Norway to withdraw troops from Iraq.

[KurtNilsen]

Norway's Foreign Minister has just visited the UN after having met with Condoliza Rice, and has decided that Norwegian troops are to leave Iraq this summer.

Said our resources are better spent in helping out Sudan and Afghanistan.

Thought some of you might be interested.

[Qanisqineq]

1. so much for Bush's strong coalition

wasn't Norway strongly against sending their troops in the first place?

[KurtNilsen]

6. Norway was against the war, but sent a token force in june last

year, after a Security Council resolution was passed that urged UN member countries to contribute to the stabilisation of Iraq.

Public opinion has been against sending the troops there. I think the current numbers are something like 65/35 opposed. Women are massively opposed, whilst men about split fifty/fifty.

FWIW, I think the Norwegian troops according to reports have played a positive role in Southern Iraq, helping Iraqi farmers to irrigate their farmlands which Saddam Hussein had destroyed. According to the reports, the troops do not want to leave, because they feel they are providing a vital humanitarian effort.

[Qanisqineq]

9. good for them

I am very proud of my Norwegian heritage.

[KurtNilsen]

10. Good for you :-) Norway is a nice country. We just could use a

better climate :hi:

[Qanisqineq]

11. well, my family must have liked it

they moved from Norway to North Dakota and Minnesota in the US! (Cold there too)

[Jack from Charlotte]

20. They're leaving Iraq in order to fight terrorism.....

It's the same thing The Spanish are doing. Leaving a fight in Iraq that has no visible purpose and using it's resources to fight terrorism.

Good for them. I wish them the very best.

[xxqqqzme]

2. You're right! We R

thanx 4 the update. After meeting w/ condosleeza, I'm sure many things were clear.

[madrchsod]

3. thanks`

they need to get out earlier. there was a post here a couple of days ago about the good the health system is in norway,you guys should be proud.

[cliss]

4. They're not the only ones.

Frankly, I was surprised that Norway even bothered to send troops. How many? 5? The list of cancellations is growing...Spain is reneging. Britain will run out of funding for their troops at the end of June. I think 2 other european countries will do the same.

Who else?

[Qanisqineq]

5. I thought I heard Honduras and Thailand too

but I am really unsure about the Thailand

[KurtNilsen]

8. I think the Bush administration did put considerable pressure on

some nations to get them to send even a token force.

[KurtNilsen]

7. I think Norway sent about 120 from an Engineering company..

They are removing landmines and helping farmers get water to their crops.

[ConcernedCanuk]

12. . . . . Link ? ? ?

[KurtNilsen]

15. I just read it in a Norwegian newspaper.

Here's the link, but it is in Norwegian.

http://pub.tv2.no/nettavisen/verden/article210496.ece

Here is a related link on Norwegian public opinion in English.

http://pub.tv2.no/nettavisen/english/article208086.ece

It's kind of weird because a few days ago after the FM had visisted the troops he said that he thought the stay would be extended.

Now after the Conoliza Rice and UN meeting things have changed. Perhaps the latest unrest in Iraq has played a part.

[ConcernedCanuk]

17. Thanks, and I found another related article, from AftenPosten

.
.
.
Dated April 7, BUT it does say First Published Mar 31

Petersen inclined to extend Iraq support

Foreign Minister Jan Petersen is more positive to extending Norway's military commitment to the rebuilding of Iraq after a surprise secret visit to troops in the field. After a day seeing things first-hand in Basra, Petersen was convinced that the soldiers are doing an important, humanitarian job in Iraq.



The continued presence of Norwegian troops will hinge on several factors; whether or not Iraqis achieve sovereignty after June 30, as well as the amount of financial support the operation eventually receives from the revised national budget.

"If the government does not pass new resolutions then the Norwegian participation comes to a halt. I don't wish to comment now on what is most likely," Petersen said

< < < MORE
_________________________________________________________________

I agree, it IS sort of weird, because I'm sure that Coni and her crowd want them to STAY,

Yes, it IS curious,

the timing that is

[KurtNilsen]

18. Yeah, that is exactly the article I mentioned. It is not from

April 7th. That's the date here right now...

I think the people at the UN (not sure who? Annan perhaps) wanted Norway to withdraw. That seems kinda weird for the UN to intervene in such a sensitive political issue, if that's the case.

[Hemprus]

13. Now

If some of the other European Union people could get their heads out of bush's butt. Things might turn around.

[aneerkoinos]

16. Norway is not in EU n/t

[Hemprus]

19. Sorry for my ignorance!

:)

[MoonRiver]

14. And so the dominos fall. eom