Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, second left, conducts an inspection of security preparations for the presidential inauguration, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Posted on 01/11/2005 12:19:51 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Security for President Bush (news - web sites)'s inauguration — the first swearing-in since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks — will be unprecedented with some 6,000 law enforcement personnel, canine bomb teams and close monitoring of transportation.
In describing the plans for the Jan. 20 event, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said that while the decibel level was down on terrorism chatter, the 55th quadrennial presidential inauguration was such a high-profile event that security would be at its highest level.
"This is the most visible manifestation of our democracy," Ridge said at a news conference near the Capitol, where Bush will take the oath on the West Front.
Ridge detailed some of the security plans, including patrols of harbors, mobile command vehicles, round-the-clock surveillance of the key facilities and thousands of security personnel. He likened the resources to those used during the political conventions last year.
"Security will be at the highest levels of any inauguration," said Ridge, describing it as unprecedented.
The Federal Aviation Administration (news - web sites) has announced that it will expand the no-fly zone, now a 15-3/4-mile radius around the Washington Monument, to a 23-mile radius around Reagan National, Dulles and Baltimore-Washington International airports.
The temporary flight restrictions will be in effect from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, second left, conducts an inspection of security preparations for the presidential inauguration, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
A worker at Hargrove Inc. walks beneath a huge bald eagle at the company's facility in Lanham, Maryland, January 11, 2005. The eagle will form the finale float in the inauguration day parade on January 20. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
A worker at Hargrove Inc. paints a float of the Constitution of the United States at the company's facility in Lanham, Maryland, January 11, 2005. The Constitution float will be in the inauguration day parade on January 20 in Washington D.C. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
This 1889 painting by Ramon de Elorriaga entitled 'The Inauguration of George Washington', seen in New York's Federal Hall Jan. 18, 2001, depicts the first U.S. president taking his oath of office on the balcony of Federal Hall April 30, 1789. (AP Photo)
Unprecented? How exactly would it be unprecented? Many hundreds of thousands of Muslims would just love to assassinate him and several home grown America hating groups have threatened to riot.
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