[mgj-discuss] an amusing read

[Hope Chu]

it's amazing that they can crank out so much material (6 
pages!) on this.

***
-Event Security Assessment-
World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund 2006 
Spring Meetings

Overseas Security Advisory Council
U.S. Department of State
April 22-23, 2006

The following security assessment was compiled from a 
variety of government and open sources, including various 
press reporting, World Bank Group, D.C. Metropolitan 
Police Department, and activist websites.

Executive Summary
Every spring, the World Bank Group (WBG) and International 
Monetary Fund?s (IMF) Joint Development Committee and 
International Monetary and Financial Committee schedule a 
series of meetings to discuss a range of issues related to 
international development. This year, the two 
institutions, including 5,000 foreign dignitaries, 
representatives of business and non-governmental 
organizations, and press will gather on the weekend of 
April 21-23 to take part in
the 2006 WBG/IMF Spring Meetings. During the event, the 
Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and 
other federal law enforcement agencies will be out in 
force to ensure the security of the event and its 
participants. The two main factors to consider in a 
comprehensive threat assessment of the WMG/IMF Spring 
Meetings are the potential threats derived from 
transnational terrorism and violent anti-globalization 
protests. Although OSAC is not aware of any specific 
threat to the 2006 Spring Meetings, as illustrated by the 
highly publicized August 2004 financial sector threat, 
Islamic terrorists have a demonstrated interest in 
targeting the WBG and IMF, among other high-profile 
institutions symbolic of the Western
financial establishment. Additionally, the 
anti-globalization protests that usually accompany major 
economic summits conducted by organizations such as the 
WBG, IMF and the World Trade Organization presented major 
security challenges in the past. However, interest in the
anti-Iraq War movement has led to a decrease in interest 
in the anti-globalization movement. As a result, efforts 
to organize protests against this year?s Spring Meetings 
were near absent, and protestor turnout is expected to be 
low. This report provides an overview of potential threats
derived from transnational terrorism and 
anti-globalization protests. Event logistics for the 2006 
Spring Meetings are also included.

...

Security Response to the Spring Meetings
As in years past, the MPD will be taking special measures 
to secure the WBG/IMF complex during the Spring Meetings. 
Starting late night on Friday through the end of the 
event, inner and outer perimeter boundaries will be 
instituted to restrict vehicular traffic, and access to 
the main campus will be limited to registered meetings 
participants. Federal and local authorities are also 
coordinating with rental car and truck firms to monitor 
for any suspicious activities that may indicate a planned 
vehicular attack. MPD will place a highly visible law 
enforcement presence operating at heightened alert in the 
area of the WBG/IMF complex throughout the duration of the 
event.

In response to the July London bombings, law enforcement 
authorities in Washington, D.C. have heightened public 
transportation security measures. The 
WashingtonMetropolitan Area Transit Authority increased 
patrols on the metro and bus systems throughout the 
District. The threat to public transport is higher during 
times of high usage, such as weekday rush-hour timeframes, 
or during well-attended special events. In this respect, 
the threat profile for the Spring Meetings is lowered 
because of the weekend timeframe and the absence of any 
special events that might draw large numbers of attendees 
to the city. And while the Washington, DC tourist season 
has already started, the city will not see peak tourist 
numbers until the summer. To compensate for the continued 
extremist targeting emphasis on hotels, the MPD and 
various federal agencies are coordinating security 
precautions with local hotels to secure delegates to the
meetings. Security measures are likely to include 
additional patrols and increased surveillance on hotels 
with high-profile delegates. Washington area hotels will 
also increase internal and perimeter patrols to secure 
their facilities. Participants are reminded to report any 
suspicious activity to law enforcement officials.

II. Demonstration Threat

Threat Overview
The demonstration threat posed to the 2006 Spring Meetings 
is considered low. Law enforcement authorities expect 
protestor turnout to the event to be negligible. Although 
protest activities are planned, no protest permits have 
been requested by activist groups, and the MPD do not 
expect any organized protest activity at Murrow Park, 
across from the WBG/IMF complex where protestors have 
traditionally anchored activities in the past. The 
extensive planning efforts conducted to organize protests 
in past years were completely absent in 2006, and the few 
actual planned events are expected to attract low numbers. 
Because of the lack of
planning, some protestors will meet on Friday to plan last 
minute, impromptu activities for the weekend. As a result, 
a variety of unannounced, unexpected protest activities 
may occur throughout the weekend, although participant 
numbers will remain low.

Planned Demonstrations
Due to the near complete lack of advance demonstration 
planning, most activities carried out by activists over 
the weekend of the meetings are expected to be conducted 
on an impromptu basis, organized on the spot. The few 
activities that were scheduled in advance will be 
low-profile, but
will allow protestors an opportunity to organize 
improvised activities and marches that may take place 
later in each day through to the late night and early 
morning, as has been the case in the past. To this extent, 
there is a potential that protestors could arrive 
unannounced at delegate hotels, financial institutions and 
places of business to harass or cause disturbances. In the 
past, protestors have expressed interest in causing 
disturbances at delegate hotels at early morning hours to 
disturb hotel guests? sleep. Protestors may also attempt 
to block the progress of delegate vehicles from meetings 
to other locations by creating road blockades or hampering 
vehicles in other ways, such as chaining vehicle axles to 
immobile objects or protestors. The most active day of 
scheduled demonstration events will take place on Friday, 
the day before the core WBG/IMF meetings are scheduled. At 
midday, street theater sponsored by the Mobilization for 
Global Justice will take place, accompanied by a media 
stunt that as been characterized by activist websites as a 
"public health inspection." Friday?s final scheduled 
event, described as home demonstrations, will take at 8 
p.m.
On Saturday, protestors plan to converge on Farragut 
Square at 7:30 p.m. to stage a march to "capitalist places 
of interest." On Sunday, at a time to be announced, 
protestors will conduct an "IMF Soccer Riot." No details 
are available on the specifics of these activities.

Threat of Violence
As with any demonstrations, there exists the possibility 
that the protest activities surrounding the Spring 
Meetings could attract radical fringe groups bent on 
causing disturbances, including vandalism and violence. 
Because the protest activities taking place during the 
weekend will be
impromptu in nature, radical or anarchist groups could 
take the opportunity to capitalize on the disorganized 
nature of the activities to cause disturbances. Little 
information is available on the details of the scheduled 
protest events, but activist websites have made vague 
suggestions that the IMF Soccer Riot scheduled for Sunday 
may involve demonstrators throwing soccer balls down 
streets, at buildings or at meeting attendees. During past 
events, protestors caused minor damage to parked cars in 
the vicinity of the WGB/IMF complex by scratching paint 
jobs, spray painting anti-globalization slogans and 
affixing bumper stickers. Wrist-rockets and slingshots 
were used to launch thumbtacks at police officers. The 
most significant direct action by protestors during the 
2004 Annual Meetings was the purposeful, repeated crossing 
of the police line at the Ellipse, resulting in numerous 
arrests. MPD will monitor the activities of anarchist, 
black block, and other potentially aggressive groups to 
mitigate possible threats. MPD has in the past been very 
effective in this regard, monitoring developing direct 
actions and impromptu marches and reacting appropriately 
to contain and direct the groups.

Activist Websites
http://www.50years.org/ (50 Years is Enough)
http://www.africaaction.org/campaign_new/debt.php (Africa 
Action)
http://www.afsc.org/ (American Friends Service Committee)
http://www.answercoalition.org/ (ANSWER)
http://www.dawndc.net/ (DAWN)
http://www.dccan.net/ (DC Community Action Network)
http://www.indymedia.org/en/index.shtml (Indy Media)
http://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi (Jubilee USA)
http://www.maydaydc.mahost.org/events.html (Mayday D.C.)
http://www.sndden.org/rwg/index.htm (Religious Working 
Group on the World Bank & IMF)
http://www.uusc.org/index.shtml (Unitarian Universalist 
Service Committee)
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/ (United for Peace & 
Justice)

Schedule of Events
Friday
April 21
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Street Theater, Media /
"IMF Inspection
WBG/IMF facilities

TBA
"Office Demonstrations"
WBG/IMF facilities

8 p.m.
"Home Demonstrations
Unknown

Saturday
April 22
7:30 p.m.
Night March
Start at Farragut Square - march to "capitalist places of
interest"

Sunday
April 23
TBA
"IMF"


III. Spring Meetings Logistics
As in past years, two sets of boundaries will be utilized 
to secure the immediate vicinity of the WBG/IMF complex. 
An inner perimeter will be erected to restrict close-in 
access to credentialed participants, while a larger 
vehicular exclusion zone will also be emplaced to create a 
secure, controlled buffer area around the complex.

Inner Perimeter Boundary: An inner boundary limiting 
access to registered participants will be implemented on 
Friday evening through Sunday night. Private sector 
participants are expected to use one of two pedestrian 
entrances situated at the north and south sides of the 
inner perimeter boundary. Security screening will be in 
place at the pedestrian entrances, so participants are 
advised to travel light and allow extra time for security 
checks.

Vehicular Exclusion Zone: A vehicular exclusion zone (VEZ) 
will also be emplaced from 5 a.m., Saturday, to 4:30 p.m., 
Sunday, to create a secure buffer zone for the event. Cars 
will not be permitted access to the VEZ, although there 
will be a specified entry point for selected limousines 
and other vehicles carrying meeting delegates and WBG/IMF 
staff. Private sector participants are advised to seek 
parking outside the VEZ, and proceed on foot to one of the
pedestrian entrances at the inner perimeter. (*NOTE: in 
previous years, both at the Spring and Annual meetings, 
MPD activated the vehicular and pedestrian exclusion zones 
two to three hours previous to the announced deadline)

Outside the VEZ, H St. will also be closed from 18 St. to 
19 St. on Saturday and Sunday.

Perimeters and street closures April 22-23:

18th St. from F St. to Pennsylvania Ave.
19th St. from F St. to Pennsylvania Ave.
20th St. from F St. to Pennsylvania Ave.
G St. from 17th St. to 20 St.
F, 17th, and 21St Streets will remain open.

Inner Perimeter
18th St. from G St. to Pennsylvania Ave.
19th St. from G St. to Pennsylvania Ave.
20th St. from G St. to Pennsylvania Ave.
Pedestrian entrances will be available at both the North
and South sides of the inner perimeter.

Shuttle Bus Service
Event organizers have instituted a shuttle service that 
will run between the WBG/IMF headquarters and the hotels 
listed below starting at 7:30 a.m. on Friday and 6:30 a.m. 
on
Saturday and Sunday, through to the end of events on all 
three days. IMF/WBG credentials or Spring Meetings 
participant badges must be presented to board the 
shuttles. Credentials may be obtained during the week 
leading up to the event from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the World 
Bank?s "H"
building at 600 19th St. Hotel

Location
? Fairmont Hotel
2401 M St., NW
? Four Seasons
2800 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
? Lombardy Hotel
2019 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
? St. Gregory Hotel
2033 M St., NW
? State Plaza Hotel
2117 E St., NW
? Washington Marriot
1221 22nd St., NW
? Watergate Hotel
2650 Virginia Ave., NW

IV. OSAC Support
Christopher Medeiros, OSAC's Event Duty Officer (EDO), 
will be present at the event on Saturday liaising with law 
enforcement and event security, and may provide on-ground 
support to private sector participants as needed. In the 
event where assistance is required, the EDO may be 
contacted at 202-309-5056. 

While the risk of terrorist attack to the 2006 WBG/IMF 
Spring Meetings is consider low, situational awareness and 
vigilance during any major event is of utmost importance 
to protect against unforeseen threats. If during the 
course of the meetings participants notice any suspicious 
activity they are encouraged to immediately report 
relevant information to the MPD or the EDO at the above 
number.

V. Useful Washington D.C. Emergency Planning Resources
Washington D.C. Emergency Information Center
http://emergencycenter.dc.gov/eia/site/default.asp
Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department
http://www.mpdc.dc.gov/main.shtm
Washington D.C. Evacuation Routes
http://ddot.dc.gov/ddot/cwp/view,a,1250,q,560885.asp
Ready.GOV from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
http://www.ready.gov/
Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center 
(FS-ISAC)
http://www.fsisac.com/

NOTICE: "The contents of this document in no way represent 
the policies, views, or attitudes of the United States
Department of State, or the United States Government, 
except as otherwise noted. Users of this document may cite 
it
provided they do so in a manner which clearly identifies 
it as the secondary source."