OLYMPICS
Thus far, the Olympic Games in Athens have progressed very well and I have heard nothing of any terrorist actions being taken against them. The organizers have taken unusual steps to guard against such an occurance, remembering. that which happened not too many years ago in Munich. This year, I understand, the number of guards on duty at the games actually outnumbers that of the players in the games themselves.
The fact that there has been not one observable action in Athens by terrorist groups, and that is something which is worthy of special notice and consideration by the rest of us outside of the Olympic aura. The international games were seen as a prime potential target by terror groups because of the assured world-wide attention such action would create. Sports events, in general, throughout the world, are inviting targets because of the mass of people drawn together in one location. Imagine the carnage which would erupt if an attack were made on an American Stock Car race spectator crowd; a bowl event of any kind and kind; almost any major arena enclosure show. The absence of attack in Athens -Parius suggests that we might consider that our work designed to disrupt the flow of terrorist plans have been successful to an appreciable degree. The Evil Ones have missed some opportunities to make their point evident and it is good for us to think that our protective shields have worked and are working and that their abilities to organize and field such operations has been severely crippled.
I notice a comparative calm about the games themselves. There is contention among competing nations, of course, among the nations but in the past there was, along with it all, a political oriented sort of enmity which clouded the sports sentiment. Competition has been stiff. The United States has not been, as yet, accused of monopolizing the winning of gold medals - with just one in hand at the moment. There is a noticeable lack of political bickering and that is good for the games. Such tensions do not make for the best of relations and harm the unity needed for the success of the venture. Limited by the nature of our television coverage in which one network does it all to suit their time requirements. Events have moved along , as planned, which gives the lie to criticism from some who insisted the facilities would not be ready in time and that they would be second-rate and inefficient.
I realize some of you have red this far and made ready to remind me that the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece are not yet finished! That's true. Disaster could yet take place, but we must begin to expect better things - not more trouble. I seem to see in the sucess of this series of games a sign, you might say, of better, safer times ahead for all of us. Certainly, Iraq itself is not a prime example of peacefulness at the moment with new insurrections arising constantly against the new government and the U. S. presence there.
Our greatest threat at the moment might well be home-made.
We are in the midst of a Presidential Election in which the military histories of the two candidates have been grossly politicized to a dangerous degree. Molehills have become mountains; ditches appears to be chasms, and ruts are meandering canyons. We are at a point which requires we make a choice, and it is not as easy, not as simple as we thought it was going to be. We have deceived ourselves by talking ourselves into political corners where principles are subject to what we can get out of it all.
Ironically, that is not the central principle of the games being played in Athens where fairness, honesty, tolerance and forbearance are required. We have not practiced such basics in our political lives for a long, long time and it is a weakness which may well be seen, and understood, by those who would do us harm.
A.L.M. August 15, 2004 [c682wds]
