After Zarqawi, No Security Increase for U.S.

Despite the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of the Iraqi insurgency, there will be no security increase for the U.S. national team, which is based in Hamburg. That said, American players have been monitored in their hotel rooms by German police, State Department officials and private security — not to mention the FBI and CIA. They’re receiving far more security-attention than any of the other teams in Germany, but this is something the Americans have become used to since 9/11, says U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley. “This is nothing compared to Korea four years ago,” he said. “You had helicopters at our training. We had tanks following us from the airport.” In ’02, a tank also sat outside the U.S. hotel in Seoul. Landon Donovan said the constant presence of security personnel is a bit unnerving, but was quick to add, “These people are serious about what they’re doing. They enjoy what they’re doing and they’re not going to let anything happen to us.”