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VOA \u2014 WASHINGTON – Thousands upon thousands of troops are preparing to pour into an increasingly fortified Washington ahead of President-elect Joe Biden\u2019s inauguration, as the district begins to remind some officials of beleaguered capitals such as Baghdad or Kabul, rather than the seat of government for the leader of the free world.<\/p>\n
Military officials said Friday that 18,000 armed troops with the United States National Guard were\u00a0expected to arrive in the U.S. capital over the next five days, in addition to the 7,000 sent in following the January\u00a06 riot and siege of the U.S. Capitol by extremists supporting outgoing President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
The National Guard \u2014 a part-time force that can be deployed overseas but is often called upon to help with domestic emergencies \u2014 has become a key contributor to what some officials are describing as the strongest capital-area security response in history.<\/p>\n
The troops, along with the area\u2019s police forces, are being briefed on the rules of engagement, which govern when they are authorized to respond with potentially deadly force.<\/p>\n
Already, numerous streets around the Capitol have been closed to traffic, while the core area of the National Mall, which runs from the Lincoln Memorial to the west side of the Capitol and has been the site of some of the country\u2019s most famous protests, is closed to visitors.<\/p>\n
‘Green Zone’<\/strong><\/p>\n Temporary fences increasingly block the view, while the U.S. Secret Service, in charge of security planning for the January\u00a020 inauguration, has created Washington\u2019s own \u201cGreen Zone\u201d for the occasion, warning that any vehicle trying to enter will be searched for explosives and weapons.<\/p>\n The beefed-up security stands in sharp contrast to the presidential inauguration four years ago, when 8,000 National Guard troops were called in to help.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sad about it,\u201d Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters during a security briefing Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m committed to making sure that we get our city back,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I also know that we have a special responsibility that there is a peaceful transition of power in our country.\u201d<\/p>\n Officials organizing the security effort say the goal is to make sure the Biden inauguration is not marred by the same violence that led to the riot and siege of the Capitol earlier this month that left five people dead.<\/p>\n Concerning ‘chatter’<\/strong><\/p>\n They warn, however, that the threat of violence at the hands of domestic extremists is real.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are seeing an extensive amount of concerning online chatter,\u201d Christopher Wray, director of the FBI, warned late Thursday, while briefing outgoing Vice President Mike Pence on the preparations.<\/p>\n “We’re tracking calls for potential armed protests and activity leading up to the inauguration,” Wray said. \u201cWe’re concerned about the potential for violence at multiple protests and rallies planned here in [Washington].\u201d<\/p>\n Officials said Friday that permits had\u00a0been approved for two protests along Pennsylvania Avenue, which leads to the White House. But they said the protests would be limited to about 100 people, who will have to go through metal detectors and be escorted by police.<\/p>\n They were unsure whether extremist groups, such as the far-right Boogaloo Boys or Proud Boys, might seek to cause trouble.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if anyone has raised their hand to say, \u2018We are coming, we will be there,\u2019 but we are preparing as if they are,\u201d Matt Miller, the agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office, told reporters.<\/p>\n