[NYTr] Bush Hiding Secrets of "Dictator Act" from Congress

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

[The Bush regime has refused Congress details of his recent National
Security Directive 51 (which May calls the "Dictator Act." This is
basically an announcement of an upcoming article in the Lone Star
Iconoclast to be published next Tuesday.  Some of Eric May's prior
columns are available at the Iconoclast, including:

Battle of Baghdad Cover-Up Four Years Later - April 02, 2007 
By W. Leon Smith, Iconoclast Publisher
Interview With CAPTAIN ERIC MAY, Ghost Troop Commander
http://www.lonestaricon.com/AbsoluteNM/anmviewer.asp?a=1294

Framing a Photo of Lou Gehrig's Disease - June 03, 2007
By Captain Eric H. May
http://www.lonestaricon.com/AbsoluteNM/anmviewer.asp?a=1502

See also links to more recent articles elsewhere in May's post.-NYTr]


sent by Eric May - Aug 3, 2007
captainmay @prodigy.net

Bush Hiding Secrets of "Dictator Act" from Congress

By Captain Eric H. May

Crawford, Texas -- In a move certain to generate more alarm, the
Bush Administration's Frances Townsend yesterday denied House
Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bernie Thompson's July 27
written request for access to National Security Presidential Directive
51 (NSPD-51), the so-called "Dictator Act," which allows Bush to
control federal, state and local governments -- as well as key
private industries -- in case of a catastrophic event.

Critics point out that NSPD-51, which Bush signed May 9, allows him
to determine what does and doesn't constitute a catastrophe, and
opens the door to dictatorship.

This weekend I will write and publish a comprehensive update to
this developing story via Internet publications, and it will run
in the Iconoclast's next issue Tuesday.  For more details, see my
last two articles:

Next 9/11, Summer 2007?
http://www.thepriceofliberty.org/07/07/23/may.htm

Peter DeFazio and the Portland Nuke
http://www.thepriceofliberty.org/07/07/30/may.htm


Below is the letter of refusal from the White House.

The White House Washington

August 1, 2007

The Honorable Bennie G Thompson Chairman Committee on Homeland
Security U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Christopher P. Carney Chairman Subcommittee on
Management, Investigations, and Oversight Committee on Homeland
Security U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Peter A. DeFazio Committee on Homeland Security U.S.
House of Representatives Washington, DC 20525

Dear Chairman Thompson, Chairman Carney, and Representative DeFazio:

I am writing to respond to your letter of July 27, 2007, concerning
the classified annexes to National Security Presidential
Directive-51/Homeland Security Presidential Directive-20
(NSPD-51/HSPD-20) of May 4 2007 ("National Continuity Policy").

One of the overriding goals of NSPD-51/HSPD-20 was to describe, for
the first time in an unclassified manner, actions that the executive
branch is taking to ensure the effectiveness of our national
continuity capability. As the National Continuity Coordinator, I
understand the important work done by those at all levels of
government to ensure the preservation of our form of government
under the Constitution and the continuing performance of National
Essential Functions under all conditions. NSPD-51/HSPD-20 represents
the most information ever publicly provided by the executive on
continuity issues.

As you know, NSPD-51/HSPD-20 directs that an implementation plan
be submitted to the President for approval this month. The
implementation plan will provide further direction to executive
branch departments and agencies to promote coordination of continuity
programs with our partners at the Federal, State, and local levels
and in the private sector.

Regarding the highly sensitive classified annexes to NSPD-51/HSPD-20
that you requested, we are unable to share them with the membership
and staff of the Committee. It has long been the policy of the
executive branch -- predating the current Administration -- to treat
specific continuity operational details as extremely sensitive.
Traditionally, the executive branch has briefed the most senior
congressional leadership on sensitive continuity information. For
the House of Representative, we remain in regular contact with the
Offices of the Speaker, the Majority Leader, and the Republican
Leader on specific continuity plans. We are committed to continuing
to work with congressional leadership on these issues and are
sensitive to respecting their prerogatives in coordinating continuity
issues between the legislative and executive branches.

Sincerely,

Frances F. Townsend 
Assistant to the President
 for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism

cc:
Hon. Nancy Pelosi Hon. Steny Hoyer Hon. John Boehner