Security is a pass fail business. Guarding the athletes during the marathon was a difficult task, but a doable one.
Saying “It is easy to armchair quarterback the security today” isn;t an adequate argument.
Security on the course should have spotted that threat. They should have interveened in time. There were not enough cycling operatives. There should have been one on each side of the leader and the lead group. They should have observed the 21 foot “Threat Circle” taught by every law enforcement agency in the world. When spectators were closer than 21 feet from athletes, security operatives should have positioned themselves to interveen in a split second.
Additionally, with more security personnel on bicycles they would have had quicker reaction time.
Hate to second guess, but I have performed this very same, identical task myself in the past (security for women’s elite runner, Flagstar Bank International Marathon, Detroit, 2003) and my eyes were glued to any potential threat the entire 26.2 miles. Even in a minor race like that I could have used (and have secured) another security assistant. TWo eyes are good, four eyes are better.
Huge mistake for the Greeks on an otherwise awesome day.
Additionally, the dog on the course was another huge oversight. It is a very common tactic to use animals to deliver explosive devices- even implanted into the animal and command detonated- in terrorist attacks. The Israelis have done it, the Russians have done it, The Palestinians have done it, even the U.S. has done it with porpoises.
Again, a cyclist should have dove on the dog instantly. Better to have a P.E.T.A. public relations problem that a street full of people riddled with fragments from an anti-personnel mine detonated from the stomach of a dog.
I agree that security is important and that they blew it in this case, but I’m not sure your info on the U.S. Navy’s marine mammal program is correct. We use them to find explosive devices, and for anti-swimmer security, but I’ve never heard of us packing explosives onto them and detonating. I’d be interested to read anything you have on that.
Stray dogs are all over Athens. They’re like pigeons in NYC. Athens, and Greece, have been well-known for years by the terrorist element as easy byways for transportation of attackers, explosives, couriers and the like. It’s the blase Greek attitude about security that’s of concern.
The U.S. alone contributed over 100 million dollars to security for the athletes at the games. I think the tab is up past a billion dollars, all told.
This shows the cyclist out of place to intervene, but trying to make contact with the threat. The cyclist is not in position to safeguard the prinicipal.
It’s called the “mammal program” in the Navy. It’s mainly based out of mammal pens at the amphibious base in Coronado, San Diego. I was out in Coronado in the early 80’s, going through SEAL training, and the people over there were really hyped up about the possibilities of using mammalian sealife for all sorts of things.
I’m not familiar with any Navy program. My understanding is that the Israelis have, under pressure from a number of sources (I heard this on the news about a month ago if I recall correctly) stopped using dogs to deliver explosives.
To me, that is ominous. It puts those skilled in that delivery technique on the open market. Like for Athens.
yeah, I’m familiar with the program. I was berthed on a PC right across the pier from them in Coronado. Porpoises /dolphins and sea lions. But I’m not so sure that we pack bombs onto them, send them into enemy territory, and blow them up. Again, I would be interested to see any articles or anything that says we do. My understanding of the program is that they are mostly for detection of mines and explosives, and for anti-swimmer security
"I’m not familiar with any Navy program. My understanding is that the Israelis have, under pressure from a number of sources (I heard this on the news about a month ago if I recall correctly) stopped using dogs to deliver explosives.
To me, that is ominous. It puts those skilled in that delivery technique on the open market. Like for Athens. "
I agree. I don’t want to have to be afraid of the old exploding Fido trick. I can’t imagine that this requires all that much skill though. Strap explosives with a remote or timer on it, send the dog into a crowded place. Blow him up. I would imagine that the skills required to do that were on the open market well before the Israelis stopped using them.
Yes today was F**ked up and there were probably mistakes, not in a position to comment on how technically poor they were or were not but at the end of the day, this was the only instance I saw or heard about in the last 16 days.
I’m sure someone will have their ass chewed for this but the Athlete got the IOC medal for sportsmanship I think, and at the end of the day, I think it was a great peaceful games and if this was the worst thing that happened then we are extremely fortunate.
Not to get too far off the subject here, but this is the same dilemna we face in the US with Homeland Security. The expectations are so high that just one incident would be a failure for Intelligence and Security organizations, rather than acknowledging the success they have had in preventing attacks. Athens did a really good job from what I can tell, and provided nothing happens tonight, I think they can call the games a success. What a turn-around considering where they were just a couple months ago.
I dont want to digress to much suffice to say I thought the Greeks did a brilliant job, I know that other nations, all nations there helped to varying degrees but I think it was a complete success.
I dont think its a case of IF the US suffers another attack but WHEN, I think it is almost inevitable. Only because if someone wants to do something badly enough, there is always a way. These people have time, money and patience and that is a very dangerous combination IMO.
Its like having a war on drugs. Has the war failed because people still smoke crack and take herion or is it a success for each person that does not take that path.
I dont know but I think eliminating terrorism is a little like attempting to eliminate gun crime. Theres always someone that will lose the plot, you cant stop them all.
My understanding of the program is that they are mostly for detection of mines and explosives, and for anti-swimmer security
I swam with those dolphins, and that’s correct. The marine mammal program is used for anti-swimmer ship security, detection of live mines, and detection and recovery of dummy exercise mines.
“Security is a pass fail business. Guarding the athletes during the marathon was a difficult task, but a doable one.”
You’re absolutely right. Forget what I said on that other thread. When you break it down, ONE miss doesn’t seem that bad, because nobody got hurt and nobody died. But that one miss COULD have meant somebody or maybe a whole buncha somebodies getting hurt or killed.
“Security on the course should have spotted that threat.”
I don’t know how realistic that is, but maybe we’re in an era where we’re going to have to run the marathon on a track or five loops of a completely controlled course or some such thing. I can’t really see how you can secure 26.2 miles of roadways and still allow folks to line the course to see the runners.
“When spectators were closer than 21 feet from athletes, security operatives should have positioned themselves to interveen in a split second.”
I think that works with Secret Service protecting the president, but the guys escorting the lead runners at the Olympics aren’t likely to have that kind of training. And what about the MOP guys who might be from Israel or the US or might be some woman from Afghanistan that the men in her country think should be killed for showing herself. How do you protect them all?
And what do you do if someone wants to stalk the cycling venue, where the bikes are moving at 30+mph?
“Additionally, with more security personnel on bicycles they would have had quicker reaction time.”
Definitely a plus, but still no fail-safe.
“TWo eyes are good, four eyes are better.”
But how do you head off a group of September 11 type fanatics, if they’re in the crowd. How do you guarantee absolute security?
I have to wonder how much the athletes might have been distracted, knowing that there might be a group of crazies trying to commit a heinous act during the games. I personally wouldn’t have gone as a spectator if all my expenses were paid. It’s like sky-diving. Lots of fun, but if something goes wrong, what a waste. And for what? I hope the athletes never get around to thinking like that. Of course I wouldn’t have thought like that when I was their age…
I guess there is no arguing that it wasn’t a great job of security today, but luckily all the idiot was after is a little publicity.
My question is this, suppose I’m not just some idiot, but actually fairly crafty, and set in my beliefs enough that I don’t mind getting arrested, injured, or even killed. Do you think there is really anything a guy on a bicycle could do to stop me? All I need are two Tasers, one for you and one for him.
I think televising this display and making a big deal out of it is contributing to the chances of it happening again.
I just read that the guy has already had his court appearance. He got a small fine and a suspended sentence! Security has to include dealing with people who do get by whatever system is in place to stop them. A definite “F” grade for the Greeks.
This was already his second time. He ran out on the track last year at the British Grand Prix. At least this time it was a little safer for everyone involved.
This shows the cyclist out of place to intervene, but trying to make contact with the threat. The cyclist is not in position to safeguard the prinicipal.