To: kabar
"Interesting. I lived in Athens for three years during the nineties. Many Greeks are still pissed at us for our role in the CIA backed junta in 1967, which placed the Generals in charge. It formed the basis of the November 17th terrorist group and every year since a huge demonstration marches past the US Embassy on that date. "
More recently, they are also now pissed-off at us for attacking the Serbs who are Orthodox like the Greeks. Can't blame them for that one.
As for the junta in 1967, I only recall that the US didn't interfere and stop the junta. We also recognized the legitimacy of the generals afterwards which is what pissed them off. Is there anything that shows the CIA actually was involved?
To: pragmatic_asian
The junta was in the works as far back as 1962. They were lining up the insiders to take over. The Junta actually got a lot of infrastructure work done. They traded one corruption for a junta.
Many of the people who say it was the CIA were the communists who tried to launch a simultaneous counter junta to take over the governemnt themselves. The accusation of the communists centers around the university riot which was put down. Many communists were killed there. There is a "claim" of a pictures of an ununiformed man with a machine gun on a universtity roof. I have not seen the picture, and everything seems to be speculation.
The Greeks are also pissed due any number of reasons for having their interest looked over. I trace much of it as a legacy of the incompetence of Albright.
It is a differnt world in that country. One time zone, a population of only 10 million people, different pace of life. Albanians to the north illegaly entering making our mexican problem look like a cakewalk. Turkey to the east constantly challenging airspace and territorial waters. It realy makes you appreciate the USA when you see the predicament other countries face just due to geography.
To: pragmatic_asian
The "in the works" was from Greek politicians in the various branches of government.
To: pragmatic_asian
The USG including the CIA was involved in the process for myriad reasons. If you recall, Greece almost went Communist in 1947. The Socialist PASOK party headed by Papandreou was thought to be a precursor to another Communist attempt to take over the country. Check out the link below.
http://www.fas.org/irp/news/2002/08/tv081702.html
67 posted on
02/02/2004 3:19:51 PM PST by
kabar
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