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| Greece sees threat from Bosnian Arabs |
| 2004-02-20 |
| Greece has determined that its national security interests are being threatened by Al Qaida-aligned Arab agents in Bosnia. The Cabinet of Prime Minister Costas Simitis has convened to discuss what officials termed the threat from an estimated 2,000 Bosnian Arabs to the Olympic Games in August 2004. Officials said Western intelligence agencies have assessed that some of those Arab nationals could be training to carry out attacks on Israeli, U.S. or other targets during the Olympics in Athens. Officials said the threat of an Al Qaida-related attack will be one of the scenarios in a series of exercises scheduled to take place in February and March 2004. They said the United States has been pressing to revise security arrangements agreed upon a year ago. "Greece, as well as every other country, has the fundamental obligation to safeguard its internal and external security," Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said. "And it is evident that military planning for the country's security takes into consideration the simple fact that the country is a member-state of NATO and, consequently, our military planning takes NATO planning into consideration." |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #6 My guess is that Venizelos is trying to put the best domestic spin on the idea that they might in any way be cooperating with the US on this issue. See, it's a matter of NATO, so that makes it okay ..... While I love some of the antiquities in Greece - it gives me a chance to dig out authors I haven't read in decades and refresh my classical Greek - the husband and I have turned down interest in having one or the other of us speak at conferences there lately. Ditto Istanbul, for that matter. Have zero interest in attending the games this year, too. |
| Posted by: rkb 2004-2-20 8:04:24 PM |
| #5 For my part, I'm trying to understand what a "Bosnian Arab" is. I *think* they mean ethnic Bosnian Muslims aligned with "Arab" al-Qaeda. I sincerely doubt that there are 2,000 Arabs in Bosnia that threaten the Olympics. I doubt that there is a group of 2,000 ready-to-go Arab jihadis anywhere (eg. Afghanistan, Chechenya) outside of the Middle East. |
| Posted by: Carl in N.H 2004-2-20 7:25:42 PM |
| #4 Like what? Cross through Albania with our troops, burst through Serbia-Montenegro and invade Bosnia in order to deal with those Arab nationals? I somehow doubt that anyone really worries we are going to do *that*. :-D |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2004-2-20 7:00:08 PM |
| #3 Perhaps it's just a reassurance to NATO that they're not going to go do something on their own? |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-2-20 5:24:20 PM |
| #2 I think he probably only meant that as in all security matters, Greek considers the concerns shared by other NATO members or perhaps utilizes the information provided through NATO... or some such thing. But yeah, I'm not certain what he meant either. Very vaguely worded. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2004-2-20 5:12:48 PM |
| #1 it is evident that military planning for the country's security takes into consideration the simple fact that the country is a member-state of NATO Aris no way NATO is involved in the games? I'm missing something. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-20 4:52:52 PM |