RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — A report from NBC News this week revealed that U.S. spies and special forces are playing a key role in this year’s summer Olympics in Rio. NBC learned that the United States dispatched 1,000 spies and special operators into Olympic security as part of a highly classified effort to protect the Rio 2016 Summer Games and American athletes and staff.
More specifically, more than a dozen highly trained Navy and Marine Corps commandos from the U.S. Special Operations Command are in Brazil, working with the Brazilian Federal Police and the Brazilian Navy, according to senior military officials that spoke with NBC.
“U.S. intelligence agencies are working closely with Brazilian intelligence officials to support their efforts to identify and disrupt potential threats to the Olympic Games in Rio,” said Richard Kolko, a spokesman for National Intelligence Director James Clapper.
Reports indicate that the Brazilian government has been completely cooperative with U.S. forces.
“U.S. intelligence cooperation with Brazil has been excellent since 9/11,” a senior intelligence official said, adding, “We consider the Brazilians to be well-prepared and highly professional.”
Read the full original report on NBC News’ website linked below.
(H/T NBC NEWS)
August 9th, 2016