Norwegian troops will probably leave Iraq

[Robbien]

Petersen said Norway in future would give priority to other nations rather than Iraq. We are in Iraq to help stabilize the Iraqi society, to help the country back to a civilian government and to assist in rebuilding, Petersen said to TV 2.

Norway has around 150 soldiers in Iraq, and according to the Norwegian Foreign Minister, it is not expected that Norway will maintain an extensive engagement in the country over a longer
period.

During Petersen's meetings at the UN on Tuesday, the wish was expressed that Norway would be available for missions in other regions. The UN had wanted Norway first and foremost to contribute towards a peacekeeping force in the Sudan, if this would be needed.

Petersen said to TV 2 that Norway would give priority to its present engagements in the ongoing NATO-led operations in Afghanistan and in Kosovo. With its limited resources, Norway must decide where to give priority, Petersen said.

-For Norway it is particularly important to put Afghanistan at the top of the list. The country is dependent on outside aid, and Norway must be prepared to contribute to this nation for a considerable number of years, the Norwegian Foreign Minister said.

http://www.norwaypost.no/content.asp?cluster_id=25021&f...

[JeebusH]

1. Petersen: "hhmmm, there's like ... too much shooting in Iraq"

[tabasco]

2. The repugs will be damn disappointed.

There's no Norwegian menu items that can be renamed. Freedom Smelt?

[Bridget Burke]

4. They may threaten to give up Lutefisk....

Oh, no!

Does this mean that those of us opposed to the war must begin eating Lutefisk?

[daleo]

7. "Norwegian Wood" is off the Clear Channel playlist

Sure, it is technically the Beetles, but that little technicality won't bother them.

[mbperrin]

3. Coalition of the

unraveling?

[hippiechick]

5. More like ...

Coalition of the "We've had enough of this shit, we're outta here!"

[daleo]

6. Bad news for Bush and Cheney - Another one out?

Again, Bush and Cheney will learn the lesson of negative leverage. They trumpeted the contribution of these small forces for all the political impact the could when they joined; now they will find the negative political fallout from their leaving will be much greater than the actual forces that they had contributed.

[Gin]

8. Not to worry.....Blackwater and others are ready and able to pick up the

slack at our expense. Before long...it will only be the private army of mecinaries (aka-protection force) making 20 grand a month.

I wonder if the missing 40 billion in the defense budget was spent on these people and the companies they represent?