Posted on 03/22/2005 9:08:13 PM PST by 11th_VA
Norway, a major oil exporter, is prepared to help Iraq build up its oil industry by sharing experience, training and technology, a deputy minister said Tuesday. "There is real interest in doing this and getting it going this year," Norwegian Deputy Minister of International Development Leiv Lunde told The Associated Press. (snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at businessweek.com ...
The state of Texas will help Iraq. Norway's expertise will be more helpful after Iraq is covered in a sheet of ice.
I thought Norway was part of the coalition.
Man, you guys are so wrong it is hilarious.
Norway was on board in both Afghanistan and Iraq before most others in the coalition joined up.
Too many here on Free Republic tend to sloppily confuse Norway with "Sweden" or with Old Europe. Norway is Norway, not even part of the European "Union."
The special forces of Norway were decorated by George Bush two months ago for their actions in Afghanistan and Irag--the first foreign forces to be honored by an American president in more than 40 years.
If one admires so much the actions of the British, the Australian, and the Polish forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, surely he must admire even more the forces from Norway, who earned that particular distinction.
Depending upon which standards are used, Norway is third or fourth in the entire world, in defense spending per capita; some even have Norway second, behind only the United States.
Man, you guys are so wrong. Do not confuse Norway with "Sweden" or Old Europe.
"Man, you guys are so wrong it is hilarious."
Man, you could use a quick course in manners.
I stand corrected and Norway has my abject apology.
In penitence, I will consume a can of Norwegian sardines.
Thanks for your civil and informative post, franksolich!
We are wrong. And it is hilarious.
I thought his correction was both forthright and good-humored. Lighten up!
I never said he wasn't right. His manners on the otherhand need some brushing up on.
Hey guys, I didn't mean to be offensive or anything, but a quick glance at some of the "profiles" showed there were a great many military veterans replying to this thread.
It has been my experience that military veterans are more in tune with what is going on, than ordinary people (I am not a military veteran; born deaf, so that cut out that, even though I did try to cheat on the army "hearing test" so as to get in, but was caught and sent to college instead).
In fact, it was some veterans on Free Republic who some weeks ago directed me to the information that George Bush had specially decorated the Norwegian special forces for their actions in Afghanistan and Iraq; the first time any foreign armed service had been honored by an American president since the mid-1960s.
(Apparently the Norwegian special forces are excellent mountain fighters; I do not know for sure.)
So that was my gripe. Norway came "aboard" with us right away, before most others did--the damnable problem being, many people still confuse Norway with "Sweden" or "Old Europe," and so that impression needed correction.
As for the matter of "profiting" from the wars for the liberation of Afghanistan and Iraq, I hope we have some backbone, and allow only those who participated, to "gain" from it.....which leaves out the French, the Germans, the Russians.
If we can't have it ourselves, much better that the dough fly to Britain, Australia, Norway, Poland, Italy, and those others who were with us when the going got tough.
Although the Norwegian government and 80% of the Norwegian population opposed the war itself, to its credit, Norway has been on board with reconstruction and humanitarian efforts there.
Did I miss anything here?
I have to admit, I thought Norway was part of the problem, not the solution. Thanks for the info.
Yeah, there was a thread on Free Republic about that, some time ago, and it appears the Google search was missing some things. I will find that thread, and send it on; it was more than 150-200 men (face it, Norway is a tiny country; many cities in the United States have more people than Norway), and Norwegian troops were in both Afghanistan and Iraq. I will track down that thread, and send it along.
An offer to assist with the goldmine. Isn't that special.
LOL !!!
His manners are fine too.
When I find out what else they have been doing, which has been posted on Free Republic, I will send along those threads too.
Bush lunches with king/queen of Norway
Armitage thanks Norway for contributions in Afghanistan, Iraq
Norway will withdraw troops from Iraq
I could well be wrong, but so far, I don't see any information on participation in actual combat operations in Iraq -- only assistance to us after Saddam had capitulated and the war was essentially over.
Even so, since I shot from the hip before checking my facts, the apology stands and I will eat the sardines.
If you don't like Norwegian sardines, Norwegian aquavit would do.....and if you don't care to drink, Norwegian cheese is great.
But this is something military guys would know more about, than we ordinary people--it appears "special forces" implies secret activities, and all of the photographs I have seen, some on Free Republic, some on newspaper web-sites, the guys from Norway always have their faces blurred out.
At this point, what I'm hearing is that Norway opposed us on the invasion and war itself, essentially wanted us to leave Saddam alone in spite of his bad faith on weapons inspection and other aspects of the signed ceasefire agreement, as well as his harboring/assistance of known terrorists. I am also hearing that the Norwegian troops were not there in a specific combat role, but in a supportive, humanitarian role following cessation of war operations.
I welcome further enlightenment.
Thankyou for the expanded menu, fransolich! But I think I should stick with the sardines. It's the only way I will learn.
How so ms manners?
If I need to explain to you, then perhaps you need a course too!
Norway desperately needs to diversify its oil production portoflio which is almost totally in maturing north sea fields. They see this as a good opportunity.
Ok, I'll bite. Can you do a re-write of his statement, all or part, that demonstrates how his manners could have been better than you believe they were?
OK, give me a course for the course.
Thank you for the kind words.
You know, I never paid attention to Norway, never lost a minute of sleep over Norway, until this past January, when an authentic Norwegian really in Norway complained on Free Republic that people tend to be "anti-Norway," after which the birth of the now-famous Norway ping list.
To me, the problem seems to be the confusion of Norway with Sweden, and with Old Europe, when in fact Norway is very unlike Sweden (much smaller population, more socialistic) and has already twice voted against joining Old Europe in the European "Union".
But at the same time, there are aspects of Norway that surely must warm the hearts of members of Free Republic: (a) their being allied with us, (b) their vigor (which seems to exceed ours) in getting rid of undesirable aliens, (c) their retaining their national sovereignty, and (d) their careful savings of their North Sea petroleum revenues.
Surely things to delight members of Free Republic.
It is true that Norway is perhaps one of the most socialistic countries in the world, with the highest taxes and cost of living (Oslo is the most expensive city in the world, apparently), but they pay for it.
What is of great concern at the moment is that governments of Norway since the mid-1970s--left, right, center--have always stashed away their petroleum revenues, not spending a kroner of them, for the distant future. This savings-account, meant to tide Norwegians over when the oil runs dry, now amounts to tens and tens of billions of dollars.
And at the same time, the old men of Old Europe, who formerly disdained Norway--after all, such a tiny meaningless little country--are casting their covetous eyes northward; that savings-account could bail France or Germany out of their own financial straits.
It is all very interesting; Norway is currently ruled by a center-right coalition, but their prime minister, whom Norwegians on Free Republic insist reminds them of John Kerry, is vastly unpopular (for reasons NOT having to do with foreign policy; the guy just has no charm, no personality).
There are to be parliamentary elections this autumn. Polls up until last week showed a mildly-left-strongly-left coalition likely to win.....but now the left is splintering apart (as the left usually does), and so it is up in the air.
Given that Denmark recently re-elected a center-right government, and that Poland this summer will most likely elect a right government, one supposes if the Norwegian center-right comes up with a more charismatic candidate for prime minister, the center-right could win again.
"So frogs may get their paws on Iraqi oil."
I hope not, but unfortunately, yeah, it could happen.
Never mind....I apologize if I came across as ms manners. Having a bad day and took it out on you.
No problem, no offense taken.
Thanks for the thoughtful synopsis. You're right. There are things to admire about the Norwegians. I just wish they'd kept their mouth shut prior to the war in Iraq or at least said something like, "This is a dispute for the US and Iraq to settle between themselves. It does not concern us." Instead, Petersen prattles on about continuing the failed UN approach while Saddam provides our enemies with a base of operations.
Sweden is more socialistic with higher taxes etc. The Petroleum Fund is not worth tens of billions, but more like closing in on 200 billion dollars
Norway is cool. But they still have to answer for A-ha.
"but what about POLAND!!??"
(a little good humored LOL sar at GW's Expense)
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