The capital of war, the new Crossfire, same old government By
Jackson Murphy web posted April 22, 2002 "Two Capitals" Sadly
Washington D.C. is overrun with ugliness. The threat of
terrorism since September 11th has changed the capital. Concrete
barriers, closed roads, and security checks are all a part of
what was supposed to be the new reality. But the added security,
while understandable, has not really added any realistic
security. A few barriers will do nothing if terrorists want to
use nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons. The hastiness of
these precautions have led to eyesores in front of the White
House, the Capital, and its surrounding office buildings.
Traffic patterns have changed, but you can still drive very
close to the big monuments and sites. It is hard to blame the
rush to ensure security, but it so obviously provides only a
feeling that these places are safe from terror. These technical
changes may have altered the landscape but it has not taken away
from the spirit of the city. It is vib