U.S. Presidential Inauguration -- January 20, 2009

Obama To Step Into History As 1st Black President
-- Yahoo News/AP

WASHINGTON – Stepping into history, Barack Hussein Obama grasps the reins of power as America's first black president in a high-noon inauguration amid grave economic worries and high expectations.

Braving icy temperatures and possible snow flurries, hundreds of thousands of people descended on the heavily guarded capital city Tuesday for the first change of administrations since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The capital city, a quick starter on even the most ordinary of days, took on the kind of frenetic predawn life rarely seen. The streets were becoming populated well before daybreak, and competition for space on the Metro subway system was fierce. Several suburban parking lots for subway riders were filled to capacity well before 6 a.m.

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More News On Today's Presidential Inauguration

Inauguration Day: Complete Coverage from ABC News
Inauguration Day: Complete Coverage from CBS News
Inauguration Day: Complete Coverage from CNN
Inauguration Day: Complete Coverage from FOX News
Inauguration Day: Complete Coverage from MSNBC
The Nation Awaits Its 44th President -- New York Times
Inauguration Madness: Crowds Swarm Capital -- ABC
Crowds await historic Obama oath -- BBC
American milestone: Obama inauguration is a moment of celebration, reflection -- Christian Science Monitor
Obama set to take the oath of office as 44th president -- L.A. Times
Obama steps to door of White House — and history -- Yahoo News/AP
Obama's Nuclear 'Football' Briefing -- ABC News
On First Full Day, Obama Will Dive Into Foreign Policy -- Washington Post
How long will the Obama honeymoon last? -- International Herald Tribune
Profile: Barack Obama's speechwriter Jon Favreau -- Times Online
On the Money Trail: Inauguration Perks Go To the Rich -- ABC News
Obama cool and calm on eve of his presidency -- Myway News/AP
Obama promises hero pilot a flight on Air Force One and front row seats at inauguration -- Daily Mail
Obama's rise fills Hawaii residents with pride -- Honolulu Advertiser

Crowds filled the National Mall in the early morning hours on Tuesday. Scott Andrews/Reuters

Security Preparations, Threats, And News Updates For The U.S. Presidential Inauguaration

US Presidential Inauguration 2005 (Image from Wikimedia)

Downtown D.C. Becomes the Green Zone -- The Danger Room

In addition to a record number of houseguests and an explosion of kitsch, Washington, D.C., is witnessing an unprecedented surge in security for tomorrow's presidential inauguration.

A force of 20,000 police officers, National Guard troops, and plainclothes agents will be on the streets tomorrow to watch over the inaugural festivities. F-16 fighters and Patriot missile batteries will be on alert to defend the capital's airspace. Notes the New York Times:

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More News On Inauguration Security

Inaugural Security: Likely Tightest Ever -- CBS News
Chertoff: Inauguration security forces 'ready' -- CNN
Unprecedented security measures underline magnitude of Obama inauguration -- China View
Inauguration Security: Combination of Manpower and Technology -- ABC News
Tips to FBI about suspicious activity on the rise -- Myway News/AP
White supremacists watched in lead up to Obama administration -- CNN
Inauguration security center to go live Saturday -- AP
Washington Mobilizes 42,500-Strong Security Force for Inaugural -- Bloomberg
Washington Assembles Largest Inauguration Security Force Ever -- FOX News
Washington in lockdown for Barack Obama inauguration -- Courier Mail (Australia)
Welcome, Mr President - and your 20,000 guards -- Sydney Morning Herald
FACTBOX-Security for Obama's inauguration -- Reuters

FBI special force members stand guard at the "We Are One" welcome concert, attended by U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden and kicking off the inauguration celebrations, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., the United States, Jan. 18, 2009. (Xinhua/Hou Jun)

General News On The Presidential Inauguration

Obama visits with troops, honors King on holiday -- Yahoo News/AP
Obama urges US to honor King by serving others -- Yahoo News/AP
In Obama Remarks, Theme Of 'Responsibility' Emerges -- Washington Post
Obama honors Martin Luther King on inauguration eve -- Yahoo News/AP
Inauguration Celebrations Begin in Washington -- New York Times
Obama Attends Star-Studded Ceremony -- Wall Street Journal
Pride in Country, Few Regrets -- Christian Science Monitor
For Obama, Rare Chance for Bold Start on Big Task -- New York Times
'Welcome to this Celebration of American Renewal' -- Christian Science Monitor
Inauguration crowd will test cellphone networks -- International Herald Tribune
A Behind-the-Scenes Job With Historic Resonance -- Washington Post
Obama Builds on King's Dream -- Washington Times
Big Stars Rock the Lincoln Memorial -- Los Angeles Times
Inaugural week street 'newscasts' lure onlookers -- Yahoo News/AP
What Recession? The $170 Million Inauguration - -ABC News
Networks prepare for inauguration -- Variety
Schedule of events for Obama's inauguration -- AP

Cancer-Stricken Colonel in Command at Inauguration

From Military.com:

WASHINGTON - Lt. Col. Jaime Martinez came close to missing preparations for Inauguration Day and a great honor for those who serve in the Army's oldest infantry regiment.

Stricken with a rare cancer last year, Martinez put his life in the hands of doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

"They got me back in the fight in 100 days," he says. "This is a lethal cancer. Tumors grow in your head and neck and there is no easy way to attack it."

On Tuesday, Martinez is set to command hundreds of Soldiers from The Old Guard as they carry the nation's colors to the Capitol in the inaugural parade and stand watch at Andrews Air Force Base to salute George W. Bush when he boards a military plane to leave Washington.

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U.S Presidential Inauguration -- News Updates On Security And Protection

A security guard walks on the west steps of the Capitol. UPI / Landov (Time Magazine)

Washington Mobilizes 42,500-Strong Security
Force for Inaugural -- Bloomberg

When senior FBI official Joseph Persichini takes his 5 a.m. jog down Washington’s National Mall, he imagines everything that could go wrong at Barack Obama’s inaugural next week.

He said he thinks about the possibility of a sleet storm, bombing, chemical attack or -- perhaps hardest to guard against -- the lone gunman bent on turning a celebration into a national tragedy.

“I’m thinking about what the schedule is, and what we’re doing, and what are the issues we’re facing,” said Persichini, assistant director in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office. “You don’t understand the magnitude until you go out there right on the Mall.”

As many as 2 million people -- double the number for any previous inauguration -- are expected to fill the Mall on Jan. 20 to witness the swearing-in of the first black president.

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More News On Security For The Presidential Inauguration

Inauguration Day Security: Is a Police State Necessary? -- Time Magazine
War, crowds complicate Obama inaugural security -- Reuters
Heavy security for Obama's inauguration -- Channel News Asia
Unprecedented security as Obama set for White House -- AFP
Security Net Wraps Capital for Inaugural -- New York Times

Security Tightens For Obama's Inauguration

An officer on duty at the Capitol on Wednesday as the city began clamping down on security for Inauguration Day. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

From International Herald Tribune:

WASHINGTON: The U.S. authorities have begun to seal off a security zone extending miles from the Capitol where President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in next Tuesday, drawing on disparate lessons gleaned from terrorist attacks in London and Mumbai, the Sept. 11, 2001, attack at the Pentagon, and even annual Fourth of July celebrations on the National Mall.

Though intelligence agencies have detected no credible threat to any inaugural event or to Obama, law enforcement agencies, operating from a network of centers, will command ground, air and waterborne forces numbering in excess of 20,000 police officers, National Guard troops and plainclothes agents from more than 50 agencies, according to interviews with security planners.

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Obama To Become President Amid Tightest Security Ever

The new U.S. Presidential Limo (Photo from Huffington Post)

From McClatchy Newspapers:

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama will be sworn in as America's first African-American president under the tightest security ever, shielded by a new, heavily armored Cadillac limousine, bullet-resistant glass, fighter planes overhead and Secret Service SWAT teams toting automatic weapons.

The level of protection is no surprise, given that the throng stretching two miles from the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial could reach a worrisome 4 million, quadruple the usual turnout, and that Obama already has been the target of numerous threats.

Days before he was elected the nation's 44th president, federal agents broke up an alleged plot by two neo-Nazi skinheads to kill him. Then, on Tuesday, al Qaida's No. 2 leader issued a tape blaming Obama for Israel's recent attacks on the militant Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

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My Comment: There may be no noticeable threats .... but I am sure there are some groups in the world that have and/or are thinking of what they can do on such a day.

Secret Service Unveils Inaugural Security Plans

From Homeland Security Today:

The US Secret Service Wednesday released security and transportation plans for inaugural events in Washington, DC, describing outlining road closures, restricted zones, public transportation options, and routes exclusively for pedestrians.

Inauguration events begin Saturday, Jan. 17 and extend through Tuesday, Jan. 20. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated the inaugural period as a National Special Security Event, designating the Secret Service as the lead agency for coordinating transportation planning and other matters with a host of federal and local agencies.

The security plans call for the screening all members of the public and tickets guests to inaugural events through controlled checkpoints. Security regulations preclude anyone from carrying firearms, ammunition or explosives as well as weapons of any kind; packages, coolers, thermal or glass containers, backpacks, and large bags; laser pointers, bicycles, support structures for signs, and any other items deemed inappropriate; and all animals other than seeing-eye dogs.

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