U.S. Says Greece Not Ready for WMD Attack at 2004 Olympics

The Greek newspaper To Vima has reported that a confidential U.S. State Department assessment found that Greece was unprepared to handle the mass casualties that could result from a potential biological or chemical attack on the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the Associated press reported today (see GSN, Sept. 29).

Greek security planning does not “cover the response capabilities and the reserve capabilities” for a biological or chemical attack that causes “mass casualties (more than 1,000 victims) and damage,” the State assessment was quoted as saying. The assessment also calls on Greece to increase its blood bank supplies and stockpiles of chemical weapons antidotes (Miron Varouhakis, Associated Press/Boston Globe, Oct. 29).

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