The military will support civilian authorities, if needed, and officials said they plan to project a much more forceful image than since at least the time of the Vietnam War.
About 2,000 troops, including members of the 82nd Airborne Division, were flown into Washington for Richard M. Nixon's inauguration in 1969, and some were stationed along the parade route. The military also helped protect the parade route for Nixon's second inauguration, in 1973. In recent decades, uniformed guards have played a mostly ceremonial role and specialized response teams stayed backstage.
Organizers are planning to follow the traditional parade route that was used in President Bush's first inauguration, but security will be heightened.
(Tracy A. Woodward -- The Washington Post)
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In addition, the Military District of Washington Engineer Company, which specializes in extracting survivors from building collapses, and the Marine Corps Chemical Biological Incident Response Force will be on alert in the area.
A maritime security force led by the Coast Guard will include FBI and Department of Energy personnel on boats in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers to guard approaches to the city. Similar details were in place for Reagan's funeral.
"The major message is we are a hard target. We're not just sitting and waiting for something to happen," said Army Maj. Gen. Galen B. Jackman, commanding general of Joint Forces Headquarters-National Capital Region and the Military District of Washington.
For months, units in the command have conducted exercises to prepare for the inauguration, mapping staging areas, routes to rescue sites and emergency procedures from its Fort McNair headquarters. The exercises have contemplated a wide range of potential terrorist incidents, including suicide bombs, truck bombs and chemical releases.
"We will respond with the capabilities necessary to accomplish the mission," said Navy Rear Adm. Jan Gaudio, Jackman's deputy commander.
Authorities are building upon other security measures that have been employed for recent inaugurations. These steps have included inspecting miles of underground Metro and sewer tunnels, sealing manhole covers, closing streets and surveying the more than 450 downtown buildings with at least a partial view of the parade route.
D.C. police officials said they have requested help from scores of police departments east of the Mississippi River. Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey said he expects to need 1,600 to 2,500 officers from other jurisdictions.
In 2001, about 1,200 officers from other area departments helped secure the inauguration and balls, D.C. police officials said. At the time, police were mostly concerned about containing angry demonstrators who were protesting the results of the contested 2000 election. Police reported a few arrests and some vandalism.
Demonstrations are likely to be a concern of police this time. Organizers said they will bring thousands into the city again to protest Bush's second inauguration.
International ANSWER, the antiwar, anti-racism coalition that has sponsored some of Washington's biggest demonstrations against the war in Iraq, has been planning a counter-inauguration rally for months.
Another antiwar coalition, United for Peace and Justice, which organized a massive demonstration outside the Republican National Convention in New York in August, is discussing possible actions in Washington and elsewhere. The purpose, spokesman Bill Dobbs said, would be "to keep the heat on the Bush administration about the occupation of Iraq."
Ramsey said police expect the inaugural parade to follow its traditional route and pass a reviewing stand along Pennsylvania Avenue NW on the north side of the White House. That portion of the street has been closed to vehicle traffic since 1995, and planners said they expect security and design work to be completed in time for Bush's swearing in.
Officials said that none of the security measures is meant to keep people from attending the parade or other events.
"Our goal is to provide as safe an environment as possible, so America can enjoy one of its greatest celebrations, which is the inaugural celebration for the president of the United States," said Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse.
Staff writers Manny Fernandez and Del Quentin Wilber contributed to this report.
