what the russian government doesn't want you to know about sochi

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   Adityapullagurlaposted 10 years ago

   
   What is going with the security measures in sochi, is it still safe for athletes to participate when there are terrorists attacks.

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   Spongy0llamaposted 10 years ago

   I believe that it is. There has been a lot of buzz about Putin's extreme security measures. I don't know if there actually is a legitimate terrorist threat, but I hear his philosophy is more in the direction of "better safe than sorry". Russia has been getting a lot of flack for the country's low standard of living and the shocking crackdown on homosexuality. I hear that Putin has put an extra emphasis on security as an attack would be the last thing he needs right now. I don't think it's so much that there really is a viable security threat, I think it's more a case of Putin making absolutely sure that THAT nail doesn't get nailed into his already sturdy coffin, so to speak.

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   psycheskinnerposted 10 years ago

   Um, is there a specific observation you are making re:that subject line?
   
   I mean, what evidence is there of even the slightlest security problem?

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      Quilligrapherposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Psyche.
      
      FYI
      Deception Foils Attempt to Hijack Turkish Jet to Sochi
      
      ISTANBUL, Feb. 7, 2014 — “A passenger aboard a commercial airline flight from Ukraine to Turkey tried to hijack it to Sochi, Russia, on Friday after the Winter Olympics started.”
      http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/08/world … .html?_r=0
      

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         HowardBThinameposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Hi Quill,
         
         I'm not sure how an attempted hijacking by a Ukrainian man equals an act of terrorism that puts the Sochi games at risk. Was he planning on crashing the airliner into one of the stadiums? It appears more likely that he was just trying to defect and garner some attention in the process.

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            John Holdenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Howard, you must stop making posts that I agree with, I'll lose my credibility if you don't

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               HowardBThinameposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               LOL - John, we probably agree on more than is apparent on these forums. I've found that to be true with just about everyone I know.

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                  John Holdenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  Very true, but it doesn't lessen my embarrassment

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            Quilligrapherposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            
            Greetings Howard (and you too John).
            
            I am fine with your uncanny ability to reach conclusions about the motives of the inebriated hijacker. Have any sources that reveal his actual intentions?
            
            Getting back to Psycheskinner’s question concerning evidence of security problems:
            
            PSYCHESKINNER WROTE:
            “I mean, what evidence is there of even the slightest security problem?”
            
            Here is more media coverage about direct threats targeting the games:
            The Telegraph
            Istanbul, Feb 7, 2014~
            “Winter Olympics: Bomb threat forces plane from Ukraine to land in Turkey after hijack attempt”
            Terrorists from the Caucasus region of Russia have threatened to launch an attack on the Games. Earlier this week the United States warned that terrorists could be attempting to bring a bomb to Sochi hidden inside toothpaste tubes. And the US has banned the transport of all liquids and gels on flights to Russia, in response to the heightened threat.” {1}
            
            Sochi, Russia (CNN) Feb. 7, 2014--
            ”United States reveals 'specific' threats to Olympic Games
            -- U.S. officials say they have specific reasons to worry about security in Sochi, only three days before the Winter Olympic Games are set to open in the Russian city. {2}
            
            NBC Nightly News   | January 19, 2014 --
            “Terror Threats to Sochi Olympics
            The latest terror threat to the Olympics comes from two suicide bombers who promise that attacks will being [sic] a "surprise" to the event.” {3}
            
            If you need more evidence, Psyche, there is plenty around.
            
            {1} http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne … tempt.html
            {2}
            http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/04/world/eur … -olympics/
            {3} http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-ne … 2#54120352

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               John Holdenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Hi Quill, it appeared to me that you thought you were providing evidence of a terrorist threat to the games.

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               HowardBThinameposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Morning Quill. I don't think my ability to discern that the hijacker was probably not a threat is uncanny, I simply read the account where the plane's staff convinced him that they landed in Russia and realized that he wanted to land - not fly into a stadium. But, besides that, the hijacker asked for asylum upon landing in Geneva. (And, he was the co-pilot so he probably knew the ropes.)
               
               As to your other threat posts - I agree - those appear to be threats to the games and athletes. What I don't agree with is that they are evidence of a lack of security at the games. What they are - is evidence that terrorism exists in our world today and we, unfortunately, must be on alert.
               
               The US had trained snipers in the Superbowl stadium. Heightened alert there as well. The question is whether we will go about living our lives and allow the various intelligence agencies to do their job, or if we will cancel events like the Olympics and the Superbowl in deference to terrorists.
               
               It's been reported that Russia has spent an astronomical amount on security and invited security from other nations as well.
               
               I don't see any reason for a knee-jerk reaction here.

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   JonDIDitposted 10 years ago

   If anything happens Putin will shot them himself. He is driven by the fact that arrogant "exceptional" Americans keep rubbing their macho in his face and he is tired of it. He has made a lot of things better for Russians but his KGB training is so deep that he reverts about certain things. Sochi was a wasteland summer vacation land before and now they will be able to compete in more eventsof a global nature. He spent more money than the Chinese did on theirs. He does not fit the mold of world leader and no one says he has to. He claims to be a conservative but I don't know many conservatives that would allow themseves to photographed without their shirt in shots that go around the world. He is SHORT (shorted than "W")  and has a short man ideaology. Our current  PODUS makes him look like a child and that doesn't help either.

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      HowardBThinameposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Did you mean "POTUS?"  And if you're talking about Obama, you might rethink your assessment that he makes Putin look like a child. In the very recent past, Putin stopped Obama's war machine aimed at Syria and granted asylum to Snowden. Both of those actions left Obama looking weak. Not Putin.
      
      I don't like a lot of what Putin does - specifically his homophobic behavior - but on an international scale - he's doing quite well.
      
      http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/worl … 960759.ece

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         JonDIDitposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks for the correction. I agree Putin is doing very well but his KGB side is still present and must be considered. He is a jerk about the LGBT community but that is his nature and the international community sees thru what he is doing.

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            HowardBThinameposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            I'm in total agreement on the LGBT thing. Until Putin can move into the present and leave that bigoted ideology behind - he will always be found to be lacking. I was also upset with him when he imprisoned the Pussy Riot band, although I think they've been released by now. I think some of that is old Russian culture. At least they're progressing quicker than, say, radical Muslims that think it's okay to kill homosexuals and subordinate women. I guess we all progress at different rates.

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