The security fortress that has been built around downtown Washington is being referred to as “the Green Zone,” after the one the U.S. built in Baghdad early in the occupation of Iraq. How much of the Green Zone will remain after the inauguration remains to be seen.
The Washington Post reported on an FBI intelligence report, in a story posted late on Jan. 18, that indicates that both “lone wolves” and members of groups like QAnon have indicated that they plan to go to Washington for the inauguration. The FBI also said it had observed people downloading and sharing maps of sensitive locations in Washington and discussing how those facilities could be used to interfere in security during the inauguration. “QAnon members have discussed posing as National Guard soldiers, believing that it would be easy for them to infiltrate secure areas,” according to the document, which added that members have been crowdsourcing images to surveil the security perimeter.
A defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, acknowledged that National Guard members have been warned to watch for anyone in uniform who appears out of place.
But the intelligence briefing did not identify any specific plots to attack the inaugural events that would be akin to the Jan. 6 siege on the Capitol and noted that “numerous” militia and extremist groups are publicly denouncing any violence targeted at the transition of presidential power. While the FBI has picked up “suspicious traffic” in monitoring the kinds of communication systems used by some participants in the Capitol siege, it includes “nothing that points to any specific action.”
Acting Pentagon chief Chris Miller said in a statement yesterday that there is no intelligence indicating a specific insider threat. The ongoing vetting of National Guard troops deployed in Washington, he said otherwise, is “normal for military support to large security events...” but, “we are leaving no stone unturned in securing the capital.” Miller said he appreciated “the support of the FBI in assisting with this task and for each of the more than 25,000 Guardsmen.”
Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Peter Gaynor similarly said he has not seen any evidence of some sort of inside attack being planned, but authorities wanted to leave “no stone unturned” when it comes to potential threats to the peaceful transfer of power.
