With the Winter Olympics opening Friday in Russia, President Obama received a classified security briefing Tuesday in the White House Situation Room.
Advisers told the president “they are taking all appropriate steps regarding the safety of Americans” at the games in Sochi, the White House said.
Russian authorities have been waging a fight against Islamist extremists in the region near Sochi, and there are concerns about a terrorist attack at the Olympics.
Mr. Obama told his team “to continue to work closely with the Russian Government and other partners toward a secure and successful Sochi games, and to review carefully and act on any new information that might affect the security of the games,” the White House said in a statement.
The U.S. has offered to help Russia with security for the Olympics. Taking part in the meeting were Vice President Joseph R. Biden, National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper, CIA Director John Brennan, FBI Diretor James B. Comey, Secretary of State John F. Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and other senior members of the president’s national security team.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.