The article is available here. It's sad that such actions are necessary, but ever since what happened at the 1972 Munich Olympics, they are. No doubt some out there will blame Bush for this, but then, some people have a loose grip on reality.

LONDON – NATO has agreed to provide sophisticated miltary assets to help Greece secure the Olympic Games.

In a statement NATO said it will send airborne early-warning alert AWACS aircraft for the air surveillance. The statement did not cite the number of planes, but earlier officials said three AWACS would be sent.

NATO also said it would send ships to Greece for maritime surveillance. The ships would be sent through NATO's Operation Active Endeavour, which patrols the Mediterranean Sea to prevent Al Qaida and related insurgency activities.

In addition, NATO said it would deploy elements of the alliance's chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense battalion. That battalion has been based in the Czech Republic.

NATO said it has agreed to a request from Greece for security assistance during the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games from August through October 2004. The alliance said it will deploy a range of military assets to help protect Greece's air space and territorial waters from attack.

"NATO's efforts will support those of the Greek Government, which has full responsibility for the overall Olympic security operation," the statement said.