I don't get it - why Oslo Norway?

[LynneSin]

I just always saw Norway, along with all the other Scandinavia countries, as very peaceful and very progressive. You never hear of Norway repressing their people or causing wars with others. Why would anyone do this?

:cry:

[CJCRANE]

1. Don't jump to conclusions. There's new info coming out right now

that it's not connected to international terrorism. I'm sure there'll be links on the major news sites soon.

On edit: The OP didn't actually jump to any conclusion but I've seen a few kneejerk reactions here on DU and elsewhere.

[niyad]

3. that was my first thought--not terrorism but something homegrown

[LynneSin]

4. I figured it was internal and not external

but it's just still shocking to me.

[Posteritatis]

8. Terrorism can be homegrown; one doesn't need an int'l organization to be an asshole, after all. (nt)

[slackmaster]

25. The concepts of "terrorism" and "homegrown" are not mutually exclusive

Nor are "Islamist Jihadism" and "political attack against ruling political party."

HTH

[niyad]

2. nutters exist in every society

[Speck Tater]

5. I'm calling my bookie and putting my money on Islamic extremists.

Guess that makes me a racist?

[LynneSin]

9. I was just reading LA Times - I forgot about the cartoon

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-norway-bombing-20110723,0,1264865.story

Six years ago, many Muslims around the world and at home were angered when a Norwegian newspaper published cartoons from Denmark that protesters said insulted the prophet Muhammad.

[riverwalker]

18. hope you didn't bet the house on that

[Zax2me]

21. hope he did - he would win big

reports centered on one group, Ansar al-Jihad al-Alami, or the Helpers of the Global Jihad. According to Will McCants, a terrorism analyst at C.N.A., a research institute, the group issued a statement claiming responsibility, saying the attack was a response to the presence of Norwegian forces in Afghanistan and to unspecified insults to the Prophet Muhammad.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/world/europe/23oslo.html?_r=2&hp

[riverwalker]

26. the claim was withdrawn

5.14am Earlier reports across media that a group called 'Helpers of Islamic Jihad' had claimed responsibility for the attacks seem to be wrong.

Analyst Will McCants posted the original claim, made by Abu Sulayman al-Nasir on Arabic jihadi forum 'Shmukh'. He then issued an update, telling news.com.au the original claim was "not real".

Update: Abu Sulayman has now issued a retraction, stating clearly that “Helpers” was not involved in the operation and that his statement was not an official statement. He says those who carried out the attacks “must surely be known to all.”

http://www.news.com.au/world/twin-attacks-gunman-opens-...

[riverwalker]

28. guess he lost the house

[Zax2me]

23. Already tried - its off the board!

No takers from the other side....

[pampango]

30. If you jump to conclusions and assume certain racial/ethnic/religious groups are guilty,

well let's just say you might want to be a little more careful next time so that people don't get the mistaken impression that you're a racist. :)

[CBGLuthier]

6. To quote Vonnegut, "Vy anyone?"

Re reading Slaughterhouse 5 this week.

[snagglepuss]

7. A Islamic mullah very recently vowed revenge when deported from Norway

after accused of terrorist related activities.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. If Islamic jihad dd it, look at lybia

That said, for many reasons I suspect this is internal. As to why...well same question over OKC to be honest.

[Kolesar]

11. ‘Punitive’ theory pushed by experts to account for Oslo terror

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5a7443a4-b48f-11e0-a21d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1Srv4qv41

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5a7443a4-b48f-11e0-a21d-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1SrvAmNOB

‘Punitive’ theory pushed by experts to account for Oslo terror

By Martin Sandbu in London and Andrew Ward in Stockholm
Terrorists attacks in central Oslo and the island of Utøya on Friday afternoon brutally brought to Norway’s home turf the fighting to which Norway has been contributing abroad, experts reckon.
Norway participates in Nato’s operations in Afghanistan. Oslo also contributes to the alliance’s current campaign in Libya, where Norwegian planes take part in bombing raids.

[spanone]

12. Norway Apologizes over Muhammad Cartoons

From the desk of Filip van Laenen on Fri, 2006-01-27 10:49

The left-wing government in Norway apologizes to Muslims worldwide for the publication of twelve Muhammad cartoons in the Norwegian newspaper Magazinet. Oslo sent out instructions to all the Norwegian embassies on how to respond to queries about the cartoons. Unlike the Danish government, the Norwegian government is not concerned about safeguarding the right to freedom of expression. Foreign Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, a leading member of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg’s Workers’ Party, wrote the following e-mail to the Norwegian embassies:

I am sorry that the publication of a few cartoons in the Norwegian paper Magazinet has caused unrest among Muslims. I fully understand that these drawings are seen to give offence by Muslims worldwide. Islam is a spiritual reference point for a large part of the world. Your faith has the right to be respected by us.

The cartoons in the Christian paper Magazinet are not constructive in building the
bridges which are necessary between people with different religious and ethnic backgrounds. Instead they contribute to suspicion and unnecessary conflict.

http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/722

[woolldog]

13. I'm hearing some reports

that it might've been neo nazi groups.

[CreekDog]

14. what does one have to do with the other?

:wtf:

[CJCRANE]

15. Why do some people assign blame when we don't know?

I speculated at first but I edited my posts because I simply don't know.

[trud]

16. Norway has been in Iraq and

Libya, etc.

it always astounds me that people in the West expect their governments can invade and/or bomb the hell out of other countries and make no connection between that and someone coming along and planting a bomb in their own country. The former doesn't even seem to enter their consciousnesses.

How do you think we'd feel if China threw some drones into the U.S. or far worse? Do you think someone form the U.S. might feel like planting a bomb in China? And then i guess the Chinese would be shocked, shocked at those terrorist Americans who plant bombs for no reason except their envy of the Chinese system.

[Bladian]

17. If foreign-easy target?

But my money is on homegrown. I can't tell you why, just have a gut feeling.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

19. There are plenty of peaceful and quiet towns in America

And yet people have started shooting for no reason.

There is no Utopia. Sorry your illusions have been shattered.

[Kolesar]

20. Well that's a bit much ... eom

[Zax2me]

22. Do they ever need a good reason?!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/world/europe/23oslo.html?_r=2&hp
reports centered on one group, Ansar al-Jihad al-Alami, or the Helpers of the Global Jihad. According to Will McCants, a terrorism analyst at C.N.A., a research institute, the group issued a statement claiming responsibility, saying the attack was a response to the presence of Norwegian forces in Afghanistan and to unspecified insults to the Prophet Muhammad.

[slackmaster]

24. You get three guesses, and the first two don't count

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-oslo-explosion-20110723,0,2369807.story

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/22/oslo-bomb-suspicion-islamist-militants

[pampango]

29. If it had counted, my third guess would have been "domestic neo-Nazi group'.

We shall see when all the evidence is in.

[rabs]

27. First thought was Gadaffi

who last week threatened to send "martyrs" to attack in European cities, including to kill women and children.

Norway has been part of the NATO coalition bombing Libya.

That was just first thought, am holding back until things clear up.

[salin]

31. the suspect in the shooting is reportedly norwegian.

this seems political and domestic. Not that this changes the consequences and aftermath of these horrific events.