National Security Presidential Directive 51

But I thought we were a freer, safer nation?

President Bush issued a formal national security directive yesterday ordering agencies to prepare contingency plans for a surprise, "decapitating" attack on the federal government, and assigned responsibility for coordinating such plans to the White House.

Why did he use the word, "decapitating"?

The statement added, "Emphasis will be placed upon geographic dispersion of leadership, staff, and infrastructure in order to increase survivability and maintain uninterrupted Government Functions."

Are they planning to abandon Washington D.C. if there is an attack? Why did they capitalize the words, "Government Functions"?

After the 2001 attacks, Bush assigned about 100 senior civilian managers to rotate secretly to locations outside of Washington for weeks or months at a time to ensure the nation's survival, a shadow government that evolved based on long-standing "continuity of operations plans."

Were you aware of this? Who are these, "senior civilian managers"? How much are they getting paid? And what the hell is a, "shadow government"???

Other former Bush administration officials said the directive formalizes a shift of authority away from the Department of Homeland Security to the White House.

Consider me officially confused (among other things):

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Via Digg