Greece gets high US praise for anti-terrorism actions

Yahooooooo!!!! News ^ | 5/1/03 | GipperCT

[GipperCT]

Greece gets high US praise for anti-terrorism actions Wed Apr 30, 1:54 PM ET Add Politics - AFP to My Yahoo!

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Long the target of US criticism for its less than-stellar record in combatting terrorism, Greece received high praise from the State Department which lauded its crackdown on the November 17 group.

AFP Photo

"The practitioners of counterterrorism ... can take great satisfaction in the tremendous progress made by the Greek government against terrorism in 2002 and the present," said Cofer Black, the department's counter-terrorism coordinator.

"They have made, by counter-terrorism standards (news - web sites), historical progress, certainly against 17 November," he told reporters as he rolled out the department's annual "Patterns of Global Terrorism" report.

"I would say that the progress that has been made by Athens is significant," he said, adding only one concern: the some groups deemed terrorist by Washington continue to have offices in the Greek capital.

"We would like these offices closed," Black said, without naming the groups.

In the report, the department noted that despite the success against November 17, other extremist groups and anarchists carried out numerous low-level attacks in 2002, including seven against US interests, four more than the year earlier.

"But comparatively," Black said, "I want to underscore in terms of the Greek contribution a true effectiveness as well as their forceful preparation for the 2004 Olympics."

The Greek campaign against November 17, which is held responsible for assassinating 23 Greek and foreign officials between 1975 and 2000, was highlighted in a one-page pull-out in the 166-page State Department report.

Greece was one of only two countries -- the other being Singapore -- to be so recognized.

The campaign began in June with the arrest of a November 17 operative injured when a bomb he was making exploded prematurely and picked up steam rapidly thereafter.

"Once deemed the most elusive terrorist group in Europe, 17 November quickly unraveled, largely as a result of the diligence of Greek Government and law-enforcement officials," the report said.

Nineteen alleged members of November 17 are now standing trial in a high-security court in Athens.

[GipperCT]

Now if they can just calm the anti-american hard-leftie babble :-)

[longtermmemmory]

The trial is still going? The trial started a while back.
The leftist bably comes from sinitis' pasok party which is socialist. They are in a desperate fight in the next election to counter loosing ground to the New Democracy party (conservative).

[Destro]

Greek animosity to America is a little more complicated. Has to do with America ignoring-or going against Greek national intrests in the Balkans on many occasions (Serbia--Macedonia issue-Turkey-Cyprus-Albania). The USA is not a consultative ally as Turkey found out over Iraq.

[gaspar]

The State Department claim is laughable. Greece is hoping against hope that it can keep the lid on local terrorists, pro-Muslims and anti-Americans, until the Olympics is over next year. Lotsa luck.

[longtermmemmory]

appologies about above spelling.

[longtermmemmory]

actually I was in the country when they were catching the Nov 17 and I was there when they were setting up and starting the trial.

Unknown to most. Greece has had two naval ships in the Guld during the war. They were conducting patrols which did catch bombers on those little inflatable boats. They also lived up to their agreements under bilateral treaties and Nato treaties. There was never any question about the US using military bases or airspace. Contrast this with other allied nations with similar treaties which were hemming and hawing about supporiting the mission of the troops.

The state department support of Greece is also intended as a slap in the face of a senior Carter era diplomat who resigned in protest over the US military action. It makes his near retirement resignation even more pitiful.

BTW you are right about the Greeks being concerned about security for the 2004 olympics. The Greeks need the United STates, the US knows it and this public statement is an embarasment to the rest of old europe.

[Destro]

Your right it's all for publicity. No biggie though--Greece's N17 killed only 20 some odd people in a 30 years. I think Greece has one of the lowest violent crime rates in Europe too.

[longtermmemmory]

every home has a shotgun. Its cultural.

[FreeCanuckistan]

The 'big dog' always eats first.

Take that to the bank.

[tracer]

""Once deemed the most elusive terrorist group in Europe, 17 November quickly unraveled, largely as a result of the diligence of Greek Government and law-enforcement officials," the report said."

The tangos probably missed two payments to the Greek authorities......

[July 4th]

Well, now that Nov. 17 is under control, they just have to get their a$$ in gear on the Olympics. As I understand it, they've got a LONG way to go.

[tracer]

They invented the "shotgun wedding"......

[tracer]

Please tell me that (a) you really don't care; (b) you really do know a one-liner when someone reads it to you; and (c) your aren't really serious in your reply.

Next time I'll write it in French -- just for you....

[tracer]

You signed your name "Yokel." That's not a French name, is it??

[tracer]

"Immitation" is the French and Greek spelling of a common English word ("imitation"), angry Monsieur Yokel. Now, take a deep breath of that infectious air up there and get back to your schoolbooks.....