Need help finding the Bush PDD # 39

[DeadBroke]

I've been trying to find a copy of Bush's PDD # 39, the Presidential Decision Directive # 39, which he issued after September 11th.

I can find PDD for Bill Clinton; some links to his are below, but I can't find any Bush PDD, especially # 39 for 9-11.

http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/pdd/index.html

http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/pdd39.htm

Any help?

[Direckshun]

1. I think it's confidential.

Good luck finding it, though.

[DeadBroke]

2. I've been told it's "Classified" but ...

... by the way that PDD # 39 is so casually referred to in newspaper and magazine articles, and by the way it is mentioned so taken-for-granted or matter-of-factly in interviews and documentaries, it "sounds" like it should be available somewhere. It seems to just roll off the lips of these people.

Some examples:
1) In a magazine article (Firehouse; November 2002) about the Pentagon the writer says that the investigation fell to the FBI by "virtue of PDD-39."
2) On a personal note: In an eye to eye conversation I had with a Trade Center collapse investigator he told me that PDD # 39, which he never actually saw and which he also believed was classified, was needed for their efforts because it "put one agency in charge" and "got the wheels rolling" and "took care of the bills." He explained that it was his understanding that the PDD authorized calling in investigators from other geographical areas and paid those expenses in full.

[NecessaryOnslaught]

4. Don't know about the PDD

but "The USACE’s role in responding to WTC attacks was authorized by the Stafford Act as implemented by the Federal Response Plan(FRP)."......
"the major role of the Corps was the provision of technical assistance for the debris removal operations and the management of the landfill operations."
http://www.seas.gwu.edu/~icdm/USACE911.htm

The Stafford act(passed in October,2000) allowed for "putting one agency in charge , get the wheels rolling and taking care of the bills"

Sec. 302. (a) Immediately upon his declaration of a major disaster or emergency, the President shall appoint a Federal coordinating officer to operate in the affected area.
...........
Sec. 402. In any major disaster, the President may -

(1) direct any Federal agency, with or without reimbursement, to utilize its authorities and the resources granted to it under Federal law (including personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, and managerial, technical, and advisory services) in support of State and local assistance efforts;
(2) coordinate all disaster relief assistance (including voluntary assistance) provided by Federal agencies, private organizations, and State and local governments;
(3) provide technical and advisory assistance to affected State and local governments
..................

"performing any services under this Act, any Federal agency is authorized -

(1) to appoint and fix the compensation of such temporary personnel as may be necessary, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in competitive service;
(2) to employ experts and consultants in accordance with the provisions of section 3109 of such title
3) to incur obligations on behalf of the United States by contract or otherwise for the acquisition, rental, or hire of equipment, services, materials, and supplies for shipping drayage, travel, and communications, and for the supervision and administration of such activities. Such obligations, including obligations arising out of the temporary employment of additional personnel, may be incurred by an agency in such amount as may be made available to it by the President.

Debris Removal
Sec. 407. (a) The President, whenever he determines it to be in the public interest, is authorized -

(1) through the use of Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities, to clear debris and wreckage resulting from a major disaster from publicly and privately owned lands and waters; and
(2) to make grants to any State of local government or owner or operator of a private nonprofit facility for the purpose of removing debris or wreckage resulting from a major disaster from publicly or privately owned lands and waters.

(b) No authority under this section shall be exercised unless the affected State or local government shall first arrange an unconditional authorization for removal of such debris or wreckage from public and private property, and, in the case of removal of debris or wreckage from private property, shall first agree to indemnify the Federal Government against any claim arising from such removal.

(c) Rules Relating to Large Lots. The President shall issue rules which provide for recognition of differences existing among urban, suburban, and rural lands in implementation of this section so as to facilitate adequate removal of debris and wreckage from large lots.

(d) Federal Share. The Federal share of assistance under this section shall be not less than 75 percent of the eligible cost of debris and wreckage removal carried out under this section."

http://www.ohioema.org/robertt.htm

[NecessaryOnslaught]

8. Bush implemented the Stafford Act

On 9/11 for New York.

http://www.fema.gov/news/dfrn.fema?id=824

But not until 9/21 for the Pentagon.
http://www.fema.gov/news/dfrn.fema?id=823

[LARED]

3. PDD's seem to be numbered sequentially

and #39 was back in 95. Are you sure Bush even wrote a PDD #39?

[nomatrix]

5. PDD 39 was Clinton

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/pdd39.htm

"On June 21, 1995, the President signed PDD-39, U.S. Policy on Counterterrorism. This classified document laid out the national policy and assigned specific missions to designated Federal Departments and agencies. This unclassified synopsis is provided to enable Federal, State, and local emergency response and Consequence Management personnel without appropriate security clearances to have a basic understanding of the provisions of PDD-39."

"PDD-39 validates and reaffirms existing Federal Lead Agency responsibilities for counterterrorism, which are assigned to the Department of Justice (DOJ), as delegated to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), for threats or acts of terrorism within the United States. The FBI as the lead for Crisis Management will involve only those Federal agencies required and designated in classified documents. The Directive further states that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with the support of all agencies in the Federal Response Plan (FRP), will support the FBI in Washington, DC, and on scene until the Attorney General transfers Lead Agency to FEMA. FEMA retains responsibility for Consequence Management throughout the Federal response."


Bush isn't up that high yet. Homeland Security was PDD#3 was 03/2002
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020312-5.html

Executive Orders are his forte.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/orders/

The 9/11 hearings talk about the Aug, 2001 PDB (Presidential Daily Briefings)

There are NSDD (National Security Decision Directives) too.

Hope this help, DB.

[DeadBroke]

6. Thank you ...

... NecessaryOnslaught, LARED, and nomatrix for your help. I didn't think that Bush was in office long enough to have 39 of anything let alone a decision, but I really got confused by the way the expression PDD #39 was being used by so many. Thanks for the quick responses.

[NecessaryOnslaught]

7. PDD 39

and the Stafford act are somehow related.
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/frp/frpterr.htm

Although Bush wasn't in office for the passing of either of these "acts", the Stafford act did give the president authority over the response and cleanup logistics of an event such as 9/11.