'It's the District of Afghanistan:' DC Security Reaches Unprecedented Proportions Ahead of Biden Inauguration
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- As the nation preparesfor President Elect,
Joe Biden's inauguration,
security is unprecedented
with a military force five times larger
than that in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This is the scene in the nation's Capitol.
Some 25,000 national guard troops,
armed forces on the ground,
blockades, barbed wire fencing,
and miles of security checkpoints
ahead of Joe Biden'spresidential inauguration.
The military working to make sure
there are no securityrisks within the ranks.
- [Walker] There areguardsmen from all 50 states,
all territories are here
supporting the District ofColumbia National Guard.
- I can tell you I'mworking in Washington, DC.
It's not the Districtof Columbia out there.
It's the District of Afghanistan.
I mean, it's bad.
I mean, it is hard to get anywhere in DC,
anywhere close to theCapitol or the White House.
And I've never quiteseen anything like this.
- [Charlene] Commandersare going over every aspect
of the security lockdown,
including vettingthousands of troops in DC
amid concerns of an insider attack.
- [Walker] It's just another layer.
And then a layer on top of that
just to be absolutely certain
but everybody joining themilitary is screened in
and for an event likethis, you're screened out.
- [Idler] So every guardsman takes an oath
and it's to defend the constitution
from enemies foreign and domestic.
And as we've seen,
sometimes the enemies area little closer to home.
- [Charlene] Monday, authoritiesarrested an army reservist
from New Jersey inconnection with the riot
at the US Capitol.
Timothy Hale-Cusanelli
reportedly admitted toentering the Capitol
as part of the insurrection.
Another concern, armed attacks,as well as homemade bombs.
- [Walker] We are partof the layered defense
to ensure that the bubble,
the bubble that will bearound the vice president
and the vice president electand the president elect
so that we can have apeaceful transfer of power.
- [Charlene] With nerves already on edge,
a security alert Monday morning
sent people running throughthe halls of Congress.
Turns out it was a smallfire at a homeless camp
about a mile from the USCapitol, but it was another sign
of the tension inside the nation's Capitol
after the deadlyinsurrection on January 6th.
All this as statecapitals are also on alert
for potential inauguration day violence.
Charlene Aaron, CBN News.