Meeting the threat

Games in Mexico City became a stage for athletes to promote black rights. And the man wanted in the deadly bombing during the Atlanta Games is suspected of trying to draw attention to his violent anti-abortion agenda.

"The Olympic Games have always been political," Romano said. "With more than 190 countries participating, representing many different cultures, different languages and different religions, it is only natural they would become political."

And to think the Games, because they are international and secular, are exempt from the political stage used by terrorists would be naive. "It is a natural stage for many things political to happen," he said.

Terrorism types

Experts on all sides of the debate agree on one thing: Modern terrorism comes in many shapes and forms, from organized groups with meticulous planning to a single individual acting on his or her own political agenda. Romney calls the individuals "wackos" — and they are much more difficult to deter than organized terrorism.

Based on the terrorism formula of maximum humiliation and maximum publicity, what would be the potential Utah targets of terrorism? There are plenty from which to choose.

Perhaps the most obvious targets are opening and closing ceremonies, expected to draw tens of thousands from all over the world, including heads of state, for an event to be televised live to an international audience.

"Could this tragedy happen at Rice-Eccles Stadium . . . for the closing and opening ceremonies? Absolutely," Salt Lake County Sheriff Aaron Kennard told reporters earlier this month.

Even Temple Square and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Office Building must be considered potential targets. The jihad launched by Muslim fundamentalists encourages the killing of all non-Muslims and even Muslims who do not subscribe to their fundamentalism.

And there is always the possibility of home-grown terrorism by individuals with long-standing personal and religious grudges against the LDS Church.

Church spokesman Dale Bills said the safety of visitors and employees is a "foremost concern," and in light of the Sept. 11 attacks security procedures are being reviewed. Representatives of the Church Security Department also serve on a committee working with the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command "to ensure that appropriate measures are in place for the Olympics."

Salt Lake Police Chief Rick Dinse told the Deseret News, "Our plans are as good as we can make them without keeping people away. It will be a safe environment, probably more so than any other time in Salt Lake City."

Romney maintains the $200 million security effort is being directed at every imaginable possibility, and he is satisfied those efforts will be adequate to protect athletes, dignitaries and visitors "for a specific piece of real estate for a specific period of time."