Interesting article. Important to note your insistence to detail...

I would not have passed your test, but then again, my main focus is on Israel, not America. This site has a number of "Prozac" dispensers who will be all over you like a bad suit soon. I won't mention names - you'll soon see them here.

With your permission, I'm passing this article on to a number of lists I belong to - naturally accrediting both you and Blogcritics Magazine.

Figures Green is an Alex Jones fan. Jones has been harping on this conspiracy theory recently. I urge everyone to go and actually READ Presidential Directive 51 and pay attention to the HISTORY of the directive and to the conditions under which it actually applies.

Contrary to what Jones and his acolyte Green are suggesting, it only comes into play in a situation where the country is under so severe a threat that the regular government cannot operate - congress can't convene because DC has been evacuated, for example. It's also just a revision of a standing order which was last updated and reissued in the Clinton administration, but which has existed in some form going back to just after WW2, so it's not exactly a Bush power grab. This 'expansive new plan' has been in place since 1947, and it's hardly expansive since the order is about 2 pages when printed out.

Also worth noting is the number of times which the document stresses that the purpose of the order is to 'protect the constitution' and the rights of the people. That's sort of the opposite of the oppressive purpose some are suggesting.

So take your fearmongering elsewhere, conspiracy nuts.

Dave

With your permission, I'm passing this article on to a number of lists I belong to - naturally accrediting both you and Blogcritics Magazine.

Ruvy, do us all a favor and don't mention BC when you pass this on. I don't think we want people to think we're so nutty or so gullible that we actually believe this tripe.

Dave

Yeah, don't let people think that we're gullible enough to believe this tripe! Any country gullible enough to believe that Iraq is responsible for 9/11 will believe anything, and John Boehner demonstrated emotionally last week that we believe that! And he's a big-time Republican Senator!

Amazing how these articles start showing up the day after alex jones broadcasts his nationwide show.

Thanks for paying attention, gentlemen. I appreciate all who visit this forum and participate, regardless of what they believe or disbelieve. You all have my permission to spread this article and others I write as far and wide as you wish, with provision of credit.

Regarding those who seek to dispel the impact of Bush's latest expansion of government power, may I state that, in part, I am in agreement that other presidents have also expanded the government's scope and power. It is nothing new. It is a travesty that such power-grabbing has continued for so long without the representatives of the people making any attempt to bring it to a halt. 54 years after the CIA launched its first illegal and immoral overthrow of a foreign government (IRAN) under Dwight Eisenhower, we now have 16 secret organizations answering to one DNI who answers to one president. I'd say that's an expansion of power.

Such an expansion also requires a classified amount of taxpayer dollars. Money that the detractors would willingly continue to give to the executive branch each time it gets a wild hair and decides to increase its scope and power. I suggest they volunteer additional monies from their salaries to help the next department that will be formed and pay the salary of the next position that is established "for our safety."

The new NCC is a position that did not exist under any previous president. The new DNI is a position that did not exist under any previous president. The new Homeland Security Department is a department that did not exist under any previous president. Perhaps no other president felt it necessary to protect the American people quite like this one? Or maybe the mechanisms in place were sufficient already.

The events of 9/11 have ignited a firestorm of presidential decisions ranging from authorizing secret prisons, kidnappings, torture, internal spying, indefinite detainments and a host of other egregious acts that heretofore were viewed as methods used by Nazis and Communist regimes ... but not the United States.

Detractors of this article will paint me as a conspirator while simultaneously dismissing the real conspiracies crafted by our government that have led to some of the most heinous activities conducted by this government in the past 50 years.

Instead of targeting the government with a suspicious eye and using their intellect to disect the lies and tyranny that appears to be quite obvious when viewed together as an ongoing system of clandestine activity, SOME of the critics on this blog use their time to imagine scenarios that paint me as an avid fan of Alex Jones. I'm sorry to disappoint you fellas. But as credible as Mr. Jones may be, I have not read any of his work. But thanks to the comments here, now I will.

It seems also disingenuous to ignore the rational argument that proffers the notion that the recent push by the Bush administration to set into place new government institutions stem from the events of 9/11, which are events that in themselves provide insight into clandestine activities of this government that not only defy the will of the American people, but seek to thwart the power of the people by muting both Congress and the national media.

Consider the numerous pieces of evidence that scream for an all-out investigation of 9/11 and this government's complicity, yet the national media has failed to conduct such an investigation, choosing instead to provide tidbits of propaganda from a rigged 9/11 Commission that was forced into being by 4 grieving widows from Jew Jersey after nearly 2 years of constant pressure on both the media and government. Not 4 editors, or 4 journalists or 4 producers of news, or even 4 of the detractors that lurk on this Web site ... four wives who sought the truth. To this day those wives have not had their questions answered and not one major media outlet has sought to find those answers.

Consider that Congress is equally inept. Despite the fact that a majority of Americans find massive amounts of fault and missteps by this administration ("thousands of mistakes" that cost thousands of lives, as the administration reluctantly admits), in addition to the fact that the public has demonstrated time and again it wants our troops out of Iraq and an investigation of 9/11, few members of Congress have had the guts to represent the people as they were elected to do. Even an overhaul of Congress has done little to create an atmosphere that is accountable to the people. Instead, Congress kowtows to the president while critics in forums like these seek to dispel simple facts brought to life by concerned citizens.

I spent 12 years serving my country in the military. I spent another 12 in the media as an investigative reporter, award-winning columnist and now an editor. I find it curious that some folks would rather sacrifice the lives of our brave men and women of the military upon an altar of political allegiance rather than seek to save their lives from callous leaders who willingly send them into harm's way, extend their time in battle zones and arbitrarily expand their missions ... all based upon a mountain of lies and deception that some citizens of this nation are willing to accept ad nauseam.

For those of you who value the constitution that this president pretends is the reason behind his decisions (every lie is based upon the pretext of something foundational such as safety and security), I am asking you to do your own research. But don't merely pick one piece of the puzzle, instead look at the whole puzzle.

9/11 was a false flag event that raises a number of questions that have yet to be answered. Stemming from it are the consistent expansions of the executive branch since 2001.

The Gulf War was also based upon lies and deception that enabled Bush (41) to invade Iraq and never leave. Check out how long our military has continually bombed Iraq and the numbers of covert ops we've run in that nation since 1990.

There has been a longterm strategy to take over Iraq. Clinton's administration was also a part of that strategy. I wrote a book that provides this information in detail, decision by decision, when, where, who, how, etc.

The detractors will lurk in the shadows and cast doubt. If you believe them, then you will sit in the lukewarm water like the frog, who fails to notice how hot it is getting until it is too late, and he boils wondering 'what happened?'

Don't get caught asking the question "What happened" when it is too late to do anything about it. The time to act is now.

"Ruvy, do us all a favor and don't mention BC when you pass this on. I don't think we want people to think we're so nutty or so gullible that we actually believe this tripe."

I realize that you don't want the world to think ill of the magazine that you help edit, but it has one feature that I appreciate more and more daily. A writer very rarely is censored for his views. Not only is your Prozac dispensed, but reality is also. You should take a little bow there, Dave. You're part of that operation...

Mike,

I got this e-mail this morning after sending out your article to a whole load of people, including Dori Ullman, a woman with whom I worked in Saint Paul in the 1990's as a board member of an anti-poverty agency there.

She sent this from the Progressive.org. When folks on the left and the right in the American political spectrum smell the same rat, it is because the rat is real and has his claws out ready to strike.

Bush Anoints Himself as the Insurer of Constitutional Government in Emergency
May 18, 2007 By Matthew Rothschild

With scarcely a mention in the mainstream media, President Bush has ordered up a plan for responding to a catastrophic attack.

In a new National Security Presidential Directive, Bush lays out his plans for dealing with a "catastrophic emergency."
Under that plan, he entrusts himself with leading the entire federal government, not just the Executive Branch. And he gives himself the responsibility "for ensuring constitutional government."

He laid this all out in a document entitled "National Security Presidential Directive/NSPD 51" and "Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-20."

The White House released it on May 9.

Other than a discussion on Daily Kos led off by a posting by Leo Fender, and a pro-forma notice in a couple of mainstream newspapers, this document has gone unremarked upon.

The subject of the document is entitled "National Continuity Policy."

It defines a "catastrophic emergency" as "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 function."

This could mean another 9/11, or another Katrina, or a major earthquake in California, I imagine, since it says it would include "localized acts of nature, accidents, and technological or attack-related emergencies."

The document emphasizes the need to ensure "the continued function of our form of government under the Constitution, including the functioning of the three separate branches of government," it states.

But it says flat out: "The President shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for ensuring constitutional government."

The document waves at the need to work closely with the other two branches, saying there will be "a cooperative effort among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Federal Government." But this effort will be "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 efforts coordinated by the President would ensuring the capability of the three branches of government to "provide for orderly succession" and "appropriate transition of leadership."

The document designates a National Continuity Coordinator, who would be the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.

Currently holding that post is Frances Fragos Townsend.

She is required to develop a National Continuity Implementation Plan and submit it within 90 days.

As part of that plan, she is not only to devise procedures for the Executive Branch but also give guidance to "state, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector owners and operators of critical infrastructure."

The secretary of Homeland Security is also directed to develop planning guidance for "private sector critical infrastructure owners and operators," as well as state, local, territorial, and tribal governments.

The document gives the Vice President a role in implementing the provisions of the contingency plans.

"This directive shall be implanted 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 USC 19), with the consultation of the Vice President and, as appropriate, others involved."

The document also contains "classified Continuity Annexes."

Dori added to the e-mail she sent:

I hate to be one who sounds the doom and gloom messages, but this one bears close attention. Please go to the President's Executive Directive and see for yourselves. Tell me why you think I am mistaken in my worry.

In this Executive Directive this president has appointed himself permanent dictator of the United States. There will be another 9/11 disaster produced by our government soon. The Prez will then take over the government as is provided in the Executive Director. There will be no elections in 2008. Or if there are, they will be moot because Bush will, by this directive, appoint himself Prez and keeper of the Constitution and the American government. Do not think of opposing him, he has complete control of the military and police and they will put down any uprisings that may occur. So what can we do about it? What will we do about it? Probably nothing, as usual.

This is will be the end of whatever freedom we think we might have left after the years of the Bush reign.

Ruvy in Jerusalem,

I am encouraged by your submission to this forum. I accept that the American people have varying political perspectives. That is normal in any society where a variety of beliefs are held and there are varying degrees of socio-economic impact.

But I once naively assumed that if the federal government were to demonstrate symptoms of tyranny, the American people would come together and resist. Sadly, I can see today that I was wrong to harbor such a notion.

Your friend Dori brings to light the very thing I have written about for several years now. I have asked several prominent people the question, "What would happen if Bush fails to abdicate his power?" I've created "terrorist" scenarios that prevent the people from voting in order to thwart any easy answer. And the reality is if the people do not vote there is no clear direction on what to do or who will do it. Even if the people do vote, if that individual isn't sworn in, then what?

I do believe Bush will hand over power to Hillary Clinton if she is elected president, only because I believe that there ahs been a consitency in foreign policy in the Middle East during the presidencies of Bush (41), Clinton and now Bush (43).

But in even that scenario I have little faith. And if it did occur, I believe the U.S. policy in Iraq would remain unchanged. After all, the British are committed to being there through 2012. I have no doubt the Brits are only committed that far out because they already know we are as well. That provides a little insight into the next year and a half ... but that scenario promises an increase in troops and a declaration that American must remain in Iraq indefinitely.

Who would make such a statement? We know Bush would. But would Hillary?

I say, likely. So, in my predictions of tomorrow, i believe Bush will create a terrorist attack (as Brzezinski testified to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Feb 1, in order to stay in office. But that scenario comes only if Hillary isn't the person he is asked to hand over his power to. Additionally, I believe that the former CIA director, George H. Bush is actually runnign the show. He was in the White House for 12 years. His son will have served 8. Clinton served 8. So far, 20 years between two families, with Bush (41) having established the initial invasion of Iraq and Clinton continued the bombing of Baghdad throughout his tenure ... and now Bush (43) providing the coup de grace.

There is no way the U.S. government is letting go of Iraq. And if that measn taking control of the White House to ensure it happens, so be it.

I pray the American people wake up before the 90-day period is up and "THE PLAN" is submitted to and signed by the president.

It's already signed, the head of the new department has been chosen, and the Directive is dismal - talk about tempting the devil!

Here's what I've found troubling. Aside from all the ambiguous language, the first fact is Bush is once again eliminating congressional input with a Directive - not a law but a statement that now obligates Congress to fund it or challenge its constitutionality - and/or a Signing Statement to make his acceptance of any congress-passed law conditional. Second, Bush can declare anything an emergency - imagine him getting religion on global warming and deciding he must control everything with Homeland Security forces - think mercenary contractors as in Katrina - so that we can avert catastrophe! Remember, this is the President who believes in "preemptive" war! Many scary scenarios come to mind. Third, refer to second, in particular those pesky contractors with military helicopters, missiles, automatic weapons - working for money not belief in the Constitution or Bill of Rights especially - with their cute company logos "maintaining order" again, as they did with their weapons and tanks pointed at desperate civilians in New Orleans. Think the TV series Jericho, speaking of sci-fi with a reality twist that makes you squirm. In Jericho the Homeland Security chief, with all that power right at his fingertips if he could convince us to fear terrorism more than we loved our rights, staged nuclear terrorism and actually bombed us with nukes all over the country to take that power - and it's a Cheney-like eerie chief of Homeland Security who does it, with the help of those pesky mercenaries and some manipulated/infiltrated wanna-be terrorists. Fourth, as a Native, I resent the Directive extends to tribal lands, where the federal government does nothing but steal more land and drive rez residents to despair. Why would anyone relish having a bunch of paid commandos taking over their town/rez/city with only one Commander in Charge, and that one unaccountable to anyone? That's all for now - arthritis and such. Hope it helps you think about it. All the text on the Directive (just listen to that lovely undemocratic term - words, even their sounds, mean so much!) is here.

Already chosen to head it is Mrs. Townsend, a very successful woman in her 40s who worked under Clinton's AG Janet Reno and, after being tossed out by the Bushies, made a place for herself to the level of primary confidante to the Inner Circle, working her way in through Condi Rice. A softball interview on a CNN transcript shows she was pretty devious and/or clueless when she was asked about Pakistan as unreliable partner in War on Terror, Bin Ladin not captured, War on Terror generally unsuccessful, etc., sounding like a wonderful Bush-parrot!. On her meteoric rise thru the ranks. Overall, I think giving any administration from either party that much power is a threat to our democracy, for how and when can we get it back? When it comes to this administration having that power, it keeps me up at night