In Face of Possible Attacks,Thousands of Soldiers Secure the Inauguration

A massive show of force is gathering in the nation's capital to head off the threat of domestic terrorism to the Inauguration on 20 January.Some 20,000 National Guardsmen and women will help secure the traditional swearing-in at the Capitol and other activities between the White House and the Capitol.Streets are closed off by barriers,and security forces ,a mix of police and Guard troops,are already posted along the federal enclaves.* A lesser number of active duty troops will play a ceremonial role, including the US Army 3rd Infantry Regiment, the Old Guard. The event,as a National Special Security Event,is being managed by the US Secret Service and its parent, the Department of Homeland Security.According to GEN Daniel R. Hokanson,chief of the National Guard Bureau,requests have been received from the Secret Service,US Capitol Police and US Park Police for the thousands of National Guardsmen and women to meet current and future support needs.Once they arrive in D.C.,they are under MG William Walker,commander,D.C. National Guard.The troops will assist with security, logistics, liaison and communications missions.Mobilised under Title 32,they are authorised to perform law enforcement missions on request and permitted to carry weapons if needed.Indeed,armed Soldiers were quite evident at the Capitol on 13 January as President Donald Trump was being impeached by the House of Representatives.* National Park Service holdings such as the Mall and the Washington Monument have been closed at the request of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. The House and Senate have been briefed by the FBI on the terrorist danger.At one point, there was an extremist plan for thousands of armed terrorists to surround the Capitol and White House, and rules of engagement were posted-that is, when to shoot and when not to shoot.There have also been plots to harm Mayor Bowser;President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris;as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.* It hasn't yet been decided whether to hold the swearing-in on the West Face of the Capitol or inside under the dome.The Inaugural Committee will defer to the Secret Service on that.*