Local Expert Offers Thoughts On Terrorism Threats In Sochi
By Mike Dougherty
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Russian president Vladimir Putin says security at the Olympic Games in Russia will be extensive, but not intrusive. Still, there are credible terror threats and some American intelligence experts believe going to Sochi is risk.
Counter-terrorism expert and La Salle professor Edward Turzanski says Russia has all the incentive in the world for these games to go off without incident. He would attend, but sending his loved ones? That's a different story:
"I would have serious second thoughts in terms of family members," he tells KYW Newsradio. "The decision would be even more difficult if one of my kids were competing."
He says the Russians plan to set up a 1,500 mile perimeter, and getting close to the games will be very difficult for anybody who doesn't belong there:
"They will elevate profiling to a new, yet unseen art form in terms of the people they exclude."
The Russians have not been very forth coming about their security plans with other countries. Turzanski says that's because their national pride is on the line and they want to do it their own way.