Warships part of U.S. contingency plan for Sochi Olympics
Last edited Mon Jan 20, 2014, 03:30 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: CNN
(CNN) -- The U.S. military will have up to two warships and several transport aircraft on standby under a contingency plan to help evacuate American officials and athletes from the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, if ordered, a U.S. official said.
The State Department would take the lead in organizing and evacuating Americans, if necessary, the official with direct knowledge of the plan told CNN.
Moscow would have to ask for such assistance before the United States would act, the official said.
But planes and ships are clearly there "if something happens like a major terrorist attack and we need to get Americans out," the official said.
Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/20/politics/sochi-security/
This is like a fricking bad action movie. Terrorists attack Sochi. US sends in troops to evacuate American athletes. Russia and the US end up fighting each other.
davidthegnome
(2,983 posts)And what do the Russians think of this? I can guess, though. US warships in Russian waters? Hmm... I'm not convinced our current relations are really good enough to hold up well under that. Don't we at least need the approval of the Russian government to do this?
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)We don't need their approval to protect our own nor to have a navy.
davidthegnome
(2,983 posts)Wouldn't those ships have to enter Russian waters to evacuate Americans? I'm sure they'll clear it somehow through diplomatic channels, first, but personally, it makes me a little nervous. The cold war may be over, but memories of that time are still very strong.
hack89
(39,171 posts)especially the part where it says we would only do it with Russian permission?
charlie and algernon
(13,447 posts)Let's say there is a major attack like a bombing or something like Munich with armed terrorists on the ground. Americans have been killed, others are wounded. The US asks to send people in to get the American casualties and the rest of the delegation out. Russia denies the initial requests, says it's under control and they got it. How long does the US wait before they can't wait any longer to protect its citizens?
okaawhatever
(9,462 posts)the US. Maybe Russia could get Americans out of Russia but if there were a major terror attack, commercial airlines would either be jammed or not flying. Russia could get them to a country nearby. There are a lot of options that don't involve entering Russia waters or airspace. Also, these ships likely have helicopters and or airplanes on them so they will be available for any kind of transportation. That's what they did in the Philippines. The created an "air bridge" to get supplies and people from one point to another.
America and probably most other countries have troops on standby during these events. My brother-in-law and his reserve unit had a "drill" during the Nagano Olympics. They had a joint exercise with Japan and some other country/countries a couple hours away from the Olympics. They were actually doing some sort of drill, but the point was they were there if need be. I think with Russia it's a little different because they aren't as friendly about letting other armies in their country, or holding joint military exercises but it's not unprecedented. I think what's unprecedented is Russia not sharing the intelligence when there is such a threat nor coordinating with other countries.
RC
(25,592 posts)It'll be fun, donchano? All that death and destruction. The people that want this, holed up in a government built, reinforced fortress under a mountain somewhere. Yeah, that's the ticket.
We need better leaders for our country.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)imagine the profits to be had by the war profiteers and proliferators!
BluegrassDem
(1,693 posts)I don't think Russia would allow any foreign troops on their soil.
MyNameGoesHere
(7,638 posts)taking them to Georgia would be provocative to Russia. They could live with Turkey.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)I'd say the ships are there so that no one would have to worry about where to go.
okaawhatever
(9,462 posts)were an event that didn't involve Americans we'd probably help out whoever was in need. I'm sure they will have more than a few radio intercept operators, or whatever they call them these days, trying to get info from known terrorist sympathizers.
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)The very last thing the Russians want is a terrorist attack during their hosting of the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Let them handle it!
AllMighty
(2 posts)Are you people like 9 years old? Do you seriously think the US is just going to send war ships and air carriers to Russian waters without clearing this first??? LOL...
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)Welcome to DU.
hlthe2b
(102,379 posts)helping Russia with security by sharing information (as previously reported in MSM0 and (perhaps) rendering other aid.
penultimate
(1,110 posts)I wouldn't be surprised if he nukes Sochi to kill any terrorists who dare attack Sochi.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)For those who don't what DERP means:
http://betterment.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1017&pid=144684
iandhr
(6,852 posts)This didn't happen for the summer games in London in 2010 or the last winter games in Vancouver.
... they are targeting Russia (Putin's policies)... not the Olympics in general.
iandhr
(6,852 posts)OnlinePoker
(5,727 posts)The Republicans kept harping on the fact that no rescue mission was sent in but it turned out there were no assets even in the area to do a rescue if needed. Now, knowing the timeline for a potential attack, the Navy is prepositioning as close as possible to get there if needed.
okaawhatever
(9,462 posts)on drill during the Nagano Olympics. They were about two hours away doing a joint exercise with the Japanese and probably other armies. You just didn't hear about it because Japan was more open about sharing information and this Olympics is probably the most threatened. I'm sure the Canadians probably had the US, UK, and Australia at least nearby or on standby.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)frwrfpos
(517 posts)Russia is quite capable of security at the Olympics.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)this is about the U.S. being prepared to evacuate our citizens in a worse case scenario.
And, this has NOTHING to do with U.S. warmongering or arrogance.
frwrfpos
(517 posts)We didnt send warships to London or other olympics. And if the threat is so bad why are we sending our althletes ro begin with. Sorry, you are mistaken. This is U.S. arrogance and war mongering and weve been doing its for many decades. Plently of evidence of our violent out of control military injecting itself into other countries affairs
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)they'll be standing off just in case they're needed to evacuate our citizens.
You're the one that's sadly mistaken.
BTW, welcome to DU.
frwrfpos
(517 posts)Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)to help with security.
okaawhatever
(9,462 posts)countries did. As I've mentioned earlier in the thread, my brother in law's reserve unit was doing a drill during the Nagano Olympics about two hours away. He was there with his combat engineer unit, a Japanese unit and likely other militaries. It's s.o.p. you just don't hear about it. The Canadians had help as well.
Russia's military may not be able to protect everyone. Not because they aren't good, but because they are a huge geographical country with an Army that's proportional to the size of the population. Putin and the military have a huge amount of ground to cover and tons of border countries/border checkpoints. It's not going to be easy especially with the Chechens so close by.
penultimate
(1,110 posts)a huge presence in the vicinity of where the London Olympics were held. If they needed to evacuate people from the area, they didn't need to move ships with transports into position, because they already had them there. There also appears to be far more risk of terrorist attacks there then was during the London Olympics. There are credible threats by groups who just recently took part in terrorist attacks in the area. Sadly it looks as if the Russians will have a lot to contend with. Hopefully they will be able to prevent any attacks. My concern isn't that I don't think the Russians are capable of handling, but the fact that any country under a similar threat risk would have a similar probability of a successful attack. That being said, I think it would be foolish for any government to not be prepared to move their people out in the event something does happen. It would be expected for them to do it, so why not prepare for it?
hack89
(39,171 posts)Operation DISTINGUISHED GAMES was a NATO operation to provide military support to the 2004 games - the US was a part of that. There was US involvement through NATO for the Turin and Vancouver games.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)I agree we shouldn't get involved. We should have a contingency plan to evacuate Americans if something happened. In the event that did happen it should only be for that purpose.
1000words
(7,051 posts)Scairp
(2,749 posts)It's not as if you or I have bought tickets and are going to Russia. We are only watching on t.v. The athletes deserve our support, as much as we can give from here. No doubt they would prefer not to have to worry about terrorists openly making threats against the games. It must be a terrible distraction for them. After all, they don't pick the frigging place to have them, and frankly I don't know what the IOC was thinking in awarding them to Russia just as I didn't understand when they awarded them to Beijing with their horrible human rights record. Fingers crossed nothing bad happens.
1000words
(7,051 posts)This shit already feels like a bad Hollywood script. Pass.
Scairp
(2,749 posts)It's about our athletes living their dreams. At the risk of repeating myself, they are deserving of our support. The location is not in their control. You could skip the news during the Olympics and just watch the games. I am hoping that commentators will not be bringing it up constantly. My sense is they will not, they will focus on the games themselves.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)While I support the athletes and wish them well, I won't be watching the games. Between the terrorist threats, the anti-gay laws, and the treatment of the residents of Sochi I won't contribute to the television ratings. It doesn't mean that I won't read about them somewhere on the internet. Some pressure needs to be put on the IOC for the terrible decision they made to award the Winter Olympics to Sochi in the first place. In my opinion, there aren't many other ways of doing so.
Scairp
(2,749 posts)I don't know how the athletes feel but if I were one I'd be really nervous something might happen, ala Munich. And I do hope our government is sending Marines from the embassy to provide security to our athletes.
But once they are awarded, moving them is difficult. The thing is they should have never been awarded to Sochi in the first place.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)I've been saying for awhile now that the area the Olympics are being held in is unstable. Moving war ships in is unusual.
All I know is we shouldn't get involved with the Olympic security directly. The games are being held in Russia, let them deal with it. If something happens and we have to go get our athletes, then we should do it. Otherwise we should stay out of it.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)The US military said on Monday that air and naval assets, including two ships in the Black Sea, would be made available to help Russia combat any possible terrorist attacks on the Sochi Winter Olympics.
The Pentagon said US military commanders were "conducting prudent planning and preparations" should American support be required during the Winter Olympics, which has been the target of threats by militant Islamist group.
"The United States has offered its full support to the Russian government as it conducts security preparations for the Winter Olympics," Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said in a statement.
"Air and naval assets, to include two Navy ships in the Black Sea, will be available if requested for all manner of contingencies in support of and in consultation with the Russian government."
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/21/us-military-support-russia-sochi-olympics