An World-Wide Truce During the Olympics?

UN Head Seeks Putin Support For Olympic Truce. © RIA Novosti. Alexey Druzhinin

UN Head Seeks Putin Support For Olympic Truce -- RIA Novosti

SOCHI, May 17 (RIA Novosti) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, the host city for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, said on Friday he hoped the Russian government would back a UN General Assembly resolution calling for observation of an Olympic Truce during the event.

The Olympic Truce, suspending armed conflict during the games, was originally held by the ancient Greeks. The tradition was revived by the International Olympic Committee in 1992, and in 1993, the General Assembly urged Member States to observe the Olympic Truce from the seventh day before the opening to the seventh day following the closing of each Olympic Games.

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My Comment: I global truce during the Olympics is a great idea. But who will listen .... and who will not.

British Soldiers Protecting The Olympics Must Sleep In A Sweltering, Cramped And Poorly-Lit Underground Car Park

Poor: These are the spartan sleeping conditions facing many of the British heroes helping provide security at the Olympics

Is This Grim Bunker Fit For Army Heroes? Soldiers Protecting The Games Are Having To Sleep In Underground Car Park -- Daily Mail

* More than 2,000 soldiers guarding London venues are sharing a sweltering, cramped and poorly-lit concrete bunker at a disused shopping centre
* One soldier’s furious mother said the billets were ‘worse than Afghanistan’

In a grimy underground car park, row upon row of camp beds are crammed together.

These are the spartan sleeping conditions facing many of the British heroes helping provide security at the Olympics.

More than 2,000 soldiers guarding London venues are forced to share a sweltering, cramped and poorly-lit concrete bunker at a disused shopping centre.

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My Comment: They gave up their leave for this type of treatment .... this does not look good.

The Olympics Is War

Around 27 million British viewers watched Friday evenings amazing Opening Ceremony

This Is War – On The Track And In The Pool -- the Telegraph

The London 2012 Olympics are a hotbed of rivalries, finds Peter Stanford.

It should, in theory, be straightforward. Each of the 205 competing nations has its flag and national anthem registered with the International Olympic Committee. All the organisers have to do is produce the right one at the right moment. Yet, in what was only the second event of the Games, a women’s football match at Hampden Park, the North Koreans were greeted with the sight of the South Korean flag – prompting a furious team to walk off the pitch.

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My Comment: Since the time of the ancient Greeks .... the Olympics has always been war by other means. That's why it is sometimes exciting.

Olympics Pauses To Honor Dead Brits, But Not The Israeli Athletes Killed At The Munich Olympic Games

London Olympics Pauses To Honor Dead Brits, Not Israelis -- USA Today

In the worst decision of the Opening Ceremony, the International Olympic Committee allowed one moment of silence to be held - just not the one that it should have permitted for the past 40 years.

After saying there would be no moment of silence to honor the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches who were killed at the 1972 Munich Olympics, the IOC permitted a video tribute to the 52 people who were killed in the suicide bombings in the London transit system the day after the city won the Games in 2005.

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My Comment: Throughout it's history the IOC has made some "bone-headed" decisions. This is one of them.

London and Israel On Alert For Terror Attacks Before The olympic Games

British police officers patrol outside the London 2012 Olympic Park. Photo by REUTERS

London On Alert For Terror Attack Ahead Of Olympic Games -- News.com.au

ISRAEL fears an Iranian terror squad in Europe are planning to attack their athletes during the London Olympics, according to reports.

Agents from Israel’s elite intelligence organisation, Mossad, are hunting Iranian-backed terrorists in Europe, who are allegedly planning an “anniversary” attack 40 years after the Munich massacre, Britain's The Sunday Times reports.

The fears come as tensions rise over the International Olympic Committee refusal to commemorate the killing of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches by Palestinian terrorists on September 5, 1972.


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More News On Olympic Security Alerts And Israeli Fears Of A Terror Attack

Netanyahu says Israel on alert for more overseas attacks, mum on possible Olympics plots -- Washington Post/AP
Israel alert for attacks abroad, eyeing Olympics -- AP
Israel 'fears Iran Olympics attack' -- AFP
Israel Fears Second Olympics Massacre in London -- Haaretz
Fearing attack, Israel sends Mossad agents to Europe: Report -- Business Standard
Olympics: Israel fears Iran attack on Games: report -- Daily Star
Israel on high alert after bombing -- ESPN/AP

Labor Chaos Predicted For The Olympics

The Great Olympic Walkout: Now Train Drivers AND Airport Immigration Staff Announce Strikes Which Will Hit Games -- Daily Mail

* Aslef union will take industrial action over pensions on August 6, 7 and 8
* Thousands of staff at the Home Office, including airport immigration workers, will also stage a 24-hour strike the day before the opening of the Olympics
* Train company bosses are 'shocked and angry' strikes are being planned at time of 'great national pride' for country
* Aslef general secretary, Mick Whelan calls cutting pension contributions 'highly irresponsible'
* Transport Secretary Justine Greening: 'If there were an Olympic sport of self-interest, Aslef union leaders would win it hands down'
* Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt claims unions would be 'completely out of tune' with public mood if strike held during Games
* Labour leader Ed Miliband: 'People should not be striking during the Olympics. People should not be disrupting the Olympic Games'
* Members of RMT union on South West Trains reject strikes by narrow margin of four votes

Train drivers are planning a three-day strike during the Olympics in a move bound to cause chaos to those travelling to the Games.

Members of the Aslef union on East Midlands Trains will take industrial action over pensions on August 6, 7 and 8, when a number of athletics finals will be held in the Olympic Stadium.

The news comes as the Public and Commercial Services Union announced thousands of Home Office workers, including Border Agency staff, are to strike on July 26 and take other forms of action until August 20 in a row over jobs, pay and other issues.

David Cameron denounced the proposed strikes during London 2012 as not justifiable or right.

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My Comment: This is not good.

London Olympic Security Fiasco Gets Worse

G4S Farce Goes On: Just 20 Out Of 300 Staff Turn Up At Olympic Venue As Buckles Yields To Angry Calls from Police And Army To Cover Their Costs -- Daily Mail

* Massive absenteeism at cycling road-race venue in Box Hill, Surrey
* Boss Nick Buckles faces Commons Home Affairs Select Committee
* Army and police drafted in to help cover security guards for Games venues
* £700m has been wiped off the firm's value since Wednesday

The fiasco surrounding G4S security at the Olympics continued today as only 30 out of 200 staff turned up for work at a cycling venue in Surrey.

The huge absence of personnel at the road-race circuit in Box Hill came as it was revealed only 4,200 of the contracted 10,400 guards have so far reported for duty across the country.

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More News On The London Olympic Security Fiasco

Olympic security firm chief 'deeply sorry' -- UPI
UK faces security questions ahead of London Olympics -- CNN
Olympic security fears over staff shortages, as athletes' buses get lost -- The National/AP
London Olympics security contractor called 'incompetent' by panel -- L.A. Times
Olympics-Britain says security blunder will not mar Games -- Reuters

My Comment: If there are no terror incidents and/or other security events .... this fiasco will be forgotten. But .... if there is a terror incident or a security crisis .... this Olympic security fiasco will be remembered for all time.

More News On British Security Preparations For This Summer's Olympic Games

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Defending The Olympics From Terror Attack: Fighter Planes At Northolt For First Time Since WWII As Elite RAF Say They Will Shoot Down Passenger Jets To Protect London -- Daily Mail

* Missile defence systems stationed around London including on Blackheath Common and in Epping Forest
* Chinook Helicopters on standby to take to the air over the Olympic Stadium in the event of a security alert

Elite fighter pilots say they are ‘trained and prepared’ to shoot down a hijacked passenger plane to prevent a 9/11-style suicide attack on the Olympics.

Four Typhoon jets will be on standby to intercept ‘rogue’ aircraft intent on causing carnage at London 2012.

Normally the RAF’s Quick Reaction Alert jets are based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and RAF Leuchars in Fife to defend UK airspace. But the 1,370mph planes will also be stationed at RAF Northolt, in west London, during the Olympics.

It is the first time fighters have been based at the airfield since the Second World War.

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The British Military Is Getting Ready For The Olympics

Military Begins Olympic Security Exercises In London -- BBC

A large-scale exercise to test the military contribution to the Olympics security effort has been taking place.

Tests of air defence missile systems at six sites across London using dummy armaments have begun.

And Typhoon jets, based at RAF Northolt in west London, will take to the skies over south-east England with Lynx, Sea King and Puma helicopters.

Exercise Olympic Guardian, which goes on until 10 May, will also see HMS Ocean sail to Greenwich in the capital.

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Update: UK military on charm offensive over Olympic missiles -- Reuters

My Comment: With all of this activity, inconvenience, and expense .... one has to raise the question on why would a nation want to host the Olympic Games.