Sorry for the double post but:
(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.
If that doesnt read like a set up for instituting an umbrella of control and authority in the instance of an emergency then I don't know what else
does.
It seems like very...singular minded...allowance of power. Easily abused as well I am sure.
EDIT: For some reason this bit didn't get put in with the post.
(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.
section 10 reads as follows:
(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.
Section 16 reads as follows:
(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.
It often talks of allowing the seperation of powers to continue...but then it goes to say that those appointed by the president would , and will, have
the authority to coordinate and determine how to use all of the agencies.
Does that not seem like putting far too many eggs in one basket?
[edit on 5/22/0707 by spines]