My Sochi-themed posts continue.....
The U.S. military said on Monday that air and naval assets, including two ships in the Black Sea, would be made available to help Russia combat any possible terrorist attacks on the Sochi Winter Olympics.
Yes, terrorist attacks. A sad part of our world these days.
Folks hell-bent on blowing themselves up to make a point. Folks who are more than willing to harm the innocent and feel no remorse for it. And actually consider themselves heroes for doing it. Sick.
The Olympics have a storied past. Times when the world (or most of the world) comes together for some friendly competition.
I say "friendly competition" because there's really not any sport in the Winter Olympics that I would consider "hand-to-hand combat" type of stuff... other than "football on skates" (hockey).
Curling?
Snowboarding?
Figure Skating (other than an occasional crowbar beating)?
Very peaceful. Tranquil like the winter snow.
Peace isn't a guarantee any longer though.
Unfortunately, our world is a much different world from that of 50 years ago. We live in a world of hate. Terrible hate. Hate so terrible that it is more than willing to kill innocents in order to make a point. Sick.
In the last month, there's already been a couple bombings in Russia (outside Sochi). And now, there's an on-going hunt for some ladies who are suspected to be intent on setting off a bomb in Sochi.
For the Olympics, the host country of Russia is reacting.....
Aware that the success or failure of the Sochi Games will help shape his legacy, Vladimir Putin has increased security in Russia following two suicide bomb attacks in the southern city of Volgograd which killed at least 34 people.
Authorities are deploying tens of thousands of police and interior ministry troops to Sochi.
Access was being further curtailed into Sochi, where a new traffic scheme has come into operation to give priority to Olympic transport, officials said.
The security measures have prompted complaints from locals, whose city has been transformed from a former Soviet-era seaside resort into a metal-and-steel metropolis.
Gates. Fences. Barricades. Checkpoints.
And you know there will be more and more step-up of security measures as the Olympians start to arrive.
There are even emergency evacuation procedures being set-up for athletes of several nations. Private security details. Helicopter landing sites. Etc.
All sorts of preventative measures to maintain safety and peace at the "world's games".
Terrorism. A burden these rings were never meant to bear.
Out for now.....
Matt
links to stories quoted above: