‘I Believe Sochi Is Safe’ – Obama.

[dipsydoodle]

Source: RIA Novosti

WASHINGTON, January 31 (RIA Novosti) – US President Barack Obama said Friday that he believes the Winter Olympics in Russia’s southern resort town of Sochi will be safe but that security risks are inherent in any major international event.

“I believe Sochi is safe and that there are always some risks in these large international gatherings,” Obama told the US cable network CNN in an interview.

Following twin bombings on a train station and a trolleybus in Volgograd that killed 34 and injured many others, Russia has introduced unprecedented security measures as the country readies itself to host the Sochi Games, due to open on February 7.

Obama told CNN that Russian authorities “understand the stakes here” and that the United States is “coordinating with them.”

“We’ve looked at their plans. I think we have a good sense of the security that they are putting in place to protect not only the athletes themselves, but also visitors there,” he said in the interview.

Obama will not be traveling to Sochi for the Games, though the move is not unusual. He did not attend 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, or the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Read more: http://en.ria.ru/sochi2014/20140131/187091701/I-Believe-Sochi-Is-Safe--Obama-.html

---

Part of CNN interview : http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/31/politics/obama-interview/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_allpolitics+%28RSS%3A+Politics%29

[Behind the Aegis]

1. Let's hope so.

[TexasTowelie]

2. Imagine the right-wing angst if he decided to attend the Olympics.

There would be a ton of comments about him taking too many vacations and whether Michelle and daughters are paying their own way.

[penultimate]

12. Instead there will be tons of comments about him not being a proud American

who supports his country during this international event...

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Safe for who? They are already arresting gay people and US sponsors are supporting the

arrests. Shame, shame on all who so much as watch this hate extravaganza.
http://www.newnownext.com/coca-cola-defends-arrest-of-gay-protestor-during-olympic-torch-relay/01/2014/


Not surprised the pogrom means nothing to Obama, he's a Rick Warren type.

[JoePhilly]

6. Yea, the guy who ended DADT is just like Rick

Warren. The guy working to end DOMA, just like Rick Warren.

That's some serious nonsense.

[jakeXT]

4. Don't tell anything to Prince Bandar, when you visit his country

“We’ve looked at their plans. I think we have a good sense of the security that they are putting in place to protect not only the athletes themselves, but also visitors there,” he said in the interview.

As-Safir said Prince Bandar pledged to safeguard Russia’s naval base in Syria if the Assad regime is toppled, but he also hinted at Chechen terrorist attacks on Russia’s Winter Olympics in Sochi if there is no accord. “I can give you a guarantee to protect the Winter Olympics next year. The Chechen groups that threaten the security of the games are controlled by us,” he allegedly said.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/10266957/Saudis-offer-Russia-secret-oil-deal-if-it-drops-Syria.html

[Le Taz Hot]

5. I truly hope those words don't come back to haunt him.

A country that doesn't have enough security (we're sending security teams to them) and with a homophobe as their leader, I have to question how safe it actually is.

[Are_grits_groceries]

7. He's 'whistling past the graveyard' and it's going to be a long walk.

He can't really say anything else. If he does, there is NO excuse to send our athletes.

[Demeter]

8. He shouldn't have said anything at all

I'm beginning to think a vow of silence is better than a fountain of lies and prevarication.

[Beacool]

9. I think he said it while keeping his fingers and toes crossed.

It would be a great relief to the world community if there are no terrorists attempts while the Olympics are going on.

[awoke_in_2003]

10. Unless you're gay. nt

[tclambert]

11. Yes, but the highs will reach the mid-40s to 50 degrees, and the lows never go below freezing.

Winter Olympics? Sochi has PALM TREES! It has a humid subtropical climate. They only get 20 snowy days per year.

[question everything]

13. Still, I am not an athelit, not even resemble one

but I would think that one needs all the concentration and confidence/ mantra to perform. And worrying about terrorists which may or may not lurk cannot help.

I hope that they will excel and come back home safe and sound.

The memories of Munich 1972 are still in the background.