Police Remove Checkpoints Around Capitol

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON - Police checkpoints that have surrounded the Capitol since last August were gone Thursday following a postelection decision by authorities to lower the threat level.

The removal of the vehicle checkpoints that delayed traffic along Constitution, Independence and other roads around the Capitol coincided with the Homeland Security Department's decision to lower the threat level from orange to yellow for financial institutions in New York, Washington and Newark, N.J.

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer ordered the 14 checkpoints to be erected on Aug. 1, at the same time the threat level for the World Bank (news - web sites) and other financial institutions was raised. He also cited concerns that terrorists might try to launch an attack before the presidential elections.
..............
(Mayor)Williams....said that "walling off the Capitol, thus transforming this symbol of American freedom and democracy into a veritable 'fortress of fear,' was never the answer to preventing terrorism."

The checkpoints for the most part consisted of officers taking a quick look inside vehicles. "We hoped that using the checkpoints was a deterrence in itself," Sellers-Ford said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20041111/ap_on_go_co/congress_security

[maddezmom]

1. Reduced Terror Threat Level Calms Nerves

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&ncid=693&e=6&u=/ap/20041111/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/terror_threat

Boy, I sure feel safer now. :eyes:

[underpants]

2. Gee that was quick it was like the all powerful W scared the terrists away

or maybe there scare was over hyped........nah couldn't be that.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. Well the illusion worked to scare a lot of Americans

into voting for Bush. The scam worked and can now be dismantled.

[ramapo]

7. They're not even trying to hide the scam

Stupid americans...fooled twice by this guy.

[Parche]

4. fishy

Doesnt this seem strange that they are doing this now
right after the fraud election
And when ASS croft resigned, in his statement he said
The objective of securing of Americans from crime
and terror has been achieved.

So now we stop our vigiliance
And Terra has been stopped?

[gatorboy]

5. Well sure, until Summer 2008, then BOOM!!!

Terra! Terra! Terra!!!

[54anickel]

6. HA! Gee, are we returning to a pre 9/11 mindset? Will terrorism be dealt

with by law enforcement? Is it now a "nuisance"?

[michaelwb]

8. Well.

Why the cynicism folks. Ashcroft said in his resigation letter that he has fixed the problems of crime and terrorism! Mission Accomplished!

[steely]

9. yeah, watch out....

next they'll resume ignoring the PDB's.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. No need for alerts now.............

The Nazis are in charge.