US ambassador blasts Norway again (for not supporting the war)

[The Sushi Bandit]

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article894853.ece

<edit: Bushes Cronies at work>

The US ambassador to Norway, John Doyle Ong, made headlines 18 months ago for what many interpreted as veiled threats designed to encourage more support for the war in Iraq. Now Ong (photo) has written to the Minister of Justice, criticizing the lack of bidding over a contract to supply rescue helicopters, newspaper VG reports.'

Minister of Justice (and Police) Odd Einar Dørum has been told that the lack of bidding to deliver ten new rescue helicopters - which American firm Sikorsky is reportedly eager to supply - is unjust and unwise.

While Ong's approach may raise eyebrows, there is little doubt that the contract in question is controversial. The European Free Trade Association's watchdog organization ESA (EFTA Surveillance Authority) has been investigating the contract for nearly a year.

[aquart]

1. Ong is a thug. No other way to put it.

[Jacobin]

2. Yes. Come stick your head in this Meat Grinder. It's fun and profitable!!!

[NYC]

3. Norwegian ad against Bush.

Just something I noticed while looking around.

If President George W. Bush reads the Washington Post today, he may see the critical greeting from concerned citizens in Norway, printed in today’s issue.

The ad the Norwegian anti–Bush campaign tellhim.no has been collecting money for was printed in the Washington Post Tuesday.

Spread across half a page, tellhim.no states that the Norwegian population does not support the war in Iraq. The ad is printed in the form of an open letter to President Bush, signed «concerned citizens and organizations of Norway.»

The original plan was to print a full-page ad in the Washington Post, however, the cost was simply too high. The organization collected NOK 340,000 (USD 51,095) during the three months the campaign lasted. The amount was enough to get a half-page ad in the main section, and a full-page in a magazine which is included with the paper, reported the Norwegian news paper Dagsavisen.

Link to PDF ad: http://www.tellhim.no/dokumenter/annonse.pdf

...said Torgeir Knag Fylkesnes, the campaign’s press secretary. «In the ad, we therefore stress that we are friends of the US, but we disagree with the American foreign policy.»

---

Iraq wants oil advice from Norway.
http://pub.tv2.no/nettavisen/english/article290279.ece

... would like assistance from Statoil and the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate in order to build up computer systems, train oil personnel, and receive technological aid.

"We are positive to collaborate with Iraq when the circumstances are right in regards to security and politics," said Bjørn Kjetil Mauritzen, political advisor, at the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate.

[The Sushi Bandit]

7. Glad they finally made it happen!

Been following their effort to get the ad in the paper before the election!

[Sabriel]

4. Damn! A lutefisk boycott right at the height of the Church Supper season!

Now what do I do? It's getting difficult to put together a good "Coalition" meal.

[Mechatanketra]

5. Sorry -- one Quisling per century.

You'll have to wait until after 2040 for Norway to sell out to another imperial regime.

[Rochambeau]

6. Pure desperation.....

I guess it's less cool to be ambassador in an anti-war country than in a pro-war one....It's not good for that scumbag's career I imagine, so he tries to show Emperor Bunnypants that he is a good boy.