by Stephen Lendman<\/p>\n
What\u2019s going on in the nation\u2019s capital is unprecedented.<\/p>\n
Around 25,000 troops, unknown numbers of secret service agents, other federal security forces, and local police turned the city into a blockaded armed camp ahead of illegitimate transition of power on January 20.<\/p>\n
The nation\u2019s capital resembles occupied Baghdad\u2019s Green Zone that\u2019s half-way around the world from Washington DC.<\/p>\n
Seven-foot-high non-scalable barricades topped with razor wire surround the Capitol and various federal buildings.<\/p>\n
Thousands of heavily armed National Guard troops and other security forces \u2014 with orders to use lethal force against alleged threats \u2014 guard the city\u2019s perimeter and virtually everything important inside.<\/p>\n
Bridges into the city and National Mall will be closed ahead of Wednesday\u2019s transition of power.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At checkpoints, IDs of occupants in cars, no other modes of transport,\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>or on foot entering or leaving the city are checked.<\/p>\n The Military Times reported that \u201cNational Guard troops from (virtually all US (states) continue to pour into DC for\u2026security.\u201d<\/p>\n Army General Daniel Hokanson, head of the National Guard Bureau, is commanding what\u2019s going on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Deployment of troops was authorized for up to 30 days for transition of power preparations, what\u2019s planned for January 20 and its aftermath.<\/p>\n The Washington Post, located in the city on K Street NW, said it\u2019s \u201cclosed off like never before,\u201d adding:<\/p>\n \u201c(T)he Secret Service has launched a massive security operation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVehicle traffic in much of the city will be prohibited or limited to residents and businesses only.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMetro is shuttering stations in the city\u2019s core and near the Mall.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cStreet closures will continue through Thursday, and are subject to change at the discretion of the Secret Service.\u201d<\/p>\n Mayor Muriel E. Bowser noted the unprecedented interruption of daily life for city residents and businesses while all of the above continues.<\/p>\n Saying \u201cwe are in unchartered waters\u201d greatly over-dramatizes preparations for alleged threats that are highly unlikely to happen unless one or more state-sponsored false flags are planned to further vilify Trump and his supporters.<\/p>\n No reported intelligence or other information suggests a serious enough or any threat to warrant over-the-top preparations \u2014 notably 25,000 National Guard troops from all states.<\/p>\n No explanation was given for what\u2019s going on at enormous taxpayer expense \u2014 other than non-specific remarks.<\/p>\n The best FBI director Christopher Wray would offer was saying the following:<\/p>\n \u201cWe are seeing an extensive amount of concerning online chatter \u2014 that\u2019s the best way I would describe it \u2014 about a number of events surrounding the inauguration\u201d with no further elaboration.<\/p>\n His remark suggested no organized or other planned threat(s) to inauguration day events \u2014 likely because there are none expected.<\/p>\n According to one observer who walked around the perimeter of barricades twice this week, it\u2019s nearly impossible for any unauthorized vehicle or person to get anywhere near close to where inaugural ceremonies will be conducted.<\/p>\n At Secret Service discretion, closures, barriers, and other preparations are subject to change.<\/p>\n A Final Comment<\/p>\n On Friday, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser\u2019s remark was an Orwellian shot across the bow for what may be coming ahead nationwide, saying:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c(O)ur entire country is going to have to deal with how our intelligence apparatus, security apparatus at every level deal with a very real and present threat to our nation (sic).\u201d<\/p>\n Her remark indicates a new abnormal for the city that perhaps is coming to the US nationwide.<\/p>\n The only \u201cthreat to our nation\u201d is state-sponsored.<\/p>\n A free and open society appears on the chopping block for elimination \u2014 totalitarian rule enforced by police state harshness appears coming to replace it.<\/p>\n