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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: E. T. who wrote (205795)	11/30/2001 9:10:06 AM
From: E. T.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

The White House used to belong to the American people. At least that's what I learned from history books and from covering every president starting with John F. Kennedy. thebostonchannel.com By Helen Thomas But now the 201-year-old Executive Mansion belongs only to a select, elitist group of people, including top government officials, members of Congress and the press corps. They and some others, all of whom are screened in advance, are welcome. But most people are not -- not anymore. Blame the terrorists. White House officials explain that they have closed the doors to the public on the recommendation of the Secret Service. Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters, "The White House is a target for those who would do harm to this country." And a Secret Service spokesman pointed out that White House public tours were banned in the two World Wars and during the Persian Gulf War in 1991. But this time the Bush administration is signaling that the White House may never be open to the public again and that Washington's much heralded easy access is a thing of the past. Karen Hughes, counselor to President Bush, said the fight against terrorism is something he "expects we will be dealing with throughout his administration and into many future administrations." Is Bush saying that terrorism cannot not be defeated? We conquered the Nazis, the fascists and the communists. Why not terrorists, elusive as they are? Take away their leaders, their motivation and financial backing, and let's see what happens. Besides, it's not our style to cave in so quickly. Fleischer said the president and first lady regret the fact that the public will not be able to visit the White House during the Yuletide season. Reporters asked the press secretary why the Secret Service cannot protect the White House during public visiting hours when the nation's 420 commercial airports are beefing up security and are still being used. "You can't compare the two," Fleischer maintained. "The White House is a unique target, different from all other venues that Americans come across in their daily lives." Earlier, Bush himself had told reporters, "I know a lot of Americans look forward to touring the White House during this period of time. But we're in extraordinary times. Evil knows no holiday. Evil doesn't welcome Thanksgiving or (the) Christmas season. And in these extraordinary times we're taking extraordinary measures." Actually, the White House is one of the most secure buildings in Washington. There are sensors on the grounds, guards on rooftops, and metal detectors and baggage X-ray machines at all entrances. The machines are staffed by uniformed Secret Service officers. Also on duty are highly trained, heavily armed SWAT teams plus K-9 corps dogs who sniff for explosives. Over the last six years, the Secret Service has managed to keep vehicles off Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House and some nearby streets, and the agency has practically fenced in Lafayette Square, scene of many antiwar demonstrations in the past. Before Sept. 11 there was a growing clamor to open the avenue again to motor traffic. It's all history now. One of our society's great attributes has been its openness -- in contrast to what we reporters encounter when we travel abroad with the different presidents. Security in most foreign government palaces is very tight and usually controlled by the armed forces. Sad to say, the White House now is not much different from those places. Before the Sept. 17 ban on White House public tours, some 1.5 million people visited the mansion every year. Now, with the huge drop in tourism, local Washington, D.C., officials and entrepreneurs are bemoaning the loss of millions of dollars in business. They were distraught when the Secret Service decided earlier this month not to let the public attend the president's annual Christmas tree lighting on the Ellipse behind the White House. Only families with tickets would be allowed on the grounds, the agency said. However, this week it reversed itself, saying in effect that on second thought, it believes it can handle security at the Dec. 6 event that traditionally kicks off the Christmas season here. Merchants and city officials feel better now, but no one thinks this one gesture will do much to boost tourism. Meantime, the White House will be decorated as a dazzling winter wonderland. First lady Laura Bush has chosen the theme "Home for the Holidays" to celebrate the closeness of families in the wake of what she called "the national tragedy." As always, the main tree will be put up in the Blue Room. This year's 18-foot Concolor fir was grown in the mountains of central Pennsylvania. Replicas of past presidential homes will be on display on mantels and pier tables. There will also be the traditional gingerbread house, created to look like the White House in 1800 when John Adams became the first resident of the mansion. Adult and children's choirs will perform at the Yuletide parties hosted by the Bushes. Laura Bush said in a statement: "I hope Americans everywhere will find comfort in the special meaning of family and home this year." And I hope the White House will find a way to maintain its security and at the same time open its doors again to its owners.