Security preparations for this summer’s Olympic Games have become so costly and complex that Greece will probably submit a formal request to NATO for help in guarding against terrorist threats, officials here say. Greece is seeking assistance in areas such as intelligence gathering and dealing with the unthinkable – a major chemical or biological attack on a stadium, for instance – according to a top Greek official, who said there had “already been lots of informal meetings” between the government and NATO. Helping safeguard the world’s largest sports event would be an unprecedented role for the military alliance. A formal request could come as soon as Friday, when the NATO secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, visits Athens, officials say. But given sensitivities in Greece over the presence of foreign military forces, the request might be delayed until after the March 7 general elections here, which are being closely fought by the Socialist government and its conservative opposition. Full Story
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