[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]

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.