Athens could be al Qaeda target

Reuters ^ | May 27 2003

[knighthawk]

ATHENS (Reuters) - Olympic hosts Greece are among the top 10 global targets for terror network al Qaeda according to a confidential report cited by a Greek newspaper. Greece is seventh on the alleged international hit list behind countries like Israel and the United States, but ahead of Britain, the daily To Vima said.

"According to an updated edition of the analysis of the risks for the 2004 Olympics assessed by security services...Greece finds itself in seventh position globally in terms of a risk from an attack from al Qaeda," the paper said.

Greek officials refused to confirm or deny the existence of the report when contacted by Reuters. A government spokesman said on Monday Greece was not on a state of alert over possible attacks.

To Vima quoted an unnamed high-ranking official as saying: "Arab groups (are) targeting countries without particularly tough security measures who could be caught by surprise."

Athens has budgeted more than $600 million (366 million pounds) for security at the 2004 Olympics.

Olympic officials staged the second of three major anti-terrorism exercises on Friday, involving more than 500 people, security agencies, the fire brigade and coastguard.

The government signed a $280 million security contract with U.S.-led consortium SAIC in May after a series of delays that sparked criticism from the International Olympic Committee.

[knighthawk]

Europe-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[BlueLancer]

We couldn't be so lucky, could we?

Hopefully, Paris, Berlin, and Brussels are well up the list as well.

[RicocheT]

How could anyone tell if part of Athens was blown up by terrorists? The whole city is a big, unfinished construction site because of the coming Olympics.

There is no likelihood Athens will be ready in time for the games as they are totally disorganized and have frequent labor strikes. Take a pass on the 2004 Olympics and stay away.

[the Real fifi]

Absolutely. Plus the Greeks live in some never-never land in which socialism and anarchy have fried their brains and forgotten there really is a worldwide danger. Talk about soft targets!

[swarthyguy]

Anything and everything is an aq target.

The QueenBees of Jihadis in the poisonous hive of Saudi Arabia must be eliminated, and the environment fumigated.

[GipperCT]

Greek-American Ping!

The motherland is in a hateful fog these days :-(

[Phatheon]

Keep readind the BBC on the topic friend. I assure you, visiting Athens would show you the true course of things. Then again, you people only see what you want to see. Come 2004, you will east your words. Mark mine here very well.

[Phatheon]

If 1 Greek citizen dies because of Al-Queda's hatred/disdain for America, then I assure you, we will hate you both easily.

Of course hosting the Olympics in 2004 is a target.

[KantianBurke]

go right ahread and attack the greeks. Friggin morons. The greeks hate us as much as they do so a terror attack or two should do wonders

[Phatheon]

You reep what you sow. You will be repaid 10x in return what you give. Old Greek proverb.

Right wing fanatics.

[KantianBurke]

right wing fanatics? sheesh buddy ur posting on FR why exactly?

[Phatheon]

I wonder what Americans would think of us if our government had imposed upon them a military dicatorship, as well as giving tacit support and indeed, approval to their worst enemy to do and act as they please against them.

It's a mystery to Americans why Greeks don't like them (along with 90% of the rest of the world).

[knighthawk]

sheesh buddy ur posting on FR

Yes, this is after all a place were right-winged people discuss. One thing you got wrong. The islamic terrorists do indeed hate the US (and Israel too). But guess who they will start to kill off when there are no more Americans or Jews to kill? The other kafir/infidels/unbelievers. Because they are the ones who want to impose an empire all over the world. An islamic state, the Khalifah. And it will be built on top of our dead bodies.

[the Real fifi]

Yes, indeed, it's all our fault..not that of the Communists who even ripped children from their parents armes and sent them abroad to indoctrinate them..Such a beautiful country--why do you suppose the only sane Greeks, moved away?

[Phatheon]

Firstly, I don't appreciate being labelled as a 'communits' or any like minded person. My family was personally touched (in a bad way) by the communists in our civil war (which thank God we won). Members of my family savagely fought them for years, many dying in the process. Such stories are common in today's Greece. So please refrain from labelling us like that because living in America and knowing only what CNN or the BBC report doesn't give you the right to dishonour my family and the countless other Greek families who laid out their sacrifice on the altar of democracy.

Knighthawk, I agree with you. Of course my country has been the barrier between them and Europe for centuries. No need to explain to me. But when we see our "ally" (America) always taking the side of our enemy (an islamic country), we get somewhat miffed. This battle vs Islam is a new one to you, but we have been waging it for centuries now.

[Enduring Freedom]

Greece is enlightened if it recognized the threat of radical Islam years ago.

However, does mostly secular Turkey qualify?

[Phatheon]

True Turkey is more of a Kemalist state, they are about as secular as a garbage can.

[longtermmemmory]

God I hope not but right now, the man on the street is merely hoping that athens will not embarass the country with an olympic failure of olympic proportions.

One the issue of labor, remeber that hours of operation are strictly enforced. In greece, outside of tourist businesses closing for the afternoon is THE LAW. It is usually TWO weekdays which have only morning business hours (until two in the afternoon) and saturday until two. Its very difficult to get work done. There are regular strikes. Now that the Olympic comittee secured more money for their overbudge project, the laborors want more money because its unfair about the corrupt leaders getting the first cut.

I have too many invites for 2004 to stay away, I may end up being the FR man on the scene.

[Phatheon]

Memory, the foreign press is freaking the situation out more than it need be. For istance, they post articles showing nothing being done at Karaiskaki stadium, and most people think that's how it is, regardless of the fact that there is a 3 shift team (8 hours each) working on it 24/7. 3 Months ago the press center was a shell. Now it is done. The tram doesn't take long and is moving smartly and quickly. The highway is almost done. The Olympic village didn't exist last year at this time, it is done.

When one is relying only on the BBC and CNN for their news, they will be removed from reality. Of course you and I know the problems, but the important thing is, works are indeed in high gear now. Some people need to relax, because I assure them come 2004 they will all eat their words.