Preparations Could Take A Back Seat To War

[adrianchew]

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/040/sports/Athletes_staying_on_track+.shtml

Skating stuff about halfway through - interesting how the author describes 4 Continents.

[Blue Ridge]

Well it's a good thing Worlds is in D.C. so no questions about U.S. skaters having to travel if war starts before then. :D

Someone needs to let this writer know about Shen & Zhao, he clearly is ill-informed about pairs!

[Charis]

"After sweeping all four titles at the European Championships, the Russians should win everything but the women's event at next month's world figure skating championships..."

*yawn*

Thanks for saving me the trouble of watching. I've seen Michelle's programs, Sasha is a lost cause and I really don't need to see Irina overmarked and then complain she was left out of the Russian sweep.....:roll:

[Dave Amorde]

Originally posted by Blue Ridge
Well it's a good thing Worlds is in D.C...

I can't think of a worse place to hold Worlds right now, with the possible exceptions of Irag and Afghanistan. Tensions will be high, security will be brutal, and the shuttle buses will be prime targets. I also suspect that security will have little patience with the planned protests. :(

[Blue Ridge]

Okay, I haven't been to Iraq or Afghanistan, but your imagination is running away with you regarding Washington, D.C. Things are fine here, there isn't any particular excessive security that I've experienced despite the Code Orange business. Things will be fine for Worlds--yeah, there is a heightened concern about security, but that just makes it safer than if there were not! I am confident that D.C. will be an excellent location for Worlds. As for protests--he he, these are not the kind of protesters that the police are going to have much concern about, believe me!

BlueRidge, writing from downtown D.C. where she feels very safe and secure.

[AxelAnnie22]

Originally posted by Blue Ridge
Okay, I haven't been to Iraq or Afghanistan, but your imagination is running away with you regarding Washington, D.C. Things are fine here, there isn't any particular excessive security that I've experienced despite the Code Orange business. And things were fine in New York on September 9th! WDC is a very visible target.....I think that is the worry.

Had to laugh about comparing Four Continents to a root canal!

[Luenatic]

I guess the reigning World Champions and Olympics Bronze medalist Shen and Zhao are no threat to T&M anymore. When was the last time T&M placed above S&Z?

[JDC1]

I think DC is the perfect place to have it. We have bases, air force and army, nearby, planes can fly overhead if necessary. Maybe from living in a target area you just get used to it and you don't let it rule your life. Part of the success of SEPT 11 was the surprise, it would be kinda hard it hit DC & NY and have it be a surprise. If countries don't want to send their skaters it's their choice but there's a risk involved every day in getting up so you can't let fear rule your life. Anyway, enough lecturing, but it just seems absurd to me to compare DC to Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm sure the women and children of Iraq are far more fearful, and with reason, than the people of DC/NVA/SMD. And really, much as I love skating, do you really think the World Championships would be a target? None of my friends or co-workers nor my boyfriend had any idea (until I informed them) that Worlds was even coming to DC. I think the superbowl and WOrld Series would be more obvious symbols of "america" than figure skating.

[Ellyn]

I've already said this in two other threads here where the issue was brought up.

The skating competition would not be a target for terrorists or other enemies.

If DC should be a target, especially the White House and the U.S. Capitol, then the MCI Center would not be a very safe location -- it's too nearby. That's what the concern would be, that the city might be attacked while people are here for Worlds, not that Worlds would be attacked.

[Blue Ridge]

I agree with that, which means there is no more threat during Worlds than at any other time in D.C. Also, the risk is not the same as before September 11. The FBI and CIA Directors testified today before Congress and according to AP
"Both Mueller and Tenet said their agencies are far better prepared to detect and prevent terrorists than they were prior to the 2001 attacks. The new Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman, Republican Pat Roberts of Kansas, said he also is seeing signs of improvement."

[Aaron W]

I'm not worried at all about going to DC. Yes, DC could be a potential target, but I'm not going to let the possibility that something *could* happen ruin my time there. We need to continue on, not run away in fear.

[JDC1]

I agree and those of us who live in target areas do it every day. I live right by the Iwo Jima statue, right by Memorial Bridge, even a dirty bomb is a potential threat to me because of air currents but you just can't live your whole life wondering "what if".

[terisalyn]

As I've just posted on KIA in response to Debbi Wikes' column, DC may be the safest place to be...terrorists like soft targets, and DC will have the tightest security and the fastest attack response in the US!

[irene2020]

The skating competition would not be a target for terrorists or other enemies

I agree. I think the terrorists will not consider figure skating 1/10th as important as some figure skating fans do. In fact, I doubt that if the terrorist is awared of where the figure skating world championship is held this year.

[what?meworry?]

well, i think a significant goal is the effect of "terror" on the economy. i think it is less the act of terror than the effect of the threat of terror. unwillingness to go out, travel, spend money, etc. that is the goal---strike at the heart of the economy.

that said, i would expect more likely targets would be such as the mall of america in minneapolis, the subways in boston, ny, or chicago, the water supplies of phoenix or las vegas. that is, the "soft" targets.

[Sparkey]

Just to be safe, let's all pack a roll of duct tape and some plastic sheeting :roll:

[viennese]

better yet, refrain from pelting the skaters with flowers, teddy bears, and whatever else will freak out the security guards.