U.S. President George W. Bush will speak about freedom during his inauguration Thursday while inside an unprecedented security bubble. At $40 million US, it's the most expensive -- and heavily-guarded -- inauguration in history. From the skies, satellites that can read a car's licence plate will watch over Washington.There will be combat air patrols over the city and anti-aircraft batteries hidden behind trees. Manholes have been welded shut, traffic has been barred from a 100-block area and various barriers restrict pedestrians from some areas. None of this is in response to a specific threat. But ..."I think before 9/11 we had difficulty imagining the unimaginable," said Maj.-Gen. Galen Jackman, referring to the 2001 terror attacks on the United States. "After 9/11, we're thinking about the unimaginable. I think about it every day." At a Wednesday appearance, Bush said he would speak about freedom.

"This is the cause that unites our country and gives hope to the world and will lead us to a future of peace. We have a calling from beyond the stars to stand for freedom and America will always be faithful to that cause," he told the crowd at an outdoor musical extravaganza called A Celebration of Freedom.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1106185719730_4/?hub=CTVNewsAt11


From:
Aftermath News
Top Stories - January 24th, 2005