Inside the Ring

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Inauguration threats

U.S. officials say security will be heightened for President Bush's inauguration on Jan. 20. Intelligence officials say the main worry is that terrorists will attack with car bombs or other homemade explosives.

"There's no specific intelligence of a terrorist threat to the inauguration," one official said.

But the threat from what officials call "IEDs," or improvised explosive devices, and "VBIEDs" or vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, is a security danger, primarily along the presidential parade route from the Capitol to the White House.

"It's a proven method of attack, as we've seen in Iraq," the official said.

Mr. Bush will travel by motorcade, or possibly on foot, after the swearing in and speech on the Capitol steps. The route normally goes down Pennsylvania Avenue and around the block to the White House.

Security measures will include special electronic-jamming equipment that could disrupt remote-control electronic signals that might be sent to a bomb planted along the route.

Vehicle traffic and parking also will be strictly monitored and limited along and near the parade route, to preclude a car-bomb attack.

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