The people running D.C. security are PARANOID! I'm sorry, but a small plane, even loaded with C4 is not going to do much damage. About like a VW Beetle. Now if you put a nuke on board or Marburg the equation changes. Even so, the threat is not the airplane, its whats onboard. This whole incident today seems more than silly!!! If there is a real verified threat that someone is carrying bioweapons or nukes, then you blow the little thing to pieces. Otherwise, there is absolute no need to be evacuating everybody in town.
So... how long should they wait... until they can see the plane from the WH, so they know whether its a big plane or a little plane?
But, since they did not know where it might have been heading...and even if it was a small plane - it could have crashed into some office window, caused a fire or enough damage to harm/hurt, even kill someone. Just protecting one life makes it worthwhile to evacuate, IMHO. I would not want to be in the one place that even a small plane purposely crashed.
I work and live in this area, after experiencing 9/11 first hand, I appreciate the efforts of all agencies regarding the event of today.
I beg to differ. A plane within 3 miles of the Capital & WH can be there in a flash. I'd much prefer being safe than sorry. Plus, this reminds everyone to be on their toes.