(Cross-posted at Newsfare.)
Released Wednesday, May 9, 2007 by the White House, this executive order, the National Security Presidential Directive/NSPD 51, uses the principle of the Unitary Executive, as propounded by Dick Cheney, to seize absolute power in the U.S. any time the president feels like putting the plan into effect.
In what follows, italicized text represents my paranoid ideas. I hope all such stupid, alarmist fantasies turn out to be entirely unjustified.
Get ready for a catastrophic terrorist attack in October of 2008, with the unfortunately necessary indefinite postponement of elections after a Presidential declaration of the state of emergency due to the current devastating circumstances.
More after the jump...
Take note of the following:
(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...
Mr. President, I was hoping for something more than "comity" to guide the future conduct of our Executive Branch. And then there is this:
(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.
And then this is reassuring, too.
(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.
As far as I know the Legislative and Judicial branches control no enforcement apparatus... unless you count the Capitol Police. Also, one unelected, unconfirmed official is supposed to make sure everything is "appropriately coordinated." But have the Neocons ever done anything in an appropriate manner? If your answer is yes, please name one such instance and discuss the results.
(c) Vital resources, facilities, and records must be safeguarded, and official access to them must be provided;
They take over everything...
(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...
... including all communications.
(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 attack will take place in or near Washington, DC, say... on the CIA and FBI headquarters... agencies which, although nominally under the control of the president, as a practical matter threaten the absolute power of the Unitary Executive. Look for Blackwater mercenaries to take over key national police functions, effectively becoming Bush's "Republican Guard."
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.
There is no ambiguity about this plan for dictatorial control of every aspect of government by the Executive Branch. Simply put, this is a blueprint for a soon-to-be-instituted dictatorship... unless Congress, in short order, impeaches Richard Cheney and George W. Bush. There is still time, but only barely.
Please tell everyone you know about this document. If we all stay informed, and prepare to act nonviolently and in concert if necessary, it may not be too late to prevent the planned coup.
And please also read my News from Next Week, posted March 13, 2006.
That is all.
