As the Olympic Games draw closer, the United States has
upped its security in Sochi to ensure that its nationals will be safe during
the Games. Recently, it’s been reported that the United States has moved two
warships near the Black Sea, in which helicopters could be dispatched in the
event of a terrorist attack to evacuate the American athletes. Transport
aircraft are also on standby in Germany, and if dispatched, could be on the
scene within two hours. The athletes have also been warned not to wear their
red, white, and blue uniforms outside of the “ring of steel”, the security
cordon surrounding the venue. In Sochi, there is an ongoing hunt for “black
widows”, wives of dead insurgents who act like suicide bombers. Although Russia
has been lenient with allowing the United States to use security measures to
protect its nationals from homegrown terrorists, they have not accepted the
latter’s offer of helping snuff out the insurgents. Michael McCaul, Chairman of
the US House Homeland Security Committee states, “There’s a sense of
nationalistic pride in Russia, just as we would in the United States. And so,
while they’ve been very productive, cooperating with us on some issues, when it
comes to the military, it gets a little sensitive.” In spite of this however,
the Russian ambassador the the United States have relayed his confidence that
the Games will be safe for all the athletes.
The article can be read HERE.
By: Lauren Marie De Guzman
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