A large temporary structure built for the occasion provides seating for not only the incoming and outgoing presidents and their families but virtually every other senior official and the entire Congress.

In other words, it’s a perfect target for anyone wanting to decapitate our government. In time of war – which is what we are in – risking, let alone effectively inviting, that peril is simply not acceptable.

With tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers in this country, countless jihadists and domestic enemies all set on its destruction, it is, as a practical matter, impossible to guarantee the inauguration’s safety.

The national security and simple prudence demands that this spectacular public celebration of an America at peace be suspended until we once again are.

This is Frank Gaffney.