Italy bans U.S. security guards from Winter Games

[maddezmom]

ROME (Reuters) - Italy will not allow the United States or any other country to bring its own security personnel to guard athletes during next February's Winter Olympics, the government official in charge of the Games said on Thursday.

"Italy is perfectly able to guarantee security," Mario Pescante, Undersecretary and Extraordinary Commissioner for the Turin Olympics, told a news conference.

"I exclude categorically that the U.S. team or any other team will be able to bring people for their own security."

After the suicide bomb attacks on the London transport system last Thursday Italy has said it could be the next in line following threats from Islamic militant groups.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050714/wl_nm/olympics_italy_security_dc_1

[justinsb]

1. I think Italy is being particularly cautious with Americans coming in

in general after the kidnapping of a Muslim cleric in Italy by the CIA, warrants have been issued but no arrests made to date that I'm aware of.

[habitual]

2. Precisely

When someone i trust comes into my house and sneaks around and takes something without telling me, I tend not to want them back also (and of course i stop trusting them.)

[DinahMoeHum]

3. As it is, the Italians are not very happy with US security and military

personnel after several incidents over the past few years:

1) The accidental cutting of a ski gondola cable by a helicopter.
2) The killing of a diplomat/security agent who was escorting an ex-hostage out of Iraq.
3) The incompetent antics of CIA personnel taking a Muslim cleric accused of terrorism out of Italy.

The Italians think our government people are assclowns.

:evilfrown:

[rinsd]

4. Strange headline....

...it makes it seem like only the US was banned but apparently its for everyone.

[Bassic]

5. One could argue that

they really only want to get back at the U.S. for their blunders regarding Italy, but have to ban everyone else to avoid too much resentment.

[rinsd]

7. True...

The official quoted stated the US explicitly so its not that big a deal. US, among others banned from bringing extra security would have been better...but again not a big deal.

[sidpleasant]

6. The Turin games have been incredibly mismanaged

The Turin organizing committee has done a horrible job of preparing for the Olympics in February. The Italian government had to step in and sieze control of the organizing and construction from the committee. For example the bobsled / luge / skeleton track was built in a terribly inaccessible location in the mountains. Getting there will be a nightmare and lack of transportation will limit the number of tickets to a fraction of the number of spectators at the same events in Salt Lake City. The last I had heard, the organizing committe hadn't even negotiated "no strike" contracts with the famously touchy Italian unions.