The U.S. Department of Defense has deployed a number of anti-aircraft missiles at strategic points around Washington as a precaution against the possibility of a terrorist attack on the eve of the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Donald Rumsfeld, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, ordered that the missiles, which were positioned around the U.S. capital late Monday, be made ready for action in trucks and mobile launch sites. The Secretary of Defense's order for missile installation at launch bases came immediately after the U.S. raised its alert level regarding terrorist operations from risk to high risk. On the other hand, Dick Cheney, the Vice President of the United States, has moved to a location that has not been disclosed, and abroad, at least 14 U.S. embassies and consulates have been closed. John Ashcroft, the U.S. Attorney General, stated that warnings have been received regarding the potential for attacks on U.S. interests abroad.
U.S. Department of Defense Deploys Anti-Aircraft Missiles at Strategic Locations in Washington - 2002-09-11
In preparation for the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the U.S. Department of Defense has deployed anti-aircraft missiles around Washington. This decision follows an increase in the terrorist threat level and the relocation of Vice President Dick Cheney to an undisclosed location. The situation highlights ongoing security concerns for the U.S. government.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The U.S. Department of Defense deployed anti-aircraft missiles around Washington as a precaution against potential terrorist attacks on the anniversary of September 11. This action followed an increase in the threat level and the relocation of key government officials.
- Missiles were positioned in trucks and mobile launch sites around Washington.
- At least 14 U.S. embassies and consulates were closed due to security concerns.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, the U.S. significantly increased its security measures to prevent further terrorist incidents, particularly around key locations like Washington, D.C.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%