In the days leading up to the inauguration of the 43th El Presidente ® de los Estados Unidas de America it`s time to take a short stroll down memory lane to recuperate some of the nations that, over the last four decades, have been so fortunate as to have felt the compassionate strength of American foreign policy and democracy as defined by…the US, and thus having their governments overthrown by…the US and CIA covert operations:

Egypt: (1953), Angola: (1952), Iran: (1953), Korea: (1953 + 1960-61), Guatemala: (1953), Laos: (1960), Zaire: (1960), Dominican Republic: (1963), Vietnam: (1963), Bolivia: (1964+1974), Brazil: (1964), Indonesia: (1965), Ghana: (1966), Greece: (1967), Cambodia: (1970), Chile: (1973).

With that in mind, back to the inauguration:
”Our system of government is rooted in the sovereign principle of democratic authority bestowed by the people” said homeland security secretary Tom Ridge in an article in New York Times yesterday. “And the people, both the inauguration participants and city residents, are resolved to go forward with an event that so deeply reflects that ideal.”
To reflect this ideal Mr. Ridge continues: “You can well imagine that the security for this occasion will be unprecedented. Protective measures will be seen. There will be quite a few that are not seen. Our goal is that any attempt on the part of anyone or any group to disrupt the inaugural will be repelled by multiple layers of security!”
This means that more than 6000 civilian and military personnel trained in in crisis response, crowd control and dignitary security will be in place and thousands more available to respond if necessary. Sniper-teams will be in position on rooftops. Specialists in chemical, biological and radiological terrorism will mingle the crowds, carrying hand-held detection devices to pick up any sign of unconventional weapons. Squads of plainclothes agents with federal prosecutors among them will move along the parade route scouting for potential problems.
Major General Galen B. Jackson, commander of the Joint Task Force Armed Forces Inaugural Comitee, said at a press conference before that of Mr. Ridge, dressed in full camouflage gear in front of a group of battledressed soldier carrying automatic weapons: “We believe we are ready to deter any type of attack!”

The cost of the inauguration could cost millions of dollars, and apart from the sponsored gifts mentioned in posting of 1.11 2005, there`s still a serious dispute between the federal covernment and the District of Columbia, where the inauguration takes place. The city of Washington is paying 17,3 million dollars, but Mr. Ridge stated that he did not know the full amount of the costs, why chances are that the inauguration will be paid for by the city, by cutting in the budget for fundings otherwise set aside for everyday needs like protecting buildings, bridges, subways, waterways and so forth.
Mr. Ridge finished off by stating, that the nations color-coded alert level would not be raised for the inauguration. The alert is now at yellow: for a heightened but not imminent threat.
“This is the most visible manifestation of our democracy” he said, adding “so there`s very little intelligence, but we are as vigilant as ever.”

Reflecting the soveriegn principle of democracy? Wow, wait up, where is it, stop, I didn` t see, ups, oh no, shit - it`s gone...

as seen on CNN and read in The New York Times, and San Francisco Chronicle...