Close the Washington Monument

Bruce Schneier is at his very best in this essay responding to the National Park Service's plans to make the Washington Monument as secure as an airport concourse...

photo from wikimedia commons

Whether you agree with him or not - on this or other issues - Schneier asks tough questions which demand thoughtful answers.  He wrote on this earlier, but it's clear the wheels have been turning since.  Bruce drew inspiration from Philip Kennicott's in Washington Post commentary Iconic obelisk presents a monumental security issue. 

Earlier this month I wrote: "Existing precautions do a satisfactory and aesthetically pleasing job of keeping vehicle borne improvised explosive devices away so the structure itself is reasonably protected.  In the absence of a specific and time constrained threat against visitors to the obelisk there is no reason [and no justification] to do a better job detecting man-portable threats at this monument (or others) than at other large public gathering spaces in the District."

If we do not demonstrate stout heart and steely resolve, 2011, the ten year anniversary of 9/11, will become the Year of Fear.