WASHINGTON - The White House on Thursday defended a decision not to inform President George W. Bush of a major security alert in Washington while he went on a bike ride in the suburbs.
Bush was only told of the evacuation of the White House, Congress and the Supreme Court about an hour after Wednesday's alert -- caused when a small plane entered restricted airspace -- had ended.
"The security detail that was traveling with the president was kept apprised of the situation as it developed," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.
"They were in close contact with officials back here at the White House. The president was never considered to be in any danger, and the protocols that were put in place after September 11 were followed," he said.
The alert was the biggest in the US capital since the murderous September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, which caused a major review of national security.
McClellan admitted that the official reaction would be examined to see if the alert procedures could be improved.
"I think, stepping back from this, any time there's a situation like this, there's going to be a review undertaken, and it will be thoroughly reviewed. And if there are any improvements that need to be made, they will be made," he said.
Bush had been on a bike ride in a park in suburban Washington when the plane got within 4.8 kilometers (three miles) of the White House. Vice President Dick Cheney was evacuated from the White House.
Fighter jets intercepted the plane when it failed to answer radio messages. The two men in the Cessna 150 were detained briefly, but no charges have been filed.
05/12/2005 15:39 GMT