISTANCE

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Bruce Zagaris says take the US to court.

U.S. GOVERNMENT WAR ON PROPERTY

A government that can jail the rich and well known at will and confiscate their assets can do the same thing to “ordinary” people.

AMERICAN TAXES DRIVE OUT BUSINESS

Without major tax reform, the US will no longer attract business.

ONE YEAR LATER -- THE 9-11 AFTERMATH

The War on Civil Liberties. Even the New York Times is alarmed.   More on this story here.

Americans surrendered civil liberties quietly after September 11.   More on this story here.

Group ignorance becomes the norm.   More on this story here.

Reason Magazine: Recommended: Trading Less Safety for More Freedom.   More on this story here and here.

Secret courts and government wiretaps.   More on this story here.

US Dept. of Justice Top 10 List of Lost Liberties.   More on this story here.

ONE OPINION ON THE TRUE MEANING OF PATRIOTISM

AMERICANS SKEPTICAL OF GOVERNMENT OVERREACHING

U.S. TREASURY EYES OFFSHORE INSURANCE

WASHINGTON: Perpetually tax hungry IRS eyes legal hedge fund and life insurance wrappers as offshore tax avoidance targets.

U.S. FINES BANK FOR MONEY LAUNDERING VIOLATIONS

MIAMI: A case study of what client conduct banks must watch for and report to the Feds as potential money laundering.

MORE ABOUT US-EU SECRET NEGOTIATIONS

BRUSSELS: Ashcroft, EU officials confer on joint police powers.

SILENCE ABOUT SECRECY

Politicians (and most American citizens) stay mum as rights are taken away.

EUROPEAN UNION USES ANTI-TERROR TO CURB DISSENT

LONDON: EU's year long “war on freedom and democracy”.

SWISS SILENCE IS STILL GOLDEN

Time Europe looks at the state of Switzerland's bank secrecy.

US-Swiss anti-terror cooperation increasing.

I.R.S. ABUSE, OPPRESSION FORGOTTEN

Agency reverts to brutal enforcer as politicians suffer from amnesia.

BUSH I.R.S. TAKES AIM AT THE RICH

Lame duck IRS commissioner targets high income Americans.

I.R.S. WANTS TO LAY LOW THE RICH

Tart commentary by Lew Rockwell on the US Tax Code.

OFFSHORE INVESTMENT IS NOW THE PLACE TO BE

It looks good, says Business Week.

WORLD INSURANCE INDUSTRY PUSHED TO THE LIMIT

9/11 claims processing and payouts have wrecked profitability study says.

Insurance rates and premiums are skyrocketing.

REP. RON PAUL (AGAIN) SAYS ABOLISH THE FED

The Texas congressman says end the Fed, goodbye Greenspan.

AMERICANS DIVIDED ON RIGHTS VS. SECURITY

We are all in Danger says Nat Hentoff of The Village Voice

O.B.N.R. OFFSHORE SCAM SEMINAR

MIAMI: Offshore Alert's 1st Due Diligence & Asset Recovery Symposium targets fraudulent offshore investments, banking.

Conference agenda here.

THE MESS AT THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

Split personality US politicians rail against IRS thuggery but demand stricter tax enforcement, cut budgets but demand more work. [In other news, US politicians demand hamburger for all, but that no cattle shall be slaughtered.]

So why not go ahead and repeal US corporate taxes?

IS THE GOLD STANDARD HISTORY?

Lew Rockwell looks at public ignorance and US monetary policy.

MONEY LAUNDERING UPDATE

A review of what “money laundering” means in the law now.

40,000 politicians under suspicion of dirty cash dealing.

INSIDE LOOK AT THE F.B.I. ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING WORLD

A revealing interview with a leading FBI anti-money laundering agent gives a rare look at how the money cops think and act.

MORE U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT MONEY LAUNDERING RULES

WASHINGTON: American business, financial community forced to spy and report “suspicious transactions”, from casinos to hedge funds to life insurance, everybody is a suspected money launderer.

WHAT A NATIONAL I.D. CARD MAY LOOK LIKE

Read this and shudder for personal privacy and individual freedom.

COULD YOU BE HELD IN SECRET WITHOUT CHARGES?

Yes, if you get caught in the Bush-Ashcroft snatch & jail raids.

SWISS VOTERS REJECT GOVERNMENT GOLD GIVEAWAY

ZURICH: Having authorized the sale and/or reduction of Swiss gold reserves, voters say no to a proposed gold giveaway plan.

U.S. STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA MAY ADOPT NULLIFICATION

November referendum would allow juries to acquit if law is unfair. [Note: It is highly instructive to read about who opposes the referendum.]

CIVIL LIBERTIES MAJOR TERROR WAR CASUALTY

USA Patriot Act abridges liberties, rights.

FBI secretly looks at library and book check out records.

SEN. BYRD SAYS SECURITY PLANS THREATEN FREEDOM

“An excuse to ignore constitutional liberties behind closed doors.”

SUPREME COURT OMINOUS VIEW ON WARTIME FREEDOM

Chief Justice Rehnquist's disturbing history of restrictions during war.

OFFSHORE COMPANIES HIRE WASHINGTON LOBBYISTS

Major US corporations that have moved offshore fight congressional tax curbs with high powered DC lobbyists.

NEW REPORT SHOWS O.E.C.D. HURTS SMALL NATIONS

Large nations help themselves commercially with rules aimed at tax havens and that supposedly fight corporate crime.

USA PATRIOT RULES BURDEN VENTURE CAPITAL FIRMS

Investors must be fully vetted to find who they are.

HEDGE FUNDS PATRIOT RULES LESS RESTRICTIVE

More narrowly defined US Treasury Dept. rules issued.

US Treasury singles out hedge funds for scrutiny.

U.S. ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX HITS MILLIONS

36 million Americans may be hit by anti-wealth tax.

ASHCROFT INSPIRES UNUSUAL ALLIANCE

Anti-rights decisions cloaked in anti-terrorism create an unlikely coalition of American conservatives and liberals.

AREA CODE “809” TELEPHONE SCAMS

Do not respond to e-mails, phone calls, or web pages that tell you to call an “809” phone number.

TAX HAVENS CHARGE BIG NATION CORRUPTION

Haven group says hypocritical high tax countries allow corruption.

F.A.T.F. ABANDONS NATIONS BLACKLIST

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) suspends self-appointed role as dirty money judge, ends country blacklisting.

I.R.S. CLAIMS WIDESPREAD U.S. TAX EVASION

WASHINGTON: Agency head claims IRS cannot keep up with evasion.

U.S. PROSECUTORS WANT TO SEIZE CORPORATE OFFICIALS ASSETS

WASHINGTON: Drug civil forfeiture laws to be used on business crooks.

REP. RON PAUL PUTS OUR SITUATION IN CONTEXT

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex) describes the world and US predicament in stark, honest terms. Who wants to add a war to all this?

DOMINICA BOOSTS ECONOMIC CITIZENSHIP FEES

ROSEAU: One of only two nations selling fast track economic citizenship raises its investment fees from $35,000 to $150,000 +.

ST. KITTS-NEVIS, the only other nation selling ECs, now is a much better bargain, says Henley & Partner of Zurich.

WEEP FOR THE POOR OLD I.R.S.

The Washington Post gets out the crying towel for the supposedly beleaguered bureaucrats at the Internal Revenue Service.

US SUES “TAX CONSULTANT”

TAMPA: Florida man sued by the US DoJ for promoting tax evasion.

IRS CHANGES "S" CORP VALUATION RULE

Reversal hits taxpayers with huge tax liability.

PROTECT YOUR ASSETS: GO OFFSHORE

George Will explains how Americans are getting sued to death.

ADVICE FOR OFFSHORE EXPATS

Getting your credit ratings in good order.

The best way to get your mail from back home in the USA.

WHY AND HOW THE RICH USE TAX HAVENS

The Guardian offers an interesting catalogue of offshore possibilities.

SURPRISE, SURPRISE: USA PATRIOT ACT DRIVES HEDGES OFFSHORE

WASHINGTON: Hedge funds are moving offshore to escape rules.

G-7 BACKS F.A.T.F. ASSET FREEZE PLANS

Anti-terrorism justifies just about anything these days.

FELLOWSHIP OF THE CLUELESS

ABC Poll: Only 1 in 5 thinks massive curbs on liberties affect them.

HIGH TAX POLICIES DRIVE CAPITAL OFFSHORE

The Trend Toward Totalitarian Government - provocative exposition that highlights how far along the road to serfdom we actually are. Check out the latest proposals from the world government pontificators.

OFFSHORE PROFESSIONALS ATTACK O.E.C.D. STAND

LONDON: 8500 member Society of Trust & Estates Practitioners (STEP) challenge OECD claims against offshore tax havens.

U.S. WEAKENS OFFSHORE INVESTOR PROTECTION

Law change cuts protection against foreign expropriation.

IRS EMPLOYEE IMPRISONED FOR IDENTITY THEFT

Who can you trust? Not the IRS!

GOVERNMENT WEALTH CONFISCATION

It is what governments do and always have done, say Thomas Sowell.