I've just been looking over the intelligence assessment for the Olympic Games.

It paints a fairly optimistic picture, forecasting that the chances of a massive terrorist incident taking place during the Games is relatively low.

The main points are:
* The arrest of terrorist suspects in Milan last month raises the possibility of Islamic extremists infiltrating Greece from Italy -- but the chances of such a scenario materialising are low.
* It's unlikely that local radical groups have the capability to conduct mass casualty attacks.
* The most serious concern is over the possible presence in Turkey of Ansar Al Islam. Ansar poses the most credible threat to the security of the Games.

The report suggests that "the media is becoming increasingly harsh" in pointing out the potential disasters associated with preparations for the Games. It goes on to say that "there has been some exaggeration of the negative aspects of the security preparations for the games, though certain aspects of the operation are running to a very tight schedule in order to reach a state of readiness ahead of the starting date for the event."

The upbeat assessment is echoed by Nicholas Gage in the Herald Tribune, who urges the world to "cut Greece a little slack."