Riding the Beast: Obama inauguration in unprecedented security

20 January 2009

Barak Obama may be a people's president, but for his inauguration, he will be separated from the public by a security bubble that most experts believe is impenetrable and virtually fool-proof.

The induction of the nation's first Afro-American president, coming in the first White House transition since the September 11 attacks and just weeks after the terrorist strike in Mumbai, poses special concerns, United States law enforcement and security officials say.

The US secret service has probably done everything possible to safeguard not only the president-elect and his entourage, but the parade route, the National Mall and other locations that will be part of Obama's short but symbolic path to the presidency. For instance, Obama will be riding in a new limousine nicknamed 'The Beast', considered the most secure ever, and virtually impervious to chemical or biological attacks and rocket-propelled grenades.

And as with all major events, the secret service has spent months working with dozens of local, state and federal agencies on security, crowd control and logistical support. Thousands of extra police officers and military troops are being brought in from around the country, and measures to protect against chemical and biological attack will be in place, along with decontamination tents.

At least 150 multi-agency "intel teams" will be deployed throughout the region so undercover FBI agents and behaviour specialists can look for trouble. Of particular interest would be individuals or small groups of men with backpacks lurking in large crowds, or entering the Metro from distant suburban stations, like those who launched deadly attacks in London's subways in 2005.

In some places, Washington, DC, will look like an occupied city. Sharpshooters will be on virtually every building. Law enforcement and intelligence nerve centres and mobile command posts are sprouting. The FBI is deploying a scary-looking armoured assault vehicle and a weapons-of-mass-destruction response truck.