Shadow U.S. government in place
March 1, 2002
Shadow U.S. government in place
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Nearly six months after the September 11 attacks, a "shadow government" of senior federal agency officials remains in place at secure locations outside Washington as a precaution against a catastrophic strike on the nation's capital, a senior government official told CNN on Friday.
The secretive operation is based on Cold War protocols and its guidelines and infrastructure are the subject of urgent review within the administration to bring "continuity of government" planning up to modern-day needs and capabilities, the official said.
Precautions that have placed Vice President Dick Cheney at "a secure and undisclosed" location since the terrorist strikes on New York and the Pentagon are part of the "shadow government" plan.
But while Cheney has resumed a schedule that is "almost normal," as the senior official put it, the "shadow government" of "several dozen, roughly 100" senior government workers remains in place, using two secure locations in the eastern United States that were constructed for such a contingency.
Because Bush has decided to leave the operation in place, agencies including the White House and top civilian Cabinet departments have rotated personnel involved, and are discussing ways to staff such a contingency operation under the assumption it will be in place indefinitely, this official said.
"We are learning a lot from just putting this in place, and we are adjusting to that," the official said.
The lessons, according to this official, included a dramatic need to improve computer and other communications equipment and capabilities at the secure locations. Also, several departments are reviewing legal requirements to make sure those serving in the "shadow government" have the authority to carry out key government functions, should contact with Washington somehow be severed. continued →
Shadow U.S. government in place
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Nearly six months after the September 11 attacks, a "shadow government" of senior federal agency officials remains in place at secure locations outside Washington as a precaution against a catastrophic strike on the nation's capital, a senior government official told CNN on Friday.
The secretive operation is based on Cold War protocols and its guidelines and infrastructure are the subject of urgent review within the administration to bring "continuity of government" planning up to modern-day needs and capabilities, the official said.
Precautions that have placed Vice President Dick Cheney at "a secure and undisclosed" location since the terrorist strikes on New York and the Pentagon are part of the "shadow government" plan.
But while Cheney has resumed a schedule that is "almost normal," as the senior official put it, the "shadow government" of "several dozen, roughly 100" senior government workers remains in place, using two secure locations in the eastern United States that were constructed for such a contingency.
Because Bush has decided to leave the operation in place, agencies including the White House and top civilian Cabinet departments have rotated personnel involved, and are discussing ways to staff such a contingency operation under the assumption it will be in place indefinitely, this official said.
"We are learning a lot from just putting this in place, and we are adjusting to that," the official said.
The lessons, according to this official, included a dramatic need to improve computer and other communications equipment and capabilities at the secure locations. Also, several departments are reviewing legal requirements to make sure those serving in the "shadow government" have the authority to carry out key government functions, should contact with Washington somehow be severed. continued →
posted by 911truthnc at 12:06 PM
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