Feds Say Inauguration Attractive Terrorist Target

Workers construct the reviewing stand which will be used by President-elect Barack Obama and other dignitaries to view his inauguration parade on January 20, 2009, outside the White House in Washington November 18, 2008. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

From Yahoo News/AP:

WASHINGTON – The upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama is an attractive target for international and domestic terrorists, but U.S. intelligence officials have no information about specific threats to the Jan. 20 event.

An internal intelligence assessment, obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday, says the high visibility of the event, the presence of dignitaries and the significance of swearing in the country'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.

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My Comment: This is my biggest fear. When Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan last year to run for office, I knew in my gut that the fanatics and extremists would try their best to kill her .... or at least disrupt her drive to be President. I was not privy to any intelligence .... it was my instincts speaking. When she was assassinated .... I must confess I was not surprised.

My instincts are now saying the same thing for President Obama's inauguration. Even with 9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the war on terror .... many Americans are still surprisingly ignorant or completely naive on the dangers of Islamic fundamentalism and the destructive culture of jihad that it produces.

The inauguration is a prime target for attack .... especially with a WMD device .... I am sure that security and national intelligence services are now working non-stop to insure that a disaster does not happen on what should be a joyous event .... but my gut is still bothering me.

I do not envy the men and women who are charged with the responsibility of guarding the President. I worked in security for ICAO (the UN's Aviation Organization) years ago .... and after 4 years I was a nervous wreck. I can only imagine what President Obama's Secret Service agents are going through tonight .... and for the next four years.