Monuments Vulnerable to Terrorists

A counter-terrorism study commissioned by the National Park Service concludes that Washington’s monuments, particularly those on the Mall, are vulnerable to terrorist attacks and that the federal police force charged with protecting them is understaffed and poorly funded.

The 200-page report cites several examples of how terrorists, domestic and foreign, could easily destroy national monuments and cause mayhem similar to that in the bombings of the federal building in Oklahoma City and the World Trade Center in New York.

The report, obtained by the Washington Post, makes a direct correlation between the vulnerability of the monuments and the funding of the U.S. Park Police, a law enforcement agency of the National Park Service. Nine national monuments and memorials are said to be vulnerable, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and--of most concern to the authors of the report--the newly refurbished Washington Monument.

“As symbols of America’s heritage, they are high-profile landmarks, not well protected, popular, attract many visitors daily and require open and easy accessibility,” says the report, which adds that it would take a onetime expenditure of $3 million to bring eight of the monuments up to security standards.

“The high potential for an unacceptable loss of life and property exists, along with the severe degradation of the public image and confidence in the ability of the United States to protect its people and its treasures,” the report continues.

Park Police officials added, however, that visitors should feel safe going to the Mall, particularly for special events, such as Tuesday’s fireworks, when virtually the entire Park Police force and other law enforcement officers will be on duty.

“We’ve taken steps to ensure safety measures are in place to take care of any situation that may occur,” Park Police Sgt. Rob MacLean said Saturday.

At the same time, Robert Langston, the chief of the U.S. Park Police, said the threat to the monuments is real. While protection of government buildings in the city has increased, that has not happened with the monuments and memorials guarded by the Park Police. The result is increased vulnerability, he said.

The report, conducted by Booz-Allen & Hamilton of Falls Church, Va., was contracted by the National Park Service for about $400,000. Drafted over six months by about 30 experts, the document includes analysis of the nine monuments and describes hypothetical terrorist attacks and the damage they could cause. It points out weaknesses and recommends specific solutions.

James Walters, project manager for the Booz-Allen report, and Langston said they were especially concerned about the Washington Monument.

In 1982, the monument was seized by a 66-year-old man who drove a truck that he said was filled with dynamite to the entrance. The man, who was killed by Park Police, told negotiators that he had chosen the monument because “it’s one of the sacred icons and it’s accessible.” Police later found no dynamite in the truck.

Langston said temporary barriers erected two years ago have improved security at the Washington Monument, which is to reopen July 31 after its restoration. But the report concludes that the famous obelisk still remains vulnerable.