US soldiers to be based in Greece for Olympics

[Whoa_Nelly]

ATHENS July 10 - Hundreds of US soldiers from special anti-terrorist units will be based under NATO command at a military airport near Athens for the duration of next month's Olympic Games to be mobilised in the event of a major crisis, a Greek daily said Saturday.

A ``recent decision by the NATO Council... has paved the way for US special anti-terrorist units to be sent to Greece,'' the right-wing Kathimerini said, without giving any source.

It said 300 to 500 armed men and women would be based at the Eleusis military airport, ``despite the assertions of Greek officials'' to the contrary.

<snip>
The Greek government has said on several occasions that no foreign guards or soldiers will be on Greek soil for the August 13-29 Games and that the Greek army and police will be solely in charge of ensuring security.

more...
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2004&dt=0711&pub=Utusan_Express&sec=World&pg=wo_09.htm

[Trajan]

1. So ...

The GOP wants to attract terrorists to Greece ??? ...

[saigon68]

9. AS THE WORLDS POLICEMEN THIS IS NECESSARY

DISGUSTING

Aren't there schools to be fixed in this country??

Homeless people to house??

Seniors who need prescriptions to survive??

[Tellurian]

12. US Security there because Poppy Bush is going w/Babs...

I read some time ago, Poppy intends to go to the Olympics...
Too scared to go without security.

http://www.ilind.net/diary/may_3_04.html

[saigon68]

19. Sounds Plausible

It will cost a fortune to house all of these "Contractors" in Private hotels.

[Liberal Veteran]

2. Is anyone else getting just a little tired of the paranoia?

Precautions are one thing, but needed to send hundreds of soldiers to Greece for the Olympics?

[progressivebydesign]

3. My tax dollars are paying to protect a GAME?

I'm sorry... If the US is so concerned for safety, let them find the deep pocket donors to pay for some Blackwater guys... but since WHEN do we commit TROOPS to the Olympics?? That's just fucking weird.

[KansDem]

17. Yeah! Cancel the US election because of terror threats...

...but THE GAMES MUST GO ON!!!

After all, there's a whole slew of endorsement contracts waiting for the winning athletes!

[leesa]

4. Oh Good. Let's add some real targets, not to mention chaos

No other foreign soldiers to be there?? Why the US?? Will there be another staged terrorist event? Will we attack our own athletes?

[Barkley]

14. Good point leesa !

Do you think this is Bush's way of extending NATO into Iraq and
the 'war on terror'?

[Cerridwen]

5. Is there oil in Greece? Seriously,

what is in Greece that U.S. business wants to acquire?

I wish I were kidding.

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. Yup! Black Gold

Greece has oil reserves of around 10 million barrels, produces around 9,000 barrels per day (bpd) and consumed 463,000bpd in 2002. Most oil production comes from the Prinos fields, which are exploited by North Aegean Petroleum Company (NAPC) consortium.

Greece's oil industry is dominated by Hellenic Petroleum (HP). The state owns approximately 60 per cent of HP and an attempt to sell a 23.5 per cent stake to Russia's LUKOIL and Greece's Latsis Group was abandoned in February 2003.

Construction of a proposed 280km oil pipeline linking the Bulgarian Black Sea port of Burgas with Alexandropoulis on the Mediterranean coast of Greece has been delayed due to political and economic problems. In July 2002, construction started on a 214km oil pipeline, with a capacity to carry about 50,200bpd, from the port of Thessaloniki to Skopje in Macedonia.

http://www.worldinformation.com/World/europe_eu/Greece/profile.asp?p=8&country=030

Take a look at the map on this page. Greece is geopolitically in an advantageous position that would afford the US strategic military positioning regarding the ME.

[Cerridwen]

7. I was really hoping someone would tell me I was nuts or at least

paranoid.

Thanks for the info.

[Whoa_Nelly]

10. Now am looking for Oil/Greece links re: Carlyle Group

Have found some, but nothing I can really sink my teeth into. The Carlyle Group is not very forthcoming in info searches about their holdings and investments, nor their connections to the Saudi-BinLaden-Group. The S-BL-G is even more difficult to gain info on investments and holdings. Yet, your suspicion re: oil in Greece got me to wondering how Greece could most benefit the Bush family and the BushCo Regime.

[Lefty48197]

11. How did our olives get in their groves anyway?

Watch for Halliburton to get some no-bid olive oil futures.

[cliss]

8. Nice try.

The thought was well-meant, but they forgot something: we are now the most hated country on earth. Did they forget that? Why would NATO want US soldiers present? In my opinion, that's ASKING for terrorist attacks, rather than preventing them.

Also, consider the contestants. I read that Venus Williams was booed at the US Open, strictly because she was american. Think about how the americans in the olympics will be treated. Probably not well. If they win gold medals, the spectators will probably think they cheated.

See what Bush has done to us?

[daa]

13. Not only that but the

Greek people totally oppose shrub's policies so I don't think they will welcome the military anymore than Iraq did. Maybe we need to practice our torture techniques.

[Wednesdays]

16. I've been thinking that for the longest time...

>>Also, consider the contestants. I read that Venus Williams was booed at the US Open, strictly because she was american. Think about how the americans in the olympics will be treated. Probably not well. <<

My thoughts exactly. It will be a virtual hate-fest aimed at the American athletes, and things could get really ugly...stuff thrown at them even during the opening ceremonies, and so on.

Of course, we'll never see any of it thanks to the sanitized corporate coverage we get here. Or, they'll portray the targeted athletes as victims of "people who hate freedom." I suppose most of the athletes would indeed be innocent victims, but nobody will address the real reason why so much animosity is aimed at the U.S. in the first place.

[koopie57]

18. I thought that

she was booed cuz a while back she made some crack about the French. I was not real sure though. I know after I heard her, I took a dislike to her and always an happy when she looses. I might be wrong though, but I still don't like her now :shrug:

And, is there not a way Greece could keep the soldiers out of their country? Not let the plane land or something?

[Zorro]

15. Historically Greece has been notoriously lax about security

and a variety of terrorist groups have found it convenient to establish a presence there. This, coupled with a passive aggressive anti-American sentiment fostered over the decades since the events in Cyprus, have created a combustible environment ripe for exploitation by organizations looking to create an international incident.

IMHO it is wise to send well-trained anti-terrorist units to Athens, because I think there's a not insignificant probability that someone will try something serious there. There is a valid reason why ticket sales aren't up to expectations, because there's a justified concern that trouble may erupt during the Olympics.

I lived in Greece for a couple of years, so I believe I know a bit about that culture and environment there. I hope nothing bad happens, but I can still recall the events at Munich in 72. It is best to be prepared.