Political analyst Al Martin writes that the legal mechanism and contingency plan for canceling US elections is already in place.

"The contingency plan in question is the Continuity-Of-Government plan (COG), first drafted in 1949 under the Truman regime shortly after the Soviet Union detonated its first atomic weapon," Martin explains.

In addition to COG, "Bush has this power under Patriot I Act with the expansion of his authority under the War Powers Act of 1947, since, it should be remembered, a declared state of national emergency already exists in the United States at present," Martin writes in his column, "Canceling US Elections: It’s Easier Than You Think."

"The biggest story of the past week has been regarding the possible postponement or cancellation of the US presidential election," writes Martin, author of "The Conspirators: Secrets of an Iran Contra Insider." "This is actually much more sinister than the White House is making it appear.

"According to the release by the White House and the US Election Assistance Commission, the White House is supposedly just asking the Election Assistance Commission to work with the Attorney General and establish a legal mechanism, wherein George Bush could change all 50 state constitutions, as well as county and municipal election laws in one fell swoop -- in the event it became necessary to postpone the elections.