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Inauguration Speculation And Beyond
Inauguration Speculation And Beyond
Are You Dreading The Day, or Are You Okay With It?
Collin Powell - Crisis ‘we dont even know about’ may come around presidential inauguration Jan 21-22
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Bush warns Obama of terror threat
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BBC
12 January 2009
http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/americas/7824731. stm
Outgoing US President George W Bush has warned his successor that a terrorist attack is still the "most urgent threat" to the US
At his last press conference before handing over to Barack Obama next week, he said there were enemies who wanted to inflict damage on Americans
Mr Bush said he believed North Korea may have an enriched uranium programme, while Iran was "still dangerous"
Mr Bush wished Mr Obama good luck, saying he would be well supported
Appearing before the White House press corps to thank them for their work during his two terms in power, Mr Bush said he had received a security briefing every day except Sundays for the past eight years
"The most urgent threat he will have to deal with, and other presidents after him have got to deal with, is an attack on our homeland," Mr Bush said
"I wish I could report that is not the case, but there's still an enemy out there that would like to inflict damage on Americans.That will be the major threat"
Mr Bush was only eight months into his presidency when terror attacks occurred on 11 September, 2001, in the US
In a wide-ranging question and answer session with the media, Mr Bush was asked about his mistakes, the economy, the Middle East and his future
'Moral standing'
Questioned about America's "moral standing" in the world, he strongly disagreed with suggestions that it had been damaged by the war in Iraq
But he acknowledged that it had been a mistake to make a speech about US troops in Iraq underneath a banner proclaiming "mission accomplished" in 2003
US troop numbers were subsequently increased, and 140,000 remain in Iraq as his presidency ends
Other "disappointments" cited by Mr Bush were the prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib, and "not having weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq - the main reason given by the US for launching a war on Saddam Hussein
He said he would be willing to ask Congress to release the remaining $350bn from the government's bailout fund, if Barack Obama asked him to
Mr Bush also said the response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 in New Orleans had been fast enough, but conceded that "things could have been done better"
The Bush administration was widely criticised by local residents who felt abandoned in the immediate aftermath of the disaster
Leaving office
Mr Bush was supportive of Mr Obama, repeatedly saying that he wished him all the best and describing him as "smart and engaging" and also "a much better speech-maker than me"
He predicted that the next president would suddenly realise the importance of being president of the US - either "the minute he walks in the Oval Office...[or] he may feel it the minute he gets sworn in"
He went on: "All I know is, he's going to feel it.There'll be a moment when he feels it"
As he prepares to leave the White House with his wife Laura, the famously fit president offered a glimpse of a vigorous retirement
"I just can't envision myself, you know, with the big straw hat and a Hawaiian shirt sitting on some beach"
Security Readies for Obama Inauguration - November 21, 2008
Workers put bullet proof glass on President-elect Barack Obama's Inaugural Reviewing Stand on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan.5, 2009
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Obama inauguration attractive terrorist target: US intelligence
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Associated Press
Jan 7, 2009
http://www. star-telegram. com/190/story/1129480. html
WASHINGTON: The upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama is an attractive target for international and domestic terrorists, but US intelligence
officials have no information about specific threats to the Jan.20 event
An internal intelligence assessment says the high visibility of the event, the presence of dignitaries and the significance of swearing in America's first black president make the inauguration vulnerable to attacks
What concerns analysts most, the report says, is the potential use of improvised explosive devices, a hostage situation or suicide bombers
While security will be tight around the U.S.Capitol, the joint FBI and Homeland Security assessment says nearby hotels, public gatherings, restaurants and roads could be vulnerable to some kind of attack
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said security concerns during inaugurations have been elevated since the 2001 terror attacks. ....I think it will be the most security, as far as I'm aware, that any inauguration has had,'' Chertoff said in an interview
Chertoff also said there is no specific intelligence pointing to terrorist plots during the event
....We have scrubbed very hard to look at anything that would suggest a credible, imminent threat or one that was specifically focused on the inauguration,'' Chertoff said, though not referring to the intelligence assessment. ....We're not, at this point, aware of a credible, specific, imminent threat that would affect the inauguration''
The Secret Service, which is in charge of the overall security for the event, announced Wednesday that bridges into Washington and about 3.5 square miles (9 square kilometers) of the downtown will be closed on Jan. 20.The security perimeter covers more of the city than previous inaugurations
The analysis says that threats against Obama have increased since he was elected, which also poses concern for the inauguration
According to the intelligence assessment, a so-called lone wolf poses the greatest threat during the inauguration because such criminals are generally not affiliated with any specific group or act without the direction of a group.There have been some lone wolf threats reported, but nothing points to a well-planned plot, the assessment said
Officials are concerned about explosives placed in crowded areas and people impersonating emergency and law enforcement officials, but they have no specific information that indicates terrorists are planning to do this, the assessment said
While intelligence officials have seen no credible threats to the event from international terrorists or domestic terrorists, al-Qaida and its affiliates remain a threat to U.S.interests within the country and abroad, and the significance of Obama's presidency raises the potential threat from hate groups
Inaugural Security To The EXTREME November 24, 2008
With the White House in the background, workers continue to build the Presidential inauguration reviewing stand in Washington, Friday, Nov 7, 2008 On January 20, 2009, President Obama and guests will view the inaugural parade from the stand
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Unprecedented Public Safety Plan for Obama Inauguration
Bridges Into Washington Shut Down for Inauguration
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ABC News
By PIERRE THOMAS
Jan 7, 2009
http://abcnews. go. com/Politics/story?id=6597758&page=1
Virtually every major bridge heading into the nation's capital on Inauguration Day will be closed to vehicular traffic In other words, unless they are on a bus or in an authorized vehicle, riders will be turned away by the police or the military
That announcement came from the United States Secret Service, which is the organization tasked with handling security for the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States
The reasons for all the controls over traffic became clear Wednesday night as ABC News learned of a new security bulletin regarding the inauguration
While there is no specific credible threat to the event, the government warning expressed concern about improvised bombs, suicide attacks and hostage scenarios.The reason? Intelligence officials have concluded that the inauguration is a very "attractive target" -- because of the symbolism, its historic nature, the presence of VIPs and the sheer volume of people expected in and around the ceremonies
"There are no adjustments being made at this time to the nation's threat level," read the statement on the joint threat assessment by the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the National Counterterrorism Center, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, the U.S.Northern Command and fusion centers in the National Capital Region
"As a routine matter, we also remind the public planning to attend the inauguration to be both thoughtful and vigilant of their surroundings, and to report anything suspicious to authorities," the statement added
The most probable targets are thought to include crowds on the mall, hotels and restaurants and streets heading into the parade area
All people along the parade route and at the balls will have to go through security screening.Some of the items restricted along the parade route beyond the obvious prohibition against weapons include aerosols, supports for signs and placards, packages, coolers, thermal or glass containers, backpacks, bags exceeding size restrictions (8" x 6" x 4"), laser pointers, animals other than helper/guide dogs, structures, bicycles and any other items determined to be a potential safety hazard
Read The Rest HERE
Looking from the Capitol down the National Mall, the inaugural platform is under construction in Washington December 4, 2008 US President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th US President here on January 20, 2009
worker paints a section of the inaugural platform in front of the Capitol in Washington December 4, 2008
NORTHCOM... wait does that mean the martial law Candadian troops are going to guard the inauguration, TOO? What’s GOING ON!
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Military to ratchet up security for Obama inauguration
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Air defense will be 'robust' and thousands of personnel will be on high alert, with medical units and chemical-attack experts in place, when the new president is sworn into office
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Julian Barnes
December 17, 2008
http://www. latimes. com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-obama-...
Reporting from Washington -- The U.S.military will be on high alert during the inauguration of Barack Obama, with increased air defenses, chemical-attack teams and medical units in place, a top general said in disclosing details of the plan today
Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., who heads the military command that oversees security for North America, said the Defense Department has been told of no specific threats, but that the armed services need to be ready to respond to an attack or other emergency
"It would make news for a terrorist element or rogue element to interrupt that event," Renuart said."So it is prudent to plan for the possibility of that event and to deter it or to respond to it"
Northern Command, frequently called Northcom, is the military command that succeeded the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, which guarded U.S. airspace.After 2001, the command was given broad responsibility for domestic security
The military duties are not unprecedented.Northern Command officials said they also provided security support for inaugural activities in 2005 as well as for national political conventions and major athletic events, such as the Super Bowl
The U.S.Secret Service is the lead agency coordinating security for the inauguration, but about 11,500 military service members will take part through Northcom
Some of those military personnel will be part of the inaugural events, playing in bands, marching in parades and conducting honor ceremonies.But Renuart made clear that much of the force will have a role in security and response
About 4,000 National Guard members will provide support to local law enforcement agencies, boosting security on the National Mall and around Washington, where millions of people are expected to visit to see the inauguration
The military also will use 7,500 active-duty troops, who have expertise the guard does not, including emergency medical teams and experts in chemical attack
"Northcom's role is to plan for any contingencies that might occur," Renuart said."So chemical response will be on alert"
Air defenses around Washington are always tight, but Renuart said the number of patrols would increase during the inauguration
"Our integrated air defenses for the national capital region will be up, robust and available," he said
julian.barnes@latimes.com
Click To Watch: Nov 22, 2008 - LaRouche Fields Question on British ...
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LaRouche's November 22nd Warning:
The British Will Attempt To Assassinate President-Elect Obama
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Daily Paul
November 24th, 2008
http://www. dailypaul. com/node/74034
http://www. larouchepac. com/news/2008/11/22/lyndon-larouches-novem...
Lyndon LaRouche's November 22nd Warning: The British Will Attempt To Assassinate President-Elect Obama
NOV. 22, 2008 (LPAC) -- Lyndon LaRouche today issued his most emphatic warning to date on the danger of a British-authored assassination of President-elect Barack Obama. Using the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the British-run assassination of President John F. Kennedy, LaRouche warned that the greatest danger of an assassination of the President-elect would be before the scheduled Jan. 20, 2009 inauguration--while George W.Bush is still the President and while Dick Cheney is still in office as his Vice President
“The most dangerous and devastating thing that could happen to the United States, and, by extension, to the world as a whole, is an assassination of Barack Obama, while George Bush is still occupying the White House. This means that the greatest danger is the period between today and Jan.20, 2009, when Barack Obama is to be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States,” LaRouche declared
Read The Rest HERE
VANTAGE POINT
http://www. google. com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g8-DEMtAE9q4i4y...
Associated Press
Nov 15, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) — Threats against a new president historically spike right after an election, but from Maine to Idaho law enforcement officials are seeing more against Barack Obama than ever before. The Secret Service would not comment or provide the number of cases they are investigating. But since the Nov. 4 election, law enforcement officials have seen more potentially threatening writings, Internet postings and other activity directed at Obama than has been seen with any past president-elect, said officials aware of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue of a president's security is so sensitive. Earlier this week, the Secret Service looked into the case of a sign posted on a tree in Vay, Idaho, with Obama's name and the offer of a "free public hanging." In North Carolina, civil rights officials complained of threatening racist graffiti targeting Obama found in a tunnel near the North Carolina State University campus
Or symbol of a black lady to be widowed?
Barack Obama campaigns alongside Caroline Kennedy, daughter of late US president John F Kennedy
New York Times - Caroline Kennedy: Obama Will Be “A President Like ...
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45 years on, JFK killing haunts Secret Service protecting Obama
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AFP News
Nov 22, 2008
http://www. google. com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i1ohFbSlRrJcUl...
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Americans reflected Saturday on the presidency of John F.Kennedy, who was assassinated 45 years ago, as once again a young, inspiring president is headed to the White House
President-elect Barack Obama has often been compared for his lofty ideals and charisma to the late JFK, who was shot dead in Dallas, Texas in 1963
Obama's cool speech delivery, his intellectual prowess, relative youth and inexperience -- the 47-year-old was an Illinois state senator little over four years ago -- have been seen by many as direct reflections of JFK
Even the charming families, along with an apparent command of admiration around the world, are touchstones of both Obama and JFK's broad appeal
But Obama's character and historic election as the first African-American US president have many people worried about potential threats to his life
"He is inspirational, he is an historic figure, he is the first African-American president; but there is also -- because of that potential for stirring up social unrest -- that also makes him a target," said Scott Stuart, senior terror and security analyst for Stratfor, a publisher of geopolitical intelligence
Read The Rest HERE
The Nuclear Football, on display at the Smithsonian Institute.The Football is a specially modified Zero-Haliburton suitcase with a leather satchel with zippers and pouches for documents and a secure radio
http://www. globalsecurity. org/wmd/systems/nuclear-football-pics. htm
On Jan. 20, an unobtrusive military officer carrying a small leathe...
US concept of uncontested nuclear strike not feasible - Russia Today December 02, 2008 - Russia says the US will not be able to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike without being hit back, It follows Washington's plans to set up a missile defence shield in space
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Codes for Armageddon:
A New President To Hold Nuclear Launch 'Football'
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Baltimore Sun
By David Wood
November 30, 2008
WASHINGTON - It is a simple transfer of immense power
On Jan. 20, an unobtrusive military officer carrying a small leather-bound metal briefcase will follow President George W. Bush up to Capitol Hill.After the inauguration ceremony, he will accompany President Barack Obama back to the White House
Inside the attaché, known as "the football," are the codes to identify and authenticate a presidential order that could launch nuclear weapons and ignite a global holocaust
Routine to us, perhaps astonishing to much of the world, this peaceful passing of "the football" will propel Obama into a maelstrom. What awaits the new commander in chief is the weighty responsibility of defending the United States - and a nasty brew of nuclear weapons problems that range from the threat of terrorist attacks to potential new regional and superpower arms races. Iran and North Korea are rushing headlong toward building nuclear arsenals.And the main arms reduction treaty with Russia expires next year
Those known challenges arise from an unruly world thrown into deeper turmoil by the global financial crisis, a world in which nuclear technology spreads like wildfire and almost 10,000 nuclear weapons could be on alert at any given time
The risk of nuclear war will grow during the next 20 years, U.S. intelligence officers concluded last week.Surprise, in this realm, is almost a given
"It is immensely sobering when you are actually confronted with all the responsibility related to nuclear weapons," said Matthew Bunn, a former White House nuclear weapons adviser now at Harvard's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
That will become clear with Obama's first peek inside the ever-present briefcase. The secure phone nestled inside will connect him to the nuclear command centers at the Pentagon, Colorado Springs and "Site R," the bunkered emergency command center just over the Maryland border near Blue Ridge Summit, Pa. Through them, the president can reach the 1,300 U.S.strategic nuclear weapons always on alert
Inside the case he will also find a notebook listing various attack options - from a single shot to all-out war - from which the president may choose and order
Previous presidents have found all this hard to absorb
"The most sober and startling I ever heard," Ronald Reagan said after his first briefing on the nuclear options - so disturbing that it helped launch him on a quest to abolish nuclear weapons altogether
Obama has outlined an ambitious plan of tackling many of these issues
"Here's what I will say as president: America seeks a world in which there are no nuclear weapons," he said in an Oct. 2, 2007, speech in Chicago. While working toward that long-range goal, he said the United States "will not pursue unilateral disarmament.As long as nuclear weapons exist, we'll retain a strong nuclear deterrent"
But he vowed to reach an agreement with Russia "to take U.S. and Russian ballistic missiles off hair-trigger alert" and to negotiate significant reductions in U.S.and Russian nuclear weapons stockpiles
He intends to pursue tough negotiations with Iran and North Korea to halt their nuclear weapons programs
And he has promised to lock down all nuclear material around the world at vulnerable sites "within four years"
Events may not wait
A new long-range forecast from America's top spy agencies said the possibility of a new nuclear arms race in the Middle East, ignited by Iran's race to build a nuclear weapons arsenal, promises new instabilities "potentially more dangerous than the Cold War" between the United States and the Soviet Union
Weak Middle East regimes might be more tempted to actually use the weapons during a crisis in a region already prone to convulsive violence, said the report, Global Trends 2025, released by National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell
The six Persian Gulf states, within easy missile range of Iran, have said they are pursuing "peaceful" nuclear energy programs.They are among 50 nations interested in building new nuclear facilities
According to a report last month by the International Atomic Energy Agency, 439 nuclear power reactors currently are operating in 30 countries, with 36 plants under construction
The increased nuclear activity "naturally increases the risk that nuclear material could be diverted to make nuclear weapons," IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei told the United Nations. This year alone, the IAEA has investigated 250 incidents involving the loss or theft of nuclear or radioactive material.Much of it is never recovered, he said
Senior U.S. intelligence officers, asked to weigh the risks that will dominate the next 15 years, noted that the spread of nuclear material and weapons technology is accelerating. They said a number of weak regimes, like North Korea, might acquire and then lose control of nuclear weapons.They listed new ways that might tempt actual use of nuclear weapons, for example in low-yield blasts or high-altitude detonations to cripple enemy communications
Given these trends, they said in the recent report, the risk of nuclear war in the near future, "although remaining low, is likely to be greater than it is today"
Despite the threat of new nuclear powers, Moscow might quickly become a key focus of the Obama administration
Under Prime Minister Vladimir V.Putin, who has vowed to "significantly increase" Russia's aircraft, missile and submarine nuclear weapons launchers, Russia is building two new classes of intercontinental ballistic missiles and deploying a new class of ballistic missile submarines
Senior Russian officials, including Putin, have threatened to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia's interests, and have aggressively deployed Russian bombers and warships for the first time in years
Currently, the overall size of U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals is limited by the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. But the treaty expires in December 2009.With it will expire any of the extensive verification measures, including inspections at each other's missile plants, that have ensured confidence on both sides
That deadline will create pressure on Obama to begin negotiations immediately, arms control experts said, even if the only agreement is to extend the current treaty for an additional year. An agreement on deeper reductions would take more time.A newer treaty signed in 2002, the Strategic Offense Reduction Treaty, calls for further cuts by 2012 but contains no verification measures
On another front, Obama could help slow the spread of nuclear weapons by early on reiterating his intent to reduce global stockpiles, endorsing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and confirming his intention to seek an eventual abolition of nuclear weapons. Such moves have been urged by former Republican secretaries of state Henry A. Kissinger and George P.Shultz, among others
"A strong statement in his inaugural address, for example, would send the right signal to the world and would create space for the United States and like-minded countries to pursue nonproliferation," said Deepti Choubey, an arms control specialist at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
But Obama should be wary of promising too much
"Our capacity to engage the rest of the world has taken a huge hit over the past eight years," she said
"I would temper expectations.We shouldn't dig ourselves further into the hole"
Even if all the U.S.nuclear initiatives work out as promised, Americans will remain vulnerable at home to a nuclear-related catastrophe, whether in the form of a "dirty bomb" that spreads radioactivity or a smuggled nuclear device
"No matter what is done to prevent nuclear terrorism, it is essential that the United States get better prepared should such a catastrophe nevertheless occur," warns a new report by Harvard's Belfer Center
In the "ghastly aftermath" of a nuclear detonation, the report said, the government needs - and does not currently have - an ability to rapidly assess people in greatest danger, to communicate with them to advise on what to do, and to care for the injured and homeless.And there must be a comprehensive plan, the report said, to keep the government and the economy running while authorities begin to sort out a response
Are You Dreading The Day, or Are You Okay With It?
Collin Powell - Crisis ‘we dont even know about’ may come around presidential inauguration Jan 21-22
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Bush warns Obama of terror threat
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BBC
12 January 2009
http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/americas/7824731. stm
Outgoing US President George W Bush has warned his successor that a terrorist attack is still the "most urgent threat" to the US
At his last press conference before handing over to Barack Obama next week, he said there were enemies who wanted to inflict damage on Americans
Mr Bush said he believed North Korea may have an enriched uranium programme, while Iran was "still dangerous"
Mr Bush wished Mr Obama good luck, saying he would be well supported
Appearing before the White House press corps to thank them for their work during his two terms in power, Mr Bush said he had received a security briefing every day except Sundays for the past eight years
"The most urgent threat he will have to deal with, and other presidents after him have got to deal with, is an attack on our homeland," Mr Bush said
"I wish I could report that is not the case, but there's still an enemy out there that would like to inflict damage on Americans.That will be the major threat"
Mr Bush was only eight months into his presidency when terror attacks occurred on 11 September, 2001, in the US
In a wide-ranging question and answer session with the media, Mr Bush was asked about his mistakes, the economy, the Middle East and his future
'Moral standing'
Questioned about America's "moral standing" in the world, he strongly disagreed with suggestions that it had been damaged by the war in Iraq
But he acknowledged that it had been a mistake to make a speech about US troops in Iraq underneath a banner proclaiming "mission accomplished" in 2003
US troop numbers were subsequently increased, and 140,000 remain in Iraq as his presidency ends
Other "disappointments" cited by Mr Bush were the prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib, and "not having weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq - the main reason given by the US for launching a war on Saddam Hussein
He said he would be willing to ask Congress to release the remaining $350bn from the government's bailout fund, if Barack Obama asked him to
Mr Bush also said the response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 in New Orleans had been fast enough, but conceded that "things could have been done better"
The Bush administration was widely criticised by local residents who felt abandoned in the immediate aftermath of the disaster
Leaving office
Mr Bush was supportive of Mr Obama, repeatedly saying that he wished him all the best and describing him as "smart and engaging" and also "a much better speech-maker than me"
He predicted that the next president would suddenly realise the importance of being president of the US - either "the minute he walks in the Oval Office...[or] he may feel it the minute he gets sworn in"
He went on: "All I know is, he's going to feel it.There'll be a moment when he feels it"
As he prepares to leave the White House with his wife Laura, the famously fit president offered a glimpse of a vigorous retirement
"I just can't envision myself, you know, with the big straw hat and a Hawaiian shirt sitting on some beach"
Security Readies for Obama Inauguration - November 21, 2008
Workers put bullet proof glass on President-elect Barack Obama's Inaugural Reviewing Stand on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan.5, 2009
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Obama inauguration attractive terrorist target: US intelligence
**********************************************************************
Associated Press
Jan 7, 2009
http://www. star-telegram. com/190/story/1129480. html
WASHINGTON: The upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama is an attractive target for international and domestic terrorists, but US intelligence
officials have no information about specific threats to the Jan.20 event
An internal intelligence assessment says the high visibility of the event, the presence of dignitaries and the significance of swearing in America's first black president make the inauguration vulnerable to attacks
What concerns analysts most, the report says, is the potential use of improvised explosive devices, a hostage situation or suicide bombers
While security will be tight around the U.S.Capitol, the joint FBI and Homeland Security assessment says nearby hotels, public gatherings, restaurants and roads could be vulnerable to some kind of attack
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said security concerns during inaugurations have been elevated since the 2001 terror attacks. ....I think it will be the most security, as far as I'm aware, that any inauguration has had,'' Chertoff said in an interview
Chertoff also said there is no specific intelligence pointing to terrorist plots during the event
....We have scrubbed very hard to look at anything that would suggest a credible, imminent threat or one that was specifically focused on the inauguration,'' Chertoff said, though not referring to the intelligence assessment. ....We're not, at this point, aware of a credible, specific, imminent threat that would affect the inauguration''
The Secret Service, which is in charge of the overall security for the event, announced Wednesday that bridges into Washington and about 3.5 square miles (9 square kilometers) of the downtown will be closed on Jan. 20.The security perimeter covers more of the city than previous inaugurations
The analysis says that threats against Obama have increased since he was elected, which also poses concern for the inauguration
According to the intelligence assessment, a so-called lone wolf poses the greatest threat during the inauguration because such criminals are generally not affiliated with any specific group or act without the direction of a group.There have been some lone wolf threats reported, but nothing points to a well-planned plot, the assessment said
Officials are concerned about explosives placed in crowded areas and people impersonating emergency and law enforcement officials, but they have no specific information that indicates terrorists are planning to do this, the assessment said
While intelligence officials have seen no credible threats to the event from international terrorists or domestic terrorists, al-Qaida and its affiliates remain a threat to U.S.interests within the country and abroad, and the significance of Obama's presidency raises the potential threat from hate groups
Inaugural Security To The EXTREME November 24, 2008
With the White House in the background, workers continue to build the Presidential inauguration reviewing stand in Washington, Friday, Nov 7, 2008 On January 20, 2009, President Obama and guests will view the inaugural parade from the stand
*********************************************************************
Unprecedented Public Safety Plan for Obama Inauguration
Bridges Into Washington Shut Down for Inauguration
*********************************************************************
ABC News
By PIERRE THOMAS
Jan 7, 2009
http://abcnews. go. com/Politics/story?id=6597758&page=1
Virtually every major bridge heading into the nation's capital on Inauguration Day will be closed to vehicular traffic In other words, unless they are on a bus or in an authorized vehicle, riders will be turned away by the police or the military
That announcement came from the United States Secret Service, which is the organization tasked with handling security for the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States
The reasons for all the controls over traffic became clear Wednesday night as ABC News learned of a new security bulletin regarding the inauguration
While there is no specific credible threat to the event, the government warning expressed concern about improvised bombs, suicide attacks and hostage scenarios.The reason? Intelligence officials have concluded that the inauguration is a very "attractive target" -- because of the symbolism, its historic nature, the presence of VIPs and the sheer volume of people expected in and around the ceremonies
"There are no adjustments being made at this time to the nation's threat level," read the statement on the joint threat assessment by the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the National Counterterrorism Center, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, the U.S.Northern Command and fusion centers in the National Capital Region
"As a routine matter, we also remind the public planning to attend the inauguration to be both thoughtful and vigilant of their surroundings, and to report anything suspicious to authorities," the statement added
The most probable targets are thought to include crowds on the mall, hotels and restaurants and streets heading into the parade area
All people along the parade route and at the balls will have to go through security screening.Some of the items restricted along the parade route beyond the obvious prohibition against weapons include aerosols, supports for signs and placards, packages, coolers, thermal or glass containers, backpacks, bags exceeding size restrictions (8" x 6" x 4"), laser pointers, animals other than helper/guide dogs, structures, bicycles and any other items determined to be a potential safety hazard
Read The Rest HERE
Looking from the Capitol down the National Mall, the inaugural platform is under construction in Washington December 4, 2008 US President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th US President here on January 20, 2009
worker paints a section of the inaugural platform in front of the Capitol in Washington December 4, 2008
NORTHCOM... wait does that mean the martial law Candadian troops are going to guard the inauguration, TOO? What’s GOING ON!
*********************************************************
Military to ratchet up security for Obama inauguration
*********************************************************
Air defense will be 'robust' and thousands of personnel will be on high alert, with medical units and chemical-attack experts in place, when the new president is sworn into office
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Julian Barnes
December 17, 2008
http://www. latimes. com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-obama-...
Reporting from Washington -- The U.S.military will be on high alert during the inauguration of Barack Obama, with increased air defenses, chemical-attack teams and medical units in place, a top general said in disclosing details of the plan today
Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., who heads the military command that oversees security for North America, said the Defense Department has been told of no specific threats, but that the armed services need to be ready to respond to an attack or other emergency
"It would make news for a terrorist element or rogue element to interrupt that event," Renuart said."So it is prudent to plan for the possibility of that event and to deter it or to respond to it"
Northern Command, frequently called Northcom, is the military command that succeeded the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, which guarded U.S. airspace.After 2001, the command was given broad responsibility for domestic security
The military duties are not unprecedented.Northern Command officials said they also provided security support for inaugural activities in 2005 as well as for national political conventions and major athletic events, such as the Super Bowl
The U.S.Secret Service is the lead agency coordinating security for the inauguration, but about 11,500 military service members will take part through Northcom
Some of those military personnel will be part of the inaugural events, playing in bands, marching in parades and conducting honor ceremonies.But Renuart made clear that much of the force will have a role in security and response
About 4,000 National Guard members will provide support to local law enforcement agencies, boosting security on the National Mall and around Washington, where millions of people are expected to visit to see the inauguration
The military also will use 7,500 active-duty troops, who have expertise the guard does not, including emergency medical teams and experts in chemical attack
"Northcom's role is to plan for any contingencies that might occur," Renuart said."So chemical response will be on alert"
Air defenses around Washington are always tight, but Renuart said the number of patrols would increase during the inauguration
"Our integrated air defenses for the national capital region will be up, robust and available," he said
julian.barnes@latimes.com
Click To Watch: Nov 22, 2008 - LaRouche Fields Question on British ...
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LaRouche's November 22nd Warning:
The British Will Attempt To Assassinate President-Elect Obama
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Daily Paul
November 24th, 2008
http://www. dailypaul. com/node/74034
http://www. larouchepac. com/news/2008/11/22/lyndon-larouches-novem...
Lyndon LaRouche's November 22nd Warning: The British Will Attempt To Assassinate President-Elect Obama
NOV. 22, 2008 (LPAC) -- Lyndon LaRouche today issued his most emphatic warning to date on the danger of a British-authored assassination of President-elect Barack Obama. Using the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the British-run assassination of President John F. Kennedy, LaRouche warned that the greatest danger of an assassination of the President-elect would be before the scheduled Jan. 20, 2009 inauguration--while George W.Bush is still the President and while Dick Cheney is still in office as his Vice President
“The most dangerous and devastating thing that could happen to the United States, and, by extension, to the world as a whole, is an assassination of Barack Obama, while George Bush is still occupying the White House. This means that the greatest danger is the period between today and Jan.20, 2009, when Barack Obama is to be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States,” LaRouche declared
Read The Rest HERE
VANTAGE POINT
http://www. google. com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g8-DEMtAE9q4i4y...
Associated Press
Nov 15, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) — Threats against a new president historically spike right after an election, but from Maine to Idaho law enforcement officials are seeing more against Barack Obama than ever before. The Secret Service would not comment or provide the number of cases they are investigating. But since the Nov. 4 election, law enforcement officials have seen more potentially threatening writings, Internet postings and other activity directed at Obama than has been seen with any past president-elect, said officials aware of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue of a president's security is so sensitive. Earlier this week, the Secret Service looked into the case of a sign posted on a tree in Vay, Idaho, with Obama's name and the offer of a "free public hanging." In North Carolina, civil rights officials complained of threatening racist graffiti targeting Obama found in a tunnel near the North Carolina State University campus
Or symbol of a black lady to be widowed?
Barack Obama campaigns alongside Caroline Kennedy, daughter of late US president John F Kennedy
New York Times - Caroline Kennedy: Obama Will Be “A President Like ...
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45 years on, JFK killing haunts Secret Service protecting Obama
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AFP News
Nov 22, 2008
http://www. google. com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i1ohFbSlRrJcUl...
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Americans reflected Saturday on the presidency of John F.Kennedy, who was assassinated 45 years ago, as once again a young, inspiring president is headed to the White House
President-elect Barack Obama has often been compared for his lofty ideals and charisma to the late JFK, who was shot dead in Dallas, Texas in 1963
Obama's cool speech delivery, his intellectual prowess, relative youth and inexperience -- the 47-year-old was an Illinois state senator little over four years ago -- have been seen by many as direct reflections of JFK
Even the charming families, along with an apparent command of admiration around the world, are touchstones of both Obama and JFK's broad appeal
But Obama's character and historic election as the first African-American US president have many people worried about potential threats to his life
"He is inspirational, he is an historic figure, he is the first African-American president; but there is also -- because of that potential for stirring up social unrest -- that also makes him a target," said Scott Stuart, senior terror and security analyst for Stratfor, a publisher of geopolitical intelligence
Read The Rest HERE
The Nuclear Football, on display at the Smithsonian Institute.The Football is a specially modified Zero-Haliburton suitcase with a leather satchel with zippers and pouches for documents and a secure radio
http://www. globalsecurity. org/wmd/systems/nuclear-football-pics. htm
On Jan. 20, an unobtrusive military officer carrying a small leathe...
US concept of uncontested nuclear strike not feasible - Russia Today December 02, 2008 - Russia says the US will not be able to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike without being hit back, It follows Washington's plans to set up a missile defence shield in space
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Codes for Armageddon:
A New President To Hold Nuclear Launch 'Football'
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Baltimore Sun
By David Wood
November 30, 2008
WASHINGTON - It is a simple transfer of immense power
On Jan. 20, an unobtrusive military officer carrying a small leather-bound metal briefcase will follow President George W. Bush up to Capitol Hill.After the inauguration ceremony, he will accompany President Barack Obama back to the White House
Inside the attaché, known as "the football," are the codes to identify and authenticate a presidential order that could launch nuclear weapons and ignite a global holocaust
Routine to us, perhaps astonishing to much of the world, this peaceful passing of "the football" will propel Obama into a maelstrom. What awaits the new commander in chief is the weighty responsibility of defending the United States - and a nasty brew of nuclear weapons problems that range from the threat of terrorist attacks to potential new regional and superpower arms races. Iran and North Korea are rushing headlong toward building nuclear arsenals.And the main arms reduction treaty with Russia expires next year
Those known challenges arise from an unruly world thrown into deeper turmoil by the global financial crisis, a world in which nuclear technology spreads like wildfire and almost 10,000 nuclear weapons could be on alert at any given time
The risk of nuclear war will grow during the next 20 years, U.S. intelligence officers concluded last week.Surprise, in this realm, is almost a given
"It is immensely sobering when you are actually confronted with all the responsibility related to nuclear weapons," said Matthew Bunn, a former White House nuclear weapons adviser now at Harvard's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
That will become clear with Obama's first peek inside the ever-present briefcase. The secure phone nestled inside will connect him to the nuclear command centers at the Pentagon, Colorado Springs and "Site R," the bunkered emergency command center just over the Maryland border near Blue Ridge Summit, Pa. Through them, the president can reach the 1,300 U.S.strategic nuclear weapons always on alert
Inside the case he will also find a notebook listing various attack options - from a single shot to all-out war - from which the president may choose and order
Previous presidents have found all this hard to absorb
"The most sober and startling I ever heard," Ronald Reagan said after his first briefing on the nuclear options - so disturbing that it helped launch him on a quest to abolish nuclear weapons altogether
Obama has outlined an ambitious plan of tackling many of these issues
"Here's what I will say as president: America seeks a world in which there are no nuclear weapons," he said in an Oct. 2, 2007, speech in Chicago. While working toward that long-range goal, he said the United States "will not pursue unilateral disarmament.As long as nuclear weapons exist, we'll retain a strong nuclear deterrent"
But he vowed to reach an agreement with Russia "to take U.S. and Russian ballistic missiles off hair-trigger alert" and to negotiate significant reductions in U.S.and Russian nuclear weapons stockpiles
He intends to pursue tough negotiations with Iran and North Korea to halt their nuclear weapons programs
And he has promised to lock down all nuclear material around the world at vulnerable sites "within four years"
Events may not wait
A new long-range forecast from America's top spy agencies said the possibility of a new nuclear arms race in the Middle East, ignited by Iran's race to build a nuclear weapons arsenal, promises new instabilities "potentially more dangerous than the Cold War" between the United States and the Soviet Union
Weak Middle East regimes might be more tempted to actually use the weapons during a crisis in a region already prone to convulsive violence, said the report, Global Trends 2025, released by National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell
The six Persian Gulf states, within easy missile range of Iran, have said they are pursuing "peaceful" nuclear energy programs.They are among 50 nations interested in building new nuclear facilities
According to a report last month by the International Atomic Energy Agency, 439 nuclear power reactors currently are operating in 30 countries, with 36 plants under construction
The increased nuclear activity "naturally increases the risk that nuclear material could be diverted to make nuclear weapons," IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei told the United Nations. This year alone, the IAEA has investigated 250 incidents involving the loss or theft of nuclear or radioactive material.Much of it is never recovered, he said
Senior U.S. intelligence officers, asked to weigh the risks that will dominate the next 15 years, noted that the spread of nuclear material and weapons technology is accelerating. They said a number of weak regimes, like North Korea, might acquire and then lose control of nuclear weapons.They listed new ways that might tempt actual use of nuclear weapons, for example in low-yield blasts or high-altitude detonations to cripple enemy communications
Given these trends, they said in the recent report, the risk of nuclear war in the near future, "although remaining low, is likely to be greater than it is today"
Despite the threat of new nuclear powers, Moscow might quickly become a key focus of the Obama administration
Under Prime Minister Vladimir V.Putin, who has vowed to "significantly increase" Russia's aircraft, missile and submarine nuclear weapons launchers, Russia is building two new classes of intercontinental ballistic missiles and deploying a new class of ballistic missile submarines
Senior Russian officials, including Putin, have threatened to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia's interests, and have aggressively deployed Russian bombers and warships for the first time in years
Currently, the overall size of U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals is limited by the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. But the treaty expires in December 2009.With it will expire any of the extensive verification measures, including inspections at each other's missile plants, that have ensured confidence on both sides
That deadline will create pressure on Obama to begin negotiations immediately, arms control experts said, even if the only agreement is to extend the current treaty for an additional year. An agreement on deeper reductions would take more time.A newer treaty signed in 2002, the Strategic Offense Reduction Treaty, calls for further cuts by 2012 but contains no verification measures
On another front, Obama could help slow the spread of nuclear weapons by early on reiterating his intent to reduce global stockpiles, endorsing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and confirming his intention to seek an eventual abolition of nuclear weapons. Such moves have been urged by former Republican secretaries of state Henry A. Kissinger and George P.Shultz, among others
"A strong statement in his inaugural address, for example, would send the right signal to the world and would create space for the United States and like-minded countries to pursue nonproliferation," said Deepti Choubey, an arms control specialist at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
But Obama should be wary of promising too much
"Our capacity to engage the rest of the world has taken a huge hit over the past eight years," she said
"I would temper expectations.We shouldn't dig ourselves further into the hole"
Even if all the U.S.nuclear initiatives work out as promised, Americans will remain vulnerable at home to a nuclear-related catastrophe, whether in the form of a "dirty bomb" that spreads radioactivity or a smuggled nuclear device
"No matter what is done to prevent nuclear terrorism, it is essential that the United States get better prepared should such a catastrophe nevertheless occur," warns a new report by Harvard's Belfer Center
In the "ghastly aftermath" of a nuclear detonation, the report said, the government needs - and does not currently have - an ability to rapidly assess people in greatest danger, to communicate with them to advise on what to do, and to care for the injured and homeless.And there must be a comprehensive plan, the report said, to keep the government and the economy running while authorities begin to sort out a response
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