Only in DC
Walking to my internship I narrowly avoid passing the White House, instead passing by the Eisenhower Executive Building. I then walk down past the World Bank, turning again slightly before the International Monetary Fund, and end up across the road for the General Services Administration building at my office, in the historic DACOR Bacon House (built 1825).
Today, however, was different. My way was blocked by a combination of Metropolitan Police, Secret Service agents, officers from Homeland Security, and a throng of civil servants trying to get to work. Evidently several city blocks had been cordoned off, and no one was allowed access in.
Interruption of everyday life is not unusual in DC. However, it is usually brief. For example, when the Vice President travels from his crib at the Navy Observatory circle to the White House, he does so in a motorcade which heads directly down Massachusetts Ave, and all side streets crossing it are blocked by men on motorcycles resembling the Terminator. These motorcades can be up to 12 vehicles long, containing mainly black SUVs, but often complimented with a sprinkling of ordinary squad cars.
The SUVs will normally contain Secret Service agents, they are usually heavily armed with automatic weapons, and basically hang out the windows like a dog might, keeping a beady out for assassination attempts… or a foreign student who just wants to see what happens if he pretends to pull out a pistol. The short and dry of it is if you try cross the road you will likely be run down, so you wait for five minutes.
Today was different. Normally only streets directly around the White House get cordoned off, which one can understand and learn to avoid, but several blocks in the downtown area? That is unusual. What’s more, the small ratio of Fire and EMT to police suggested that it was not a gas leak or fire drill, nor that there was a major traffic accident.
I presume it is simply some type of threat and they are taking all possible precautions. Maybe even a practice drill, but I doubt that. While it is mildly interesting, unless something explodes, it will likely not make major headlines. I might be wrong, it could be something big. Then again, big things happen in DC all the time. I guess the threshold of what is considered extra-ordinary is slightly higher in the Capital of the United States of America.
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James Hurndell
James Hurndell is but a shepherd, tending his flock.
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3 Comments
2 Jul, 2010 at 10:07 am
Sounds like a pretty good illustration of how it is in the states. Maybe because everythings on a bigger scale, or maybe because everyone’s just kind of jaded. Either way, DC is pretty epic.
15 Jul, 2010 at 9:16 pm
This blog is useful, but with limited knowledge, how can we understand.send more information.
16 Jul, 2010 at 11:46 am
I have found it interesting when I have been there how on the steps of Capital Hill there is usually an armed guard walking around with an M-16…
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