Bush, Obama aides to play war games

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- The government's readiness for a terror incident during Barack Obama's first days as U.S. president will be tested before inauguration, the White House said.

The administration of President George Bush said it plans to test the incoming government's preparedness next month in a series of exercises involving top Bush and Obama officials, USA Today reported Tuesday. Officials haven't indicated what situations will be considered in next month's tabletop scenarios.

The White House also is preparing briefing books and office manuals to help the incoming administration through the first exchange of presidential power since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.

"This is the first wartime transition in 40 years, and it's probably the first transition in a couple of centuries in which our homeland itself has been under threat," says White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten, who's directing the effort.

Since shortly after Obama's election in November, federal agencies have had scores of meetings with members of Obama's transition team, prepared documents for federal agencies and readied issue briefs on policy matters.

"This is not intended as the administration's attempt to dictate what the next administration does," Bolten told USA Today. "It's intended completely in the spirit of, 'Here's what we know, you take it from here.'"