"U.S. Commits 400 Special Forces for Games"

[GreenPartyVoter]

WASHINGTON - Responding to a request from Greece, the United States has committed 400 American special forces soldiers to the job of helping protect the Olympic Games next month, a U.S. counterterrorism official said Wednesday.

It is not yet decided whether the armed soldiers would be in Athens, on the nearby island of Crete or remain on alert in Europe, where they are based in Germany, the official said. The United States is in the process of discussing with the Greek government where the soldiers will be positioned, the official said.

The decision on where to send the soldiers is mostly up to the Greek government but will be made jointly with Gen. James Jones, the top NATO commander who also is commander of U.S. forces in Europe, said the U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

In any event, there will be up to 50 U.S. communications and other liaison personnel assigned to the Games, the official said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=4&u=/ap/20040721/ap_on_sp_ol/us_olympics_security