I got a bad feelin' about this one . . .

Anyone other than me starting to get an uneasy feeling about the coming Olympic games? I mean, the talking heads always hype the "security concerns" and preparation angle, but it just seems like there's a bit of a black cloud hanging over this one. You've got a hard-core, experienced, home grown and vicious terror organization in the same country where the games are being held. That's kind of a new one as far as I'm concerned. Its not that there haven't been threats before (and, obviously, even some attacks), but they were either small scale actors (Atlanta) or external threats (Munich). I know, overall, most nations have upped their game in counter terror since either of those two attacks, but I also think the bad guys are learning too. What's more, you have a world-wide, built-in audience for anything you're able to pull off and almost guaranteed live, on-site TV coverage if you are able to hit one of the venues. From the terrorists perspective, almost too good to pass up.

I don't normally allow terror threats to change my perspective on things or worry me, and clearly I'm in no danger here, but my kids are SUPER excited about the games and I'm really hoping they don't end up seeing something horrible.

Thoughts? Just the normal hype by bored talking heads or something real here?

Hype. There are a lot more, much softer targets that would have a bigger terror effect.

I think realistically the threat is pretty low. The Russians will go to EXTREMES to avoid it I am sure. Not sure I would want to live around there now though, especially if you were even slightly suspicious.

I am also pretty sure the Olympics are not going anywhere near Russia for quite a while (the whole "keep your gays away from our children" etc. thing also)

Yeah I think the risk is significantly higher than usual with Russia's enemies joining the usual crew of potential threats, and less security than you'd get in a 1st-world Western country.

Not to say that the latest threat videos in particular are legit.

Don't worry. Good 'ol Vlad Putin is on the case.

GameboyRMH wrote: and less security than you'd get in a 1st-world Western country.

I think I will have to disagree with you there, how many other nations end up with military/special forces working security? Something could always happen, this is no different.

Putin makes himself out as a badass, so I don't think he is screwing around with security. He's gone as far as talking to Obama about the US helping out with additional security as well, so I'm sure he's not taking it lightly.

I worry as well, but every Olympic site is a terrorist target as far as I'm concerned.

In reply to GPS:

Teddy?

It happened in the U.S.A. (Atlanta) I would think it is a possibility anywhere.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: I worry as well, but every Olympic site is a terrorist target as far as I'm concerned.

Putin also has a better outlook on terrorism than our country. I don't think they're really afraid of terrorism like we seem to be.....

Although I think Russia's overall anti-terror efforts might be less efficient than the ours, I think it's likely a result of poor organization, bureaucracy, and a little corruption not because they have access to any lower level of capability. I DO think they care a LOT less about human rights when someone is a suspect than we do. The ferocity of the Russian bear may make up for any lack of fine motor skills.

Trial by 7.62x.39 is effective

aircooled wrote: I am also pretty sure the Olympics are not going anywhere near Russia for quite a while (the whole "keep your gays away from our children" etc. thing also)

I'm confused by this statement.

You realize the games are in Sochi this year, right?

yamaha wrote:

GameboyRMH wrote: and less security than you'd get in a 1st-world Western country.

I think I will have to disagree with you there, how many other nations end up with military/special forces working security? Something could always happen, this is no different.

I have to agree with Yamaha. They are putting all the security they can into this and it consists of multiple levels. I'd say the security is just as good as it would be anywhere else in the world.

Maybe there is some pull from the local mafia types in Sochi. How else do you get the winter Olympics in a city that has palm trees.

In reply to RossD:

Actually, the sites for the winter olympics are inland from the city. I read a couple of articles on the new ski sites. It seems like they have adequate snow most of the time. However, they did have to cancel a few world cup events last year due to poor snow conditions.

With that being said, I was in Lake Tahoe CA last year in February. They didnt have snow either.

z31maniac wrote:

aircooled wrote: I am also pretty sure the Olympics are not going anywhere near Russia for quite a while (the whole "keep your gays away from our children" etc. thing also)

I'm confused by this statement. You realize the games are in Sochi this year, right?

I mean after this year of course.

The location of the Olympics this year is also very close to a lot of angry populations... so that's a bit of a concern. I suspect there is almost the same chance of some sort of security forces related atrocity (knowing how the Ruskies tend to operate) as there is a terrorist atrocity.

I think the Russian security apparatus is as strong as any. This is a very important issue to Putin and you can bet he is throwing every tool at it that he can. And the Russians aren't bothered about niceties like profiling, probable cause, Miranda warnings, citizen review boards, privacy, etc., etc. If they have to violate a few civil liberties to prevent losing face, then I don't think they'll have a problem doing that.

Edit-- Ha! Case in point. Soichi toilets. Always two together, so security officer can watch at all times.

Having said that, I don't know how you can 100% prevent some wild-eyed terrorist bent on suicide from hurting somebody. I, too, am nervous about these games. Supposedly they've already spotted a known terrorist within the Sochi perimeter, which was supposed to be impenetrable. I wish them all good luck, but with fingers crossed.

Keith Tanner wrote: Hype. There are a lot more, much softer targets that would have a bigger terror effect.

Dakar was moved across continents due to terrorist threats. I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that the Olympics could have issues being hosted in an area where there were JUST suicide bombings.

HiTempguy wrote:

Keith Tanner wrote: Hype. There are a lot more, much softer targets that would have a bigger terror effect.

Dakar was moved across continents due to terrorist threats. I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that the Olympics could have issues being hosted in an area where there were JUST suicide bombings.

The Dakar rally wasn't moved just because of terrorists -- the old course actually ran through countries with active civil wars going on. Land mines posed a serious hazard, and injured/killed at least one participant.

aircooled wrote:

z31maniac wrote:

aircooled wrote: I am also pretty sure the Olympics are not going anywhere near Russia for quite a while (the whole "keep your gays away from our children" etc. thing also)

I'm confused by this statement. You realize the games are in Sochi this year, right?

I mean after this year of course. The location of the Olympics this year is also very close to a lot of angry populations... so that's a bit of a concern. I suspect there is almost the same chance of some sort of security forces related atrocity (knowing how the Ruskies tend to operate) as there is a terrorist atrocity.

I'm waiting for Putin to release a statement saying he will nuke chechnya if terrorists from there attempt anything......even if an idle threat, I wonder if it would work.

The head of the Saudi secret service told Putin "You let us, I mean 'the rebels,' kick out that guy in Syria so we can build a gas pipeline under the country to Europe and I can guarantee that you won't have any terrorist problems at the Olympics because we control those terrorists." Putin told him to berkeley off. I got a feeling that the Russians are going to be all over on security for this thing. The Russians don't even pretend to have any personal protections/civil rights. They just shut down the whole area. No one in or out without a pass.

Maybe Putin told the Saudi's that he would nuke their black meteorite if anything happened. That would stop the problems.

RossD wrote: Maybe there is some pull from the local mafia types in Sochi. How else do you get the winter Olympics in a city that has palm trees.

Because Putin is fond of the place.

Hopefully they threaten Bob Costas into shutting the berk up.

In reply to Appleseed:

We can only hope, although I would rather see them strap a suicide vest on him and basically make him deficate himself while recanting everything he has ever said......