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

New and revised but not publicised. The hand writing is on the wall so to speak.

Peace
WL

d. The hand writing is on the wall so to speak.


For what?

I really don't see GWB leaving office he still has work to finish up from Daddy's rein.

I know virtually everyone hates Bush and even those who did vote for him cant beleive what he is doing and not doing...with that said he CANT set up a dicatorship....it just wont happen.
And war or not, he will be out of office in the next election....no other way around it, no matter what people want to come up with.

There could me a full scale war in the Middle east, and I mean a REAL full scale war.....and he will be out of office, it will just change the playing field for those who are trying to win the seat.

he CANT set up a dicatorship....it just wont happen.

Lincoln pretty much did for a little while. FDR too. Course those were both during warti... Wait a minute, maybe Georgie knows more about history than we thought. He just playing dumb. Sneaky...

If he were to setup a dictatorship, like many wearing tin foil hats suspect, people would revolt. I doubt he would have much of a military backing either. Outside of Cheney with a shotgun, no one would be at his side.

Bush is a pussy, he started a war, after dodging fighting the war of his generation. Last thing he wants is to bring that much heat on himself. That's exactly why he won't try it, he knows that is a death sentence for him.

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

For those of you that may not know "Hitler" had similar power. This guy is capable of Deciding what he thinks is a “catastrophic event”.There has been nothing in the mainstream media about this

not in mainstream media because it is nothing new, look into marshal law, been around forever.

For those of you that may not know "Hitler" had similar power. This guy is capable of Deciding what he thinks is a “catastrophic event”.There has been nothing in the mainstream media about this

Total horseshit. Read the bulletin:

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;

Perhaps you'd rather have no plan for when someone sets off a nuke in one of our cities. Wake up.

I guess "national emergency" would include a fabricated "attack" which I predict will befall the US just before the next election.
That's when Shrub will declare himself "decider-dictator" of the flock of sheep who still support him. Marshal Law will be declared and he'll suspend elections until he deems the state of the country "safe" which will be NEVER!
He's too friggin' STUPID to have come up with this idea all by himself. The whole thing smacks of Rove and Cheney, the puppetmasters who pull Shrub's strings.
Shrub has NO plan, never had one!

I guess "national emergency" would include a fabricated "attack" which I predict will befall the US just before the next election.
That's when Shrub will declare himself "decider-dictator" of the flock of sheep who still support him. Marshal Law will be declared and he'll suspend elections until he deems the state of the country "safe" which will be NEVER!
He's too friggin' STUPID to have come up with this idea all by himself. The whole thing smacks of Rove and Cheney, the puppetmasters who pull Shrub's strings.
Shrub has NO plan, never had one!


That is certainly how many feel. Fortunatly, it's not long untill that time, so it will be easy to see which side is right.

I don't know if I believe that or not, but I am certainly interested to see how it turns out.

In the past, this power went to head of FEMA (i believe). Because of what happened during Katrina and the emergence of Homeland Security, I think they are ironing out who would be in charge during a Catastrophic Emergency. This makes sense considering efficiency is the utmost importance.
I don't think this has anything to do with the wars.

That's just what THEY want you to think!

You will see a war come to pass with Iran. And GWB will not leave office. This country will see things it's not seen for many years.

You will see a war come to pass with Iran. And GWB will not leave office. This country will see things it's not seen for many years.

I just wonder if you foilhats thinking this stuff will have the stones to come back here in a year's time and say "oops...guess we were wrong."

I am shocked, and I mean really shocked, that I'm seeing some people that I know are intelligent actually believing this kind of nonsense. :no:

Well Hondo it's like this, that shoe can be placed on mine or your foot if I'm wrong I will fully state that but with what I see happening to the Dollar...something has to give and we are going to have to really pull a rabbit out of our hats not to see it collapse.

Peace
WL

Some of us actually thought shrub was intelligent, oops, we were wrong!
Maybe YOUR foil hat is too tight Hondo!

Why do you think our HUGE naval armada is off Iran's coast?
Surely you don't believe they're just there for "naval maneuvers", HA, what bullshit!
Can't shrub think of better ways of wasting our tax dollars?
He's even trying to distract us with smoke and mirrors about aid to Africa, come on, he doesn't give a rat's ass about AIDS OR Africa!
Or his newfound concern over global warming, WHAT? He never used that term before, because he said there was NO SUCH THING!
Also, if he is such a humanitarian, how come New Orleans still looks like it did 2 years ago? Shouldn't helping his own citizens come first???
What happens when the next big storm hits them? Is shrub hoping the landscape gets COMPLETELY OBLITERATED and the city gets scoured off the map? At least, that way he wouldn't have to spend any money or time flying overhead to personally assess the damage.
He's just DISTRACTING the american public from his dismal SURGE that isn't working and is NEVER going to work! The troops are all in place, all the ill-equipped, undertrained, extras he ordered there and they're getting killed-off like flies just to prove a point!
That seems to be the hallmark of this administration, keep us in fear and distract us from the truth, lie about EVERYTHING!

I don't have a foil hat...mainly because I harbor no paranoid fears.

You guys would have shit yourselves during the FDR administration...

I don't have a foil hat...mainly because I harbor no paranoid fears.

You guys would have shit yourselves during the FDR administration...

I don't have a foil hat either, mine's titanium!
Unfortunately for most of the country, shrubs antics cause us to shit ourselves on a regular basis.
This guy is a walking cluster-f*ck, the worst president in history.

Are you guys serious?
We're gonna attack Iran, he will enact this directive and not reliquish his presidency?

The Naval build up in Iran is for saber rattling only. We don't have enough troops for Iraq and Afgan, let alone Iran. Even this administration isn't dumb enough to do this.

conspiracy theory at the extreme.

Unfortunately for most of the country, shrubs antics cause us to shit ourselves on a regular basis.
This guy is a walking cluster-f*ck, the worst president in history.

I doubt the "rest of the country" is shitting itself. They may not be satisfied, they may not be happy, but this type of paranoia is on the fringe. It just is.

You weren't alive when Carter was president. Enough said.

I stand corrected on this. ^^^ I think I confused you with someone else. Sorry.

Hondo, why the personal attacks? We know you support shrub till the death. I don't!
I don't call you a flaming A-Hole because you don't know any better, do I?
And yes, I was alive when Carter was president. It may also surprise you that I was in the military at the time.

Not meant to be personal. Sorry if you took it that way.

If you've read my posts in the past it's clearly evident that I'm also very dissatisfied with a number of things Bush has done, or more specifically not done. I'm pretty damn far from a "supporter 'til death". That said I find it absolutely incredulous that people believe some of the things I've seen written here. What makes it ever worse in my opinion is that I KNOW some of you are not dolts either. I'm just totally at a loss to understand how seemingly intelligent people could really believe the things they apparently do.

My point is that you have to expect the worst from this idiot president we have. That way, when he screws something up beyond belief, you are prepared.
This guy doesn't have a clue what the majority of the US population wants. he says he does, but his actions suggest otherwise. he never fails to fail at everything he does.
He's so out of touch, he might as well be on Uranus.

This is the same thing of picking a specific date for something....then when it does Not come to pass, instead of saying I was wrong, changing the date or saying well this or that will happen and yada yada.
Will they hit Iran...Yeah I actually think they will and they might even provoke something or try to...there is MUCH more behind the scene's than most can even imagine.
But with that said, a larger conflict with Iran will NOT keep Bush in Power period.

Even if there was some type of Major terrorist Event on American Soil before the next election it will STILL NOT keep him in power in the way a lot of you are talking. The election Might be postponed but it would happen within months etc....Not GW set up as a Dictator.....
Look to Venezuela and see what happens when that kind of Shit starts, Hell the people at gunpoiint gave him those sweeping powers and now they realize they made a deal with the devil and want out.

You don't think in this country if someone Really tried a power grab like your talking about there would not be open civil war.....Please A Good majority of the people in this country"NOT cities" would Not stand for it and it would spread. So hate Bush all you want, I will be the 1st to admit that he has screwed up a lot and been a HUGE dissapointment to me, but him staging something to stay in power for what....a few more months....Naaaa just dont see it happening for a few more months of power.
Starting a larger scale war in the Middle east...Yeah that is a big possibility...but wont keep him in power.

Think out the whole scenario.....not just a gut reaction

Although George Bush might like to stay in control by any means at his disposal, I don't think he has assets in place to do it. He'd have to be much more popular than he is. Even though most of the military salutes him, too many of the top brass know he has stretched the military too thin. Add that to the fact that our tob brass go to top of the line military academies, where law and the Constitution are studied, I don't believe you'd see the military supporting a Bush takeover.

As far as the proposal above, it's the standard wet dream of bureaucrats everywhere. It carves out new turf and, much more importantly, it gives them the authority to conduct studies on their own relevance. It's easy to rig study methodology to get the answers you want. It's easy to rig a study to create out of thin air a justification for new taxes.

It basically hands the bureaucrats the means to control the demand for their own services. The rule-making authority basically gives the unelected the power to make laws (regulations). You know, we probably need regulations in this country, but they should be made and passed by Congress and signed into law. The Founders would be aghast at the law making power now in the hands of appointed, cant-be-fired government bureaucrats. It's not only in the HS Dept. It's in every department of federal and state government.

So, In my opinion, the good news is that George Bush will be gone. The bad news is that Homeland Security will expand its reach well into this century.

It IS scary, all the authority being given to inept policy makers who got their cushy positions as payback for previous favors.
The funny thing is, every unqualified crony shrub has put into office gets the thumbs-up from shrub, telling them what great jobs they're doing. Next thing you know, they resign or are fired with no further support from the prez.

Liberal Way of Thinking:
The evil Repbulican prez is going to turn himself into a dictator -- Lets pass more anti-gun laws so Americans cant fight.:wacko: How many things is wrong with that way of thinking? At least 4?


Americans dont remember what it's like to have a war that we cant afford to lose. Korea, Vietnam, and every little Samalia type conflict. When losing a war means pulling your troops back and discontinuing funding and then thats it, then it really wasnt worth fighting anyway. The last War that we couldnt afford to lose was WWII; maybe thats why the media didnt lose it for us like the rest. Bugs Bunny even contributed to the war effort, what do we have now? Kids on the cartoon channels singing and dancing in Arab towns thats what.

But even if the elections were suspended Bush wouldnt be in power after Jan 09. Either Cheney or (God for bid) Pelosi would take over.

As for Bush causing a catastrophe all I have to say is; come on Rosie is gone stop spreading her nonsense.

You got to be Kidding me....Rosey don't have the brains to come in out of the rain.

You got to be Kidding me....Rosey don't have the brains to come in out of the rain.



hey gal, you got that sh*t right:yes:

Bush is crazy enough to try, but would fail doing so, simply because patriots like me still exist, and we are armed heavy. I fully believe that's why he won't try.... Plain and simple

If you guys think the real power in this country is vested in polticians or the president you're nuts.

Oil and insurance compaines/Banks have always yielded the big power since WWII In the 1800's it was the railroad and banking tycoons.....But no matter what, if the Big Oil and big Insurance companies dont want something done...it wont happen
Worldwide....thats just the way it goes...the rest of us are just along for the ride unless we can get ourselves off the grid.

:beer: :no:

So its been a year and..


The surge has worked. Now we are discussing how many troops to keep there and how many to bring home and how fast.
The media has stopped covering the war. It is going to well to bash Bush for now.
No one has attacked Iran. Israel may be close and i think our election will determine their next move.
North Korea has been taken off the terrorist watch list. And is starting to cooperate.
Israel and Hamas have a cease fire although fragile it is something.
Gas has risen to $140 per barrel and $4+ at the pump. It is hurting Americans. This is what we should be working on.
70% of Americans want to drill off coast or in Alaska. The number of people that didn't want to drill has been cut in half in a year.
The democrat controlled congress have accomplished nothing.
McCain and Obama are our two next choices. GWB endorsed McCain doesn't sound like someone that doesn't plan on leaving.
DC gun ban has just been overturned.
California voters have been overturned by their supreme court.
We have the next Katrina going on right now in the midwest. And there is no one that is not getting emergency help. The Governors were smart enough to call up National Guard for sandbagging and evacuations.


I guess we'll have to wait until after the election for the rest of the story.

I wonder if any of the other posters in this old thread are going to speak up....

wont mean to much after nov for gwb.
reads like a type of executive order incase of attack or catastrophic mishapp all presidents have some sort of emergency plan for the goverment continuity

if something happens or we get attacked or lets say they sneak a nuke in here somehow worst case senario the executive and some of the legislative branches may have a chance to escape to underground survival bunkers and we will be above
thats only if your still alive after what ever they unleash on us ..

just think they have food storages, enviormental equipment, power, and alcoholic beverages down there and we get the survival crackers.

So its been a year and..


The surge has worked. Now we are discussing how many troops to keep there and how many to bring home and how fast.
The media has stopped covering the war. It is going to well to bash Bush for now.
No one has attacked Iran. Israel may be close and i think our election will determine their next move.
North Korea has been taken off the terrorist watch list. And is starting to cooperate.
Israel and Hamas have a cease fire although fragile it is something.
Gas has risen to $140 per barrel and $4+ at the pump. It is hurting Americans. This is what we should be working on.
70% of Americans want to drill off coast or in Alaska. The number of people that didn't want to drill has been cut in half in a year.
The democrat controlled congress have accomplished nothing.
McCain and Obama are our two next choices. GWB endorsed McCain doesn't sound like someone that doesn't plan on leaving.
DC gun ban has just been overturned.
California voters have been overturned by their supreme court.
We have the next Katrina going on right now in the midwest. And there is no one that is not getting emergency help. The Governors were smart enough to call up National Guard for sandbagging and evacuations.


I guess we'll have to wait until after the election for the rest of the story.

of course you would forget to mention the WAR IN AFGHANISTAN where things are heating up( no pun intended), troops dieing, coalition support is drying up , talbian stronger than ever , Pakistan maybe run by them soon , the Opium crop is at a world record for production ( up 300%)

economy is in the shitter , Housing market is a mess , Big corporation like GM & Ford may fold if they don't combine , only rich people can fly now ( no more $100 roundtrip tickets)

and yes the democrats have done nothing but they don't have a majority , they will In nov so any republicans that want to stall won't be able too, when they decide on leaving Iraq there will be no more Republican get up and walk out ( well they can still do that but it won't matter , cause the dems will have the numbers ) but if they continue to do nothing , than they will be the next to fall in 2012 ( and not to republicans )

So its been a year and..


The surge has worked. Now we are discussing how many troops to keep there and how many to bring home and how fast.

It has? Really? So it there is another Hurricane or God forbid another incident either here or abroad you say we have enough troops to make the necessary steps to quell it or render aid? No the surge diminished our troop levels and readiness

The media has stopped covering the war. It is going to well to bash Bush for now.

the cable media has not, internationally its a big story still you should be surprized how desensitized the nation is regarding war and death plus American Idol was on and the primaries its all about the candidates now

No one has attacked Iran. Israel may be close and i think our election will determine their next move.

what?

North Korea has been taken off the terrorist watch list. And is starting to cooperate.

May be taken off

Israel and Hamas have a cease fire although fragile it is something.

yep we can thank dubya for this one if anyone could make em stop fighting we all knew it was him

Gas has risen to $140 per barrel and $4+ at the pump. It is hurting Americans. This is what we should be working on.

LOL!

70% of Americans want to drill off coast or in Alaska. The number of people that didn't want to drill has been cut in half in a year.

welcome to cooperate America

The democrat controlled congress have accomplished nothing.

Neither did the Republican controlled congress so?

McCain and Obama are our two next choices. GWB endorsed McCain doesn't sound like someone that doesn't plan on leaving.

trust me Dubyas effects will linger fer a long long long time
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii19/SLdkos/Maybe100.jpg

DC gun ban has just been overturned.

the people

California voters have been overturned by their supreme court.

Damn liberals! LOL again the people not dubya

We have the next Katrina going on right now in the midwest. And there is no one that is not getting emergency help. The Governors were smart enough to call up National Guard for sandbagging and evacuations.

Hell of a job brownie? So how does that reflect of FEMA? nothing its still a joke sad news


I guess we'll have to wait until after the election for the rest of the story.

I wonder if any of the other posters in this old thread are going to speak up....

wunder no more LOL! its the end of the world mang! my Aztec and Mayan brothers and sisters predicted it

Are you guys serious?
We're gonna attack Iran, he will enact this directive and not reliquish his presidency?

The Naval build up in Iran is for saber rattling only. We don't have enough troops for Iraq and Afgan, let alone Iran. Even this administration isn't dumb enough to do this.

conspiracy theory at the extreme.

A little something to chew on.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/07/080707fa_fact_hersh

A little something to chew on.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/07/080707fa_fact_hersh

as I read it, its pure speculation on the reporters part, very little to back up his thoughts.

thats my thoughts:yes:

its pure speculation on the reporters part,


hmmm... Isn't it funny how one person reads it and sees findings presented and another sees speculation!

The one big question i have is who are his sources? that would be the key to turning this from "speculation" as you say, to fact.

One of two things are happening here. Either the reporter is risking his career by lying or people within this administration are. And I just can't imagine this administration lying about anything... hehe