Global Research on new dictatorial Bush powers

2007-05-23

Richard Moore

Original source URL:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=CHI20070521&articleId=5720

New presidential directive gives Bush dictatorial power

National Security & Homeland Security Presidential Directive establishes 
"National Continuity Policy"

By Larry Chin

Global Research, May 21, 2007

The National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive, signed on 
May 9, 2007 declares that in the event of a ³catastrophic event², George W. Bush
can become what is best described as "a dictator":

"The President shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for ensuring 
constitutional government."

This directive, completely unnoticed by the media, and given no scrutiny by 
Congress, literally gives the White House unprecedented dictatorial power over 
the government and the country, bypassing the US Congress and obliterating the 
separation of powers. The directive also placed the Secretary of Homeland 
Security in charge of domestic ³security².

The full text is below. A critical analysis on the directive can be found here.

This is another step towards official martial law (see ³US government fans 
homeland security fears²), which suggests that a new "catastrophic event" 
9/11-type pretext could be in the pipeline.

____________________

National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive
NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/NSPD 51
HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/HSPD-20
Subject: National Continuity Policy
Purpose

(1) This directive establishes a comprehensive national policy on the continuity
of Federal Government structures and operations and a single National Continuity
Coordinator responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of 
Federal continuity policies. This policy establishes "National Essential 
Functions," prescribes continuity requirements for all executive departments and
agencies, and provides guidance for State, local, territorial, and tribal 
governments, and private sector organizations in order to ensure a comprehensive
and integrated national continuity program that will enhance the credibility of 
our national security posture and enable a more rapid and effective response to 
and recovery from a national emergency.

Definitions
(2) In this directive:

(a) "Category" refers to the categories of executive departments and agencies 
listed in Annex A to this directive;

(b) "Catastrophic Emergency" means any incident, regardless of location, that 
results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption 
severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or
government functions;

(c) "Continuity of Government," or "COG," means a coordinated effort within the 
Federal Government's executive branch to ensure that National Essential 
Functions continue to be performed during a Catastrophic Emergency;

(d) "Continuity of Operations," or "COOP," means an effort within individual 
executive departments and agencies to ensure that Primary Mission-Essential 
Functions continue to be performed during a wide range of emergencies, including
localized acts of nature, accidents, and technological or attack-related 
emergencies;

(e) "Enduring Constitutional Government," or "ECG," means a cooperative effort 
among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Federal 
Government, coordinated by the President, as a matter of comity with respect to 
the legislative and judicial branches and with proper respect for the 
constitutional separation of powers among the branches, to preserve the 
constitutional framework under which the Nation is governed and the capability 
of all three branches of government to execute constitutional responsibilities 
and provide for orderly succession, appropriate transition of leadership, and 
interoperability and support of the National Essential Functions during a 
catastrophic emergency;

(f) "Executive Departments and Agencies" means the executive departments 
enumerated in 5 U.S.C. 101, independent establishments as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
104(1), Government corporations as defined by 5 U.S.C. 103(1), and the United 
States Postal Service;

(g) "Government Functions" means the collective functions of the heads of 
executive departments and agencies as defined by statute, regulation, 
presidential direction, or other legal authority, and the functions of the 
legislative and judicial branches;

(h) "National Essential Functions," or "NEFs," means that subset of Government 
Functions that are necessary to lead and sustain the Nation during a 
catastrophic emergency and that, therefore, must be supported through COOP and 
COG capabilities; and

(i) "Primary Mission Essential Functions," or "PMEFs," means those Government 
Functions that must be performed in order to support or implement the 
performance of NEFs before, during, and in the aftermath of an emergency.

Policy

(3) It is the policy of the United States to maintain a comprehensive and 
effective continuity capability composed of Continuity of Operations and 
Continuity of Government programs in order to ensure the preservation of our 
form of government under the Constitution and the continuing performance of 
National Essential Functions under all conditions.

Implementation Actions

(4) Continuity requirements shall be incorporated into daily operations of all 
executive departments and agencies. As a result of the asymmetric threat 
environment, adequate warning of potential emergencies that could pose a 
significant risk to the homeland might not be available, and therefore all 
continuity planning shall be based on the assumption that no such warning will 
be received. Emphasis will be placed upon geographic dispersion of leadership, 
staff, and infrastructure in order to increase survivability and maintain 
uninterrupted Government Functions. Risk management principles shall be applied 
to ensure that appropriate operational readiness decisions are based on the 
probability of an attack or other incident and its consequences.

(5) The following NEFs are the foundation for all continuity programs and 
capabilities and represent the overarching responsibilities of the Federal 
Government to lead and sustain the Nation during a crisis, and therefore 
sustaining the following NEFs shall be the primary focus of

the Federal Government leadership during and in the aftermath of an emergency 
that adversely affects the performance of Government Functions:

(a) Ensuring the continued functioning of our form of government under the 
Constitution, including the functioning of the three separate branches of 
government;

(b) Providing leadership visible to the Nation and the world and maintaining the
trust and confidence of the American people;

(c) Defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign
and domestic, and preventing or interdicting attacks against the United States 
or its people, property, or interests;

(d) Maintaining and fostering effective relationships with foreign nations;

(e) Protecting against threats to the homeland and bringing to justice 
perpetrators of crimes or attacks against the United States or its people, 
property, or interests;

(f) Providing rapid and effective response to and recovery from the domestic 
consequences of an attack or other incident;

(g) Protecting and stabilizing the Nation's economy and ensuring public 
confidence in its financial systems; and

(h) Providing for critical Federal Government services that address the national
health, safety, and welfare needs of the United States.

(6) The President shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for 
ensuring constitutional government. In order to advise and assist the President 
in that function, the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and 
Counterterrorism (APHS/CT) is hereby designated as the National Continuity 
Coordinator. The National Continuity Coordinator, in coordination with the 
Assistant to the President for National

Security Affairs (APNSA), without exercising directive authority, shall 
coordinate the development and implementation of continuity policy for executive
departments and agencies. The Continuity Policy Coordination Committee (CPCC), 
chaired by a Senior Director from the Homeland Security Council staff, 
designated by the National Continuity Coordinator, shall be the main day-to-day 
forum for such policy coordination.

(7) For continuity purposes, each executive department and agency is assigned to
a category in accordance with the nature and characteristics of its national 
security roles and

responsibilities in support of the Federal Government's ability to sustain the 
NEFs. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall serve as the President's lead 
agent for coordinating overall

continuity operations and activities of executive departments and agencies, and 
in such role shall perform the responsibilities set forth for the Secretary in 
sections 10 and 16 of this directive.

(8) The National Continuity Coordinator, in consultation with the heads of 
appropriate executive departments and agencies, will lead the development of a 
National Continuity Implementation Plan (Plan), which shall include prioritized 
goals and objectives, a concept of operations, performance metrics by which to 
measure continuity readiness, procedures for continuity and incident management 
activities, and clear direction to executive department and agency continuity 
coordinators, as well as guidance to promote interoperability of Federal 
Government continuity programs and procedures with State, local, territorial, 
and tribal governments, and private sector owners and operators of critical 
infrastructure, as appropriate. The Plan shall be submitted to the President for
approval not later than 90 days after the date of this directive.

(9) Recognizing that each branch of the Federal Government is responsible for 
its own continuity programs, an official designated by the Chief of Staff to the
President shall ensure that the executive branch's COOP and COG policies in 
support of ECG efforts are appropriately coordinated with those of

the legislative and judicial branches in order to ensure interoperability and 
allocate national assets efficiently to maintain a functioning Federal 
Government.

(10) Federal Government COOP, COG, and ECG plans and operations shall be 
appropriately integrated with the emergency plans and capabilities of State, 
local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector owners and 
operators of critical infrastructure, as appropriate, in order to promote 
interoperability and to prevent redundancies and conflicting lines of authority.
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall coordinate the integration of Federal 
continuity plans and operations with State, local, territorial, and tribal 
governments, and private sector owners and operators of critical infrastructure,
as appropriate, in order to provide for the delivery of essential services 
during an emergency.

(11) Continuity requirements for the Executive Office of the President (EOP) and
executive departments and agencies shall include the following:

(a) The continuation of the performance of PMEFs during any emergency must be 
for a period up to 30 days or until normal operations can be resumed, and the 
capability to be fully operational at alternate sites as soon as possible after 
the occurrence of an emergency, but not later than 12 hours after COOP 
activation;

(b) Succession orders and pre-planned devolution of authorities that ensure the 
emergency delegation of authority must be planned and documented in advance in 
accordance with applicable law;

(c) Vital resources, facilities, and records must be safeguarded, and official 
access to them must be provided;

(d) Provision must be made for the acquisition of the resources necessary for 
continuity operations on an emergency basis;

(e) Provision must be made for the availability and redundancy of critical 
communications capabilities at alternate sites in order to support connectivity 
between

and among key government leadership, internal elements, other executive 
departments and agencies, critical partners, and the public;

(f) Provision must be made for reconstitution capabilities that allow for 
recovery from a catastrophic emergency and resumption of normal operations; and

(g) Provision must be made for the identification, training, and preparedness of
personnel capable of relocating to alternate facilities to support the 
continuation of the performance of PMEFs.

(12) In order to provide a coordinated response to escalating threat levels or 
actual emergencies, the Continuity of Government Readiness Conditions (COGCON) 
system establishes executive branch continuity program readiness levels, 
focusing

on possible threats to the National Capital Region. The President will determine
and issue the COGCON Level. Executive departments and agencies shall comply with
the requirements and

assigned responsibilities under the COGCON program. During COOP activation, 
executive departments and agencies shall report their readiness status to the 
Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary's designee.

(13) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall:

(a) Conduct an annual assessment of executive department and agency continuity 
funding requests and performance data that are submitted by executive 
departments and agencies as part of the annual budget request process, in order 
to monitor progress in the implementation of the Plan and the execution of 
continuity budgets;

(b) In coordination with the National Continuity Coordinator, issue annual 
continuity planning guidance for the development of continuity budget requests; 
and

(c) Ensure that heads of executive departments and agencies prioritize budget 
resources for continuity capabilities, consistent with this directive.

(14) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall:

(a) Define and issue minimum requirements for continuity communications for 
executive departments and agencies, in consultation with the APHS/CT, the APNSA,
the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Chief of Staff to 
the President;

(b) Establish requirements for, and monitor the development, implementation, and
maintenance of, a comprehensive communications architecture to integrate 
continuity components, in consultation with the APHS/CT, the APNSA, the Director
of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Chief of Staff to the President;
and

(c) Review quarterly and annual assessments of continuity communications 
capabilities, as prepared pursuant to section 16(d) of this directive or 
otherwise, and report the results and recommended remedial actions to the 
National Continuity Coordinator.

(15) An official designated by the Chief of Staff to the President shall:

(a) Advise the President, the Chief of Staff to the President, the APHS/CT, and 
the APNSA on COGCON operational execution options; and

(b) Consult with the Secretary of Homeland Security in order to ensure 
synchronization and integration of continuity activities among the four 
categories of executive departments and agencies.

(16) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall:

(a) Coordinate the implementation, execution, and assessment of continuity 
operations and activities;

(b) Develop and promulgate Federal Continuity Directives in order to establish 
continuity planning requirements for executive departments and agencies;

(c) Conduct biennial assessments of individual department and agency continuity 
capabilities as prescribed by the Plan and report the results to the President 
through the APHS/CT;

(d) Conduct quarterly and annual assessments of continuity communications 
capabilities in consultation with an official designated by the Chief of Staff 
to the President;

(e) Develop, lead, and conduct a Federal continuity training and exercise 
program, which shall be incorporated into the National Exercise Program 
developed pursuant to Homeland Security Presidential Directive-8 of December 17,
2003 ("National Preparedness"), in consultation with an

official designated by the Chief of Staff to the President;

(f) Develop and promulgate continuity planning guidance to State, local, 
territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector critical infrastructure 
owners and operators;

(g) Make available continuity planning and exercise funding, in the form of 
grants as provided by law, to State, local, territorial, and tribal governments,
and private sector critical infrastructure owners and operators; and

(h) As Executive Agent of the National Communications System, develop, 
implement, and maintain a comprehensive continuity communications architecture.

(17) The Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the Attorney 
General and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall produce a biennial 
assessment of the foreign and domestic threats to the Nation's continuity of 
government.

(18) The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, shall provide secure, integrated, Continuity of Government 
communications to the President, the Vice President, and, at a minimum, Category
I executive departments and agencies.

(19) Heads of executive departments and agencies shall execute their respective 
department or agency COOP plans in response to a localized emergency and shall:

(a) Appoint a senior accountable official, at the Assistant Secretary level, as 
the Continuity Coordinator for the department or agency;

(b) Identify and submit to the National Continuity Coordinator the list of PMEFs
for the department or agency and develop continuity plans in support of the NEFs
and the continuation of essential functions under all conditions;

(c) Plan, program, and budget for continuity capabilities consistent with this 
directive;

(d) Plan, conduct, and support annual tests and training, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Homeland Security, in order to evaluate program readiness and 
ensure adequacy and viability of continuity plans and communications systems; 
and

(e) Support other continuity requirements, as assigned by category, in 
accordance with the nature and characteristics of its national security roles 
and responsibilities

General Provisions

(20) This directive shall be implemented in a manner that is consistent with, 
and facilitates effective implementation of, provisions of the Constitution 
concerning succession to the Presidency or the exercise of its powers, and the 
Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (3 U.S.C. 19), with consultation of the Vice
President and, as appropriate, others involved. Heads of executive departments 
and agencies shall ensure that appropriate

support is available to the Vice President and others involved as necessary to 
be prepared at all times to implement those provisions.

(21) This directive:

(a) Shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and the authorities of 
agencies, or heads of agencies, vested by law, and subject to the availability 
of appropriations;

(b) Shall not be construed to impair or otherwise affect (i) the functions of 
the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, 
administrative, and legislative proposals, or (ii) the authority of the 
Secretary of Defense over the Department of Defense, including the chain of 
command for military forces from the President, to the Secretary of Defense, to 
the commander of military forces, or military command and control procedures; 
and

(c) Is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive
or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by a party against the United 
States, its

agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or
any other person.

(22) Revocation. Presidential Decision Directive 67 of October 21, 1998 
("Enduring Constitutional Government and Continuity of Government Operations"), 
including all Annexes thereto, is hereby revoked.

(23) Annex A and the classified Continuity Annexes, attached hereto, are hereby 
incorporated into and made a part of this directive.

(24) Security. This directive and the information contained herein shall be 
protected from unauthorized disclosure, provided that, except for Annex A, the 
Annexes attached to this directive are classified and shall be accorded 
appropriate handling, consistent with applicable Executive Orders.

GEORGE W. BUSH

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