Joe Biden’s inauguration this week is one of the most decisive litmus tests for American democracy, peaking at a ceremony closed to the public and packed with the military rather than the festive crowds of yesteryear.
The ceremony on the west steps of the Capitol, the scene less than two weeks ago of the deadly attack by Donald Trump’s followers, will focus in a few yards on the new president, senators, donors, businessmen and other members of the select group of the country’s leaders. most powerful in the world.
US intelligence does not want to repeat the mistakes of January 6, after the prosecution gathered evidence that some participants in the attack tried to “capture and murder”, while details of how they even proposed executing a police officer announced. to be. with his own service weapon.
The FBI said in a circular last week that the attack on the Capitol has encouraged groups of “violent domestic extremists” who they consider the greatest “terrorist” threat to the country in 2021 and who take the danger in the United States very seriously. days before and during the inauguration of the 20th.
THE ENEMY AT HOME
“The possibility that acts of violence are planned on private channels cannot be discounted. There are isolated calls for violence in non-moderate forums such as 8kun, and the FBI appears to be taking the threats very seriously,” he said in an interview. with Efe Daniel Jones, president of the independent organization Advance Democracy.
According to Michael Allen, general manager of Beacon Global Strategies and former adviser to former President George W. Bush, in an interview with Fox News, “the authorities are too preparing to send a message of deterrence, of ‘stay away’. send.
The red warning shuts down the monumental National Mall, the Capitol and some entrances to the city of Washington during the inauguration, making this ceremony, which is normally a mass event and of a festive nature (although there were riots four years ago during the inauguration). Trump’s inauguration), will take place in a tenuous and militarized environment.
About 25,000 National Guard soldiers armed with rifles, more than double the troops deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, are patrolling Washington in the face of the real possibility of renewed disagreement and attempts to sabotage Biden’s inauguration.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has asked fellow citizens to stay in their homes on Wednesday, and federal authorities responsible for the monumental area between the Capitol and the White House where Biden is supposed to walk have warned that any attempt to be banned entering areas by force will be countered.
CAUSE A CIVIL WAR
During his four-year presidency, Trump has provided an alibi with lies such as the theft of elections by Democrats, extremist groups and two decades after 9/11, it is no longer the mountains of Tora Bora or the fight against Islamic extremists where he is. they need troops, if not on the National Mall esplanade, to deal with internal terrorism.
The far-right forums of groups like the Proud Boys or the Oath Keepers, cornered in the few social networks they have left, are not hesitant to heat up the atmosphere ahead of Wednesday’s inauguration. Last week, taking advantage of the fact that thousands of new followers have joined their semi-official Telegram channel, they made a poll: Do you want all-out war? 75%, which corresponds to several thousand users, replied in the affirmative.
Amid this atmosphere of tension, US intelligence has uncovered attempts by Russian, Chinese and Iranian actors to fuel the fires of violent rhetoric among the most radical groups, so far identified with Trump, but occupying a much more sinister specter. that reaches neo-Nazi groups.
“We see a myriad of disturbing online conversations about various events surrounding the inauguration (…) We follow armed protests (…) and the possibility of armed persons approaching government officials and buildings,” he said Thursday. FBI Director Christopher Wray in a meeting with outgoing Vice President Mike Pence and other national security officials.
Several calls circulating over the internet encourage far-right sympathizers to rally not only in Washington, but also for the capitals of all states of the country, as well as for other types of administrative headquarters, which worries authorities.
“While much of the content promoting violence has been removed from the major social platforms, the anger still persists,” Jones said. “Channels that trap extremists continue to spread. This is going to be a long-standing problem in the United States.” .