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2004-07-21 Europe
NYT: US to Invade Greece with Armed Troops
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Posted by Mr. Davis 2004-07-21 9:01:33 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 BBC has a different story:
Greece says national Olympic teams will not be allowed to bring their own armed security guards to the Games. The country's public order minister said state leaders could take armed guards but Greece alone would protect international athletes.
"Leaders, presidents, kings are one thing and athletes are another," George Voulgarakis said.
"Greece is exclusively responsible for the protection and guarding of the athletes."
A report by the New York Times suggested Greece had reached a tacit agreement with the US to allow armed American agents to act as bodyguards for their athletes. But Mr Voulgarakis denied this.
Posted by Steve  2004-07-21 9:15:17 AM||   2004-07-21 9:15:17 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 "Several NATO countries were opposed". Hmmmm...could I guess - France! and associated foreign satellites of Belgium and Luxemburg?
Posted by Don 2004-07-21 9:16:58 AM||   2004-07-21 9:16:58 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Article: The official Greek position is that no foreign police or security forces will be allowed to carry weapons because it is forbidden by the Greek Constitution

Do they also have something in there about letting terrorists roam free, as long as they only attack foreigners?
Posted by Zhang Fei  2004-07-21 9:40:56 AM|| [http://www.polipundit.com]  2004-07-21 9:40:56 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Only the times wqould characterize the protection of our people as an 'invasion.' When did the editor of Pravda get hired on as the editor? Thank you to the Greek Goverment for allowing us to provide the extra need protection. Efkaristo, Feelos. God help them if they try to pull some Munich type raid.
Posted by Cyber Sarge  2004-07-21 10:16:18 AM||   2004-07-21 10:16:18 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Cyber Sarge,

Credit me with going overboard on the headline, not the Times.
Posted by Mr. Davis 2004-07-21 10:27:21 AM||   2004-07-21 10:27:21 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 W/deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan still going on,400 SF troops sounds a bit high.400 may be the "official" negotiated figure for all armed Americans based IN Greece-FBI,Secret Service,etc.(A ship 15 miles off coast could have as many as US-or others-wanted.) And the potential for chaos does seem high.(Suppose-bus w/American,British,Canadian athletes gets hi-jacked near Piraeus.Delta,Seals and FBI HRT are all going to fight over who has right to attempt hostage rescue,even as Greece,US,Brits and Canada argue over negotiating or rescue and if rescue,who should make attempt-a 6 ring free-for-all between Greek military,Greek police,the 3 US groups and Brits' SAS team that"just happened to have its eqipment at Embassy".I have a hunch French,German,Brit and Aussie Embassies have all received several large crates recently,along w/alot of healthy temp workers.)I get the feeling US protection is going to just be for dignitaries and the mens' basketball team.

And before we jump on Greece and her security problem,would there be any differ if Olympics were being held in Spain,France,Belgium,Italy,Egypt,Mexico,etc.?Still haven't decided if Islamic nuts are going to strike at Olympics.
Posted by Stephen 2004-07-21 11:03:02 AM||   2004-07-21 11:03:02 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 Related article I saw last night noted that virtually no country, including the US, allows foreign agents on its soil to be armed. For the Atlanta Olympics the Israelis had armed guards protecting their atheletes -- strictly illegal in the US, but we looked the other way. Ditto for the Sydney Olympics.

I suspect this is exactly the situation in Athens -- the Greeks understand that certain countries are at increased risk and will allow those countries to provide extra, armed protection, but no one's supposed to acknowledge it or talk about it. That way everyone saves face.
Posted by Steve White  2004-07-21 11:06:33 AM||   2004-07-21 11:06:33 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 If so, Steve, should we forgive Greek "recalcitrance" on the subject?
Posted by Edward Yee  2004-07-21 12:51:38 PM|| [http://edwardyee.fanworks.net]  2004-07-21 12:51:38 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 And before we jump on Greece and her security problem,would there be any differ if Olympics were being held in Spain,France,Belgium,Italy,Egypt,Mexico,etc.?
Actually, I always felt WAY safer in Spain, than I did in Greece. The Guadia Civil is not a police force to be messed with, not if you want to live long and die of old age in bed.
There is no nice way to say this--- Greek law enforcement made the Keystone Cops look like Scotland yard. Perhaps they have gotten better since 1984, but I wouldn't bet my life on it.
Posted by Sgt. Mom 2004-07-21 1:25:24 PM|| [www.sgtstryker.com]  2004-07-21 1:25:24 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 They're not armed troops, they're armed driving instructors. You Greeks be sure to drive under the speed limit and wave real friendly when you pass, ya hear now?
Posted by ed 2004-07-21 2:05:27 PM||   2004-07-21 2:05:27 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 I think this is asking for trouble. Let the Greek security aparati deal with this.... it'll be way easier to deal with any outcome.
Posted by Shipman 2004-07-21 2:27:00 PM||   2004-07-21 2:27:00 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 The official Greek position is that no foreign police or security forces will be allowed to carry weapons because it is forbidden by the Greek Constitution

I think that's incorrect. There's a provision in the Constitution that foreign troops can't pass through Greece without the Parliament voting in a law giving them permission -- but I don't believe there's anything forbidding presence of armed personnel in general.
Posted by Aris Katsaris  2004-07-21 8:17:14 PM||   2004-07-21 8:17:14 PM|| Front Page Top

#13 Let the Greek security aparati deal with this.... it'll be way easier to deal with any outcome.

Yes, much easier on diplomatic relations having the body-bags loaded on the plane with 'Deep Regret' by the host nation, instead of them being po'ed because no one with experience trusts them to keep the athletes safe.

/cynical observation
Posted by Pappy 2004-07-21 8:19:26 PM||   2004-07-21 8:19:26 PM|| Front Page Top

#14 Related article I saw last night noted that virtually no country, including the US, allows foreign agents on its soil to be armed

Tell that to Kofi Anan, who for years flouted US and NY law to keep armed guards of his own in NYC. After 9/11 that finally got squelched, but it went on for a good while ....
Posted by rkb 2004-07-21 8:54:09 PM||   2004-07-21 8:54:09 PM|| Front Page Top

#15 Related article I saw last night noted that virtually no country, including the US, allows foreign agents on its soil to be armed

Tell that to Kofi Anan, who for years flouted US and NY law to keep armed guards of his own in NYC. After 9/11 that finally got squelched, but it went on for a good while ....
Posted by rkb 2004-07-21 8:56:24 PM||   2004-07-21 8:56:24 PM|| Front Page Top

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