Unprecedented security measures underline magnitude of Obama inauguration

Source: Xinhua | 01-19-2009 15:05

by Yang Qingchuan

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Although no credible or specific threat targeting President-elect Barack Obama has been detected, the U.S. authorities have stepped up inaugural security measures to an unprecedented level.

The secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, who oversaw the overall security plans for the inauguration, said it will be "the most security, as far as I'm aware, that any inauguration has had."

In fact, the order to install a tightened and sophisticated security apparatus, unseen even in recent presidential inaugurations, came directly from the highest level of the U.S. government.

On Jan. 13, outgoing U.S. President George W. Bush declared a state of emergency for the capital city from Jan. 17 to 21, when a series of celebration events are being held.

The declaration facilitated federal help for the Washington D.C. municipal government to handle security issues during the inauguration days.

So far, 15 million U.S. dollars of federal funds have been transferred to the municipal government for that purpose, with more expected. It is in addition to another 15 million dollars Congress set aside for the Washington inauguration security costs.

In another rarely seen move, the Bush administration designated Obama's inauguration as a National Special Security Event, which put the U.S. Secret Service in a position to lead all the other agencies to execute security plans.

Including the Secret Service, the security efforts involve an unprecedented number of 58 federal, state and local executive, intelligence, law-enforcement, military and transportation agencies.