Missiles Deployed for Inauguration!

[JoMama49]

Missiles deployed for inauguration

By Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published January 19, 2005

The military has deployed anti-aircraft missiles within range of the Capitol as part of security enhancements for tomorrow's presidential inauguration. <snip> The missile deployment comes even though the FBI and Homeland Security Department concluded in a recent threat assessment that there is no credible information showing that terrorists have targeted inaugural events.

Army Avenger missile systems, a Humvee-mounted version of the Stinger anti-aircraft missile, were deployed in the weekend at several locations in the Washington area, including the northern tip of Bolling Air Force Base in Southeast.

"However, the inauguration may be an attractive target if al Qaeda has made a strategic decision to show that it has the ability to disrupt the American democratic process," the report said. <snip> "In the national capitol region (NCR), there is a loose network of individuals who are, at the very least, sympathetic to Sunni extremism," the report said.

"While the Sunni extremist presence in the NCR appears largely limited to training, fund-raising and facilitation of overseas activities, this presence could give the Sunni extremist movement a potential operational capability in the region." The report said recent threat reporting warned that al Qaeda studied the use of limousines as car bombs. <snip> "Limousines have a large storage capacity and might be able to gain access to otherwise restricted areas," the report said. The report said using aircraft in attacks is "part of al Qaeda's strategy."

The U.S. Secret Service is in charge of security for the inauguration.

Read the whole article at: www.wpherald.com

[complain jane]

1. What American democratic process?

There isn't any for al Qaeda to attempt to disrupt.

[Hobarticus]

2. Terra's everywhere at all times, dontcha know...

It's just their style to attempt a frontal assault on the most heavily-guarded event of the year.

[Qanisqineq]

3. Why would al Qaeda want to harm Bush?

He's their biggest recruiter.

[Sequoia]

4. You're right, while eyes are on Washington they'll

target another WalMart, I mean city.

[cornermouse]

5. Let's hope they don't accidentally set one of those things off.

I'm definitely feeling very unsafe at the moment.

[Pab Sungenis]

8. Set off what?

A Wal-Mart? Or an Inauguration.

I think Wal-Mart qualifies as a weapon of mass destruction, and should be covered under Geneva.

[sakabatou]

6. I think that they're going a little overboard w/ the protection...

[Vinca]

7. Let freedom ring . . . reign . . . whatever.

[Uzybone]

9. Is this the America that we want

snipers scattered about, tanks and hovercraft and fighter planes and missiles everywhere? Is this a bad dream?