Is anybody planning on going to the Athens Olympics this summer? It should be safe, but I'm a little on edge with regard to security issues. Then again, it might be nice for everybody to get together and be humane to each other... Kind of cool that Iraq just qualified for the Soccer event.

If I was going Id be more worried about the city, and the public transport, being totally unable to cope with the crowds.

I just heard the United States, at the request of Greece, is going to be sending 400 special forces soldiers to Athens for the Olympics. WHAT THE HELL??? Why should the U.S. spare ANY soldiers to protect a sporting event when they're spread thin enough in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Korea -- and France is sitting on their fat asses looking like impotent freaks that they are. France and Germany have special forces they can send. Why don't THEY go protect gymnasts and synchronized while we're carrying the load for the rest of the world??

Before you engage in jingoistic claptrap, it might be worthwhile to acknowledge all of the facts.

It is true that the Greek government has requested the United States provide 400 special forces soldiers to aid with security at the Olympic Games. This is in response from calls from governments worldwide, including the United States, to increase security to meet concerns over global terrorism. The United States is only one of several nations who will be providing security forces including Britain, Israel, Australia, and, yes, Germany.

That being said, Beau. Why the animosity for the Olympic athletes? Why the dismissive attitude toward "gymnasts and sycnhronized [sic]?"

I know a a handdful of athletes who will represent the United States in the games this year and am acquainted with a handful more. They are hardworking, honorable people who will represent our country well on the world stage. The have my admiration, respect, and support just as my friend the marine colonel who is stationed in Fallujah, or the reservists serving in Afghanistan and army regulars serving in Korea that I do not know have my admiration and respect.

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The only thing i will be following is baseball and basketball.

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Originally posted by Lbc:
The only thing i will be following is baseball and basketball.

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LBC, you probably don't care, but did you know that the U.S. Baseball team (defending gold medalists from Sydney) didn't even qualify for Athens?? I think they lost to Mexico during the last pre-olympic round.

Those are several good and thorny points, Beau.

Given my own feelings about how long it took for us to remove the Taliban in Afghanistan and my misgivings about entering Iraq in the first place, it is hard for me to fault any country that chose not to follow our lead. On the other hand, any country that is sending athletes to the Olympics that has the means to offer resources to protect them, should be doing so if asked. The Greek government has asked for helped, and authorized foreign security forces on their soil for the purposes of protecting their own citizens. Depending how that plays out, I will be curious to see where we are in 2008. I cannot imagine The People's Republic of China welcoming a significant number of foreign troops to their soil.

I agree, too, that protecting ordinary people who are persecuted would seem to be a fine example of the best aspirations of the United States, which leads to my own frustration with our slow response to events in the Balkans and the Sudan to name only two. I admit, however, it is hard to fulfill needs that are so great with limited resources.

As regards the importance of sport in the face of overwhelming human needs, I can only offer http://www.baseball-almanac.com/prz_lfr.shtml of a much smarter man than myself.

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We were not "expected" to send troops over there to protect the world. Greece put the request out to everyone and we volunteered to send troops because we want to make sure our athletes our protected. In the article I read today it appears that France is indeed sending their own troops over, so there's no need to attack them. I think every country is interested in protecting their own, as well they should be. The fact that our troops are spread thin because we are occupying other countries is no one's fault but our own.

P.S. Also, from what I read, it doesn't appear that they are letting troops into the country (?) Here's what the article I read says:

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In Athens, the top Greek law enforcement official insisted foreign troops will not be deployed inside the country.

``There will not be any American, Portuguese or French army in the streets, the venues or as snipers on rooftops or in any other Olympic-related facilities,'' Public Order Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis told a parliamentary committee on the Olympics.

Voulgarakis has said foreign leaders and other dignitaries can use their own armed guards but that athletes will be under the exclusive protection of Greek forces -- in line with Australia's policy at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: KT,

To change the topic slightly, I can highly recommend the pomp and circumstance of the Olympics as something everyone should experience at some point (along with a World Series game, a good live rock n roll show, a true "rivals" college football game at a big university, a soccer match in the UK, a Cards-Cubs game, etc). I was living in Atlanta during the '96 Games (I was in the park enjoying a James Brown show during the bombing) and got to see track and field, diving, gold-medal basketball, and soccer in the flesh. My wife's roommate's dad worked for a swanky hotel and hooked us up with free tix, passes to parties, etc. Went to Shaq's private party at the (then) House of Blues, saw Carl Lewis jumping, saw the chaos of the Olympic Park bombing...memories, good and bad, that don't fade much as time passes.

If you are at all interested, get to an Olympics at some point.

Very cool, PE. Very cool indeed.

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Originally posted by philosopherEric:
...a World Series game, a good live rock n roll show, a true "rivals" college football game at a big university, a soccer match in the UK, a Cards-Cubs game, etc)...

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It's hard for me to argue with the list, PE. Let's see, I've got the '82 World Series, some damn fine concerts I've recounted elsewhere, the annual Purdue/Indiana Oaken Bucket game, and it's been years since I've made it through the season without supporting our guys when they visit the Friendly Confines. Now, if I could just get to the UK for a soccer match...

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If you are at all interested, get to an Olympics at some point.

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I've tried to behave myself around here and not go on an on about my better half, but I can't resist. We're trying, PE. We're trying.

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Iraqi soccer: If find it so funny that the Iraq soccer team, which is doing remarkably well in the Olympics, is making every effort to denouce America for "taking any credit" for their success. They denounce Bush's commercials which essentially take pride in the fact that Iraq and Afghanistan can now participate in the Olympics without threat of reprisals from their dictatorial regimes.

My problem with the Iraqis is that they wouldn't have even been able to get to Athems without the US Naval transport plane. Without American intervention, Quodai Hussai would still be running the Iraqi Olympic program, dipping the losers in vats of acid when they return without the golds. So yes, go ahead and sh*t all over the United States for freeing your country and allowing you to participate in the Games with peace of mind.

all i know is that this is one hell of an olympics.I for one have loved evry minute of watching it.

I hate to see people ruin the fun with all the problems that are going on.This is supposed to be a time to...gasp..."forget"...if that is possible and enoy the events and have fun.

I have personally loved the swimming and all the volleyball competitions.Handball has been interesting too.

Good Day!

usa is cleanin up in the metal count.

Usa is actually only one ahead of China with 25 golds verse china's 24 golds.