[Bob]

Gee, Richard Clarke seems to be the primary source for this. I'm sure he doesn't have an agenda in play here.

By the same token, I'd be shocked if the U.S. didn't have a plan in place for virtually any possible scenario. I'd certainly prefer that rather than 'winging it' after the fact.

[MindBender26]

The core plan, locations, etc. remained the same throughout various administrations. Assigned personnel changed, as the officials holding positions in Washington changed.

The Constitution does not require us to be stupid and have no government until one can be recreated.

The essence of this concept is, keep things running until new elections can be held.

It never was much of a secret, and certainly was not one after 9/11. I was in the Rayburn Building office with one of the House leadership. Very quickly after the attack, a Blackhawk landed out by the Triangle (grassy area in front of the House side of the Capitol.) He was whisked away and was absent for about 4 days. He still will not say where he went, but the helos departed westerly.

Reason this is being let out now is we want bad woggies to know that if they nuc/chem/bio DC, there will still be severe retaliation.

[xzins]

in a way that was never authorized by the Constitution or any federal law," said James Mann

And when the Constitution was written they could not have conceived of it being possible to melt down an entire city and, if they all happened to be in town for an important session of Congress, kill EVERYBODY in your total government.

The most important question is simply this: Is it POSSIBLE to decaptitate this entire gov't with one well-timed nuclear explosion?

If it's possible, then we should have a backup plan.

[chance33_98]

"This is the story of how the United States, in the Reagan administration, planned to set up a new presidency, a new leadership for the country at time of nuclear war, in a way that was never authorized by the Constitution or any federal law,"

I don't remember the founders having to worry about nuclear war. If you don't set up contingency plans it is plain stupid.

[M Kehoe]

I'd be shocked if the U.S. didn't have a plan in place for virtually any possible scenario.

If not, as one FReeper said, they should be impeached.

And in the fwiw department, Congress was informed/briefed (House & Senate leadership).

5.56mm

[RightWhale]

This was the plan ever since Russia got the A-bomb. Maybe it is breaking news for TV broadcast long format news-commentary shows.

[tpaine]

"The Reagan administration set up three teams," Mann said. "Each team had about 50 federal officials. And it had a chief of staff, and it had a Cabinet member who was going to be the next president. And if nuclear war seemed imminent, these three teams would be sent out from Washington, to different locations around the country. And in succession, each one could take over the running of the country."

_____________________________________



I suspect that in a truly chaotic situation, these self anointed 'presidential' teams might discover that the american citizen actually runs this country.