Obama Gives Himself Power to Marshal 'Defense Resources Preparedness'

President Obama has given himself the powers to declare martial law -- especially in the event of a war with Iran. It is a sweeping power grab that should worry every American, the Washington Times reports.

On March 16, the White House released an executive order, National Defense Resources Preparedness.

The document, stunning in its audacity and viewed as a flagrant violation of the Constitution by some legal experts, states that, in case of a war or national emergency, the federal government has the authority to take over almost every aspect of American society.

Food, livestock, farming equipment, manufacturing, industry, energy, transportation, hospitals, health care facilities, water resources, defense and construction -- all of it could fall under the full control of Obama, the Times said. The order empowers the president to dispense these vast resources as he sees fit during a "national crisis."