Close the Washington Monument

[Tawnos]

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/12/close_the_washi.html?nc=15

...
An empty Washington Monument would serve as a constant reminder to those on Capitol Hill that they are afraid of the terrorists and what they could do. They're afraid that by speaking honestly about the impossibility of attaining absolute security or the inevitability of terrorism -- or that some American ideals are worth maintaining even in the face of adversity -- they will be branded as "soft on terror." And they're afraid that Americans would vote them out of office if another attack occurred. Perhaps they're right, but what has happened to leaders who aren't afraid? What has happened to "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself"?
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[KaosDad]

Even considering the WaMo as a terrorist target shows how misguided the Government is. Of all the tourist attractions on The Mall this building id the least attractive as a target. Let's look at the scenario: a nut job gets in laden with explosives on a vest. He will detonate it in one of two places: the waiting room at the base or the observation deck at the top. Both places are clausterphobically small. The loss of life would be about 30.

Let's say the detonation is at the top. There's a big, hollywood style BOOM and the mall is bombed with chunks of marble. OK, and.....?

Now, let's say the explosion is in the waiting room in the base. IF the explosion is big enough the monument might fall over. That would result in the deaths of all in the monument and maybe a few outside, but that's it. It falls over and we have a new monument to the fallen.

However, I can walk into the Air & Space Museum with minimal searching. Detonating a nail laden vest of explosives would do WAY more damage.

"Those who would give up a little liberty..." Oh, never mind.

 

[Kirbinator]

It would take a lot of high explosive (HE) to do any damage to the Washington Monument. Most structures made of such large chunks of rock generally ignore explosive energies due to the physics involved. To make a dent would require a lot of precision in exact placement and timing.