THE US: Deep underground in two undisclosed locations on the US east coast, cut off from family and friends, between 75 and 150 senior public servants are preparing for the worst. Their, until-now secret, role is to take over the reins of government in the event of a nuclear or similarly devastating attack on Washington.
The "shadow government", whose existence has been confirmed by senior administration officials, was activated in the wake of September 11th in line with Cold War plans. It includes senior officials from all major government departments and agencies, and, where required, plans are in place to delegate legal authority to the officials for the full gamut of functions of the state.
Officials, whose identities are not being revealed, are being rotated through their assignments to the secret bunkers for 90-day stints. The numbers involved at any one time range from 75 to 150 depending on the current threat assessment.
Designed originally to help the government withstand Cold War nuclear threats, the "Continuity of Operations Plan" was activated because of heightened fears that al-Qaeda might obtain a portable nuclear weapon. US intelligence has no specific knowledge of such a weapon, but the risk was great enough to warrant the activation of a plan dating to the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, one senior administration official said.
The shadow, underground government would try to contain disruptions of the nation's food and water supplies, transportation links, energy and telecommunications networks, public health and civil order, the Washington Post has reported. Later, it would begin to reconstitute the government.
The legislature and the judiciary are understood to have their own separate plans to ensure continuity in the event of the worst.
Since September 11th the regular disappearance of Vice-President Dick Cheney into "secure undisclosed locations" to protect continuity of command at the most senior level has become a favourite subject of comedians and cartoonists - one cartoon depicted US marines shining a light into the recesses of an Afghan cave only to discover the VP - but more extensive precautions have been unknown.
The two sites of the shadow government make use of local geological features to render them highly secure, the Post says. They are well stocked with food, water, medicine and other consumable supplies, and are capable of generating their own power.
