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South Ossetia war spurs defence debate in Scandinavia
barentsobserver.com ^
| 08-15-2008
Posted on 08/18/2008 7:56:31 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
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Member of the Norwegian Parliament Defence Committee, Mr. Per Ove Width, goes even further, saying that he does not exclude the possibility of a direct attack on Norway. The representative of the rightist Progress Party says to newspaper Aftenposten that a conflict between Norway and Russia could develop following dangerous situations in fisheries or the oil and gas industry.
-And the Russians do not hesitate to use force, diplomacy comes afterwards, Mr. Width adds.
Even former foreign minister Jan Petersen from the Conservative Party now say that the developments in the Caucasus shows that Russia is willing to use force to achieve political gains and that this use of force could be used unexpectedly. - LINK
Norway challenged by Russian plans in Spitsbergen waters - 08/05/2008 - Russia this week confirmed its intention to start looking for oil and gas in waters near the Spitsbergen archipelago. .... While Norway claims that the Paris Treaty of 1920 gives it the right to establish an economic zone around the archipelago, Russia and a number of other countries maintain that the Paris Treaty only regulates the situation on the archipelago and not at sea.
To: WesternCulture; wideawake
2
posted on
08/18/2008 7:57:56 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(Four fried chickens and a coke)
To: Tailgunner Joe
3
posted on
08/18/2008 8:03:49 PM PDT
by
redstateconfidential
(A man who lets his friends down, is no man at all.)
To: Tailgunner Joe
I think the EU overall is a horrible idea, but I’ve always thought that a Nordic Confederation (not a union, not a Federal government... a voluntary, quit-if-you-want-to confederation) of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and possibly, Finland, made a lot of sense, because of similarities in culture. I would say similarities in language, but Finnish is way out there on the language tree, nowhere close to the other Nordic languages.
With Sweden’s industrial base, and experience building fighters and military equipment, they could take the lead and split production and costs among the other Nordic nations. Get Germany involved too, and you’ve got a regional superpower without the EU “multi-cultural” baggage. Russia would certainly have to respect an alliance like that.
4
posted on
08/18/2008 8:13:45 PM PDT
by
DesScorp
To: DesScorp
I’ve always wondered why the UK and scandinavian countries, along with iceland and greenland...didn’t tell the EU to take a long walk off a short pier.
The UK+nords=power
Probably even get canada to join that economic bloc.
5
posted on
08/18/2008 8:23:42 PM PDT
by
mamelukesabre
(Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum (If you want peace prepare for war))
To: mamelukesabre
Norway is not part of the EU and neither is Iceland.
To: DesScorp
“Balto-Scandia” was an idea tentatively considered by the inter-war foreign ministries of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in the early 1920s. Nothing came of it, though, and each nation ended up signing a separate peace with the young Soviet Union. I hope those countries are re-reading their history, though.
7
posted on
08/18/2008 8:28:57 PM PDT
by
Toliy
To: Tailgunner Joe
Sweden, Norway, and Finland should join NATO if they fear the aggressiveness of Russia, or die cold for such isolationism.
8
posted on
08/18/2008 8:33:57 PM PDT
by
Wiz
To: DesScorp
It’s also a surprise rather close in terms of culture, with the Estonians.
9
posted on
08/18/2008 8:35:24 PM PDT
by
Wiz
To: DesScorp
Get Germany involved too, and youve got a regional superpower without the EU multi-cultural baggage. Russia would certainly have to respect an alliance like that.
You mean like the 5th Volunteer SS Panzer Grenadier division "Wiking"?
I like your idea minus the German component. Honestly, the Germans seem like a bunch of sissy pacificts now, but scratch the surface and there's a goose stepping nationalist underneath.
10
posted on
08/18/2008 8:36:26 PM PDT
by
Tailback
To: Tailgunner Joe
Sweden and Norway show excellent sense in recognizing they need to strengthen their army.
The following things I hadn't been aware of, and I thank you for posting this article, Tailgunner Joe.
Ms. Solberg illustrates her increasing fears with Russias reported violations of aircraft regulations at Spitsbergen and military training near the Norwegian border.
-It worries me that the Russians are showing disrespect for our right to govern the Spitsbergen archipelago, she says to the newspaper. She also accuses the Norwegian red-green government coalition of failing to nurse relations with the USA.
11
posted on
08/18/2008 8:37:57 PM PDT
by
Alia
To: Wiz
Norway has been a member of NATO since the earliest days.
To: Wiz
Norway is part of NATO. We do an exercise with them every year called Battle Griffin. When I was in the purpose was to simulate repulsing an attack on Norway from the old Soviet Union. The Norwegian military is very different from ours. Small in active duty forces but it seemed everyone is a private in the reserves. There are still lots of old German Fortifications that the Norwegians use.
13
posted on
08/18/2008 8:53:26 PM PDT
by
BBell
To: Tailback
If the muzzies get too far out of hand I'm sure the Goose steppers will come out of the woodwork.
14
posted on
08/18/2008 8:57:54 PM PDT
by
BBell
To: Tailgunner Joe
Looks like bears encrochment has some side effects.
I would worried too if I bordered Russia.
15
posted on
08/18/2008 9:36:41 PM PDT
by
racing fan
(This isn't the state of California, it's a state of insanity. (from the movie 1941))
To: Tailgunner Joe
16
posted on
08/18/2008 9:39:04 PM PDT
by
mamelukesabre
(Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum (If you want peace prepare for war))
To: Tailgunner Joe
Unilateral condemnment.
Rally request for those of like sentiment afterwards
Otherwise it comes across as a school-born excercise. Sorry, it just does.
17
posted on
08/18/2008 10:03:13 PM PDT
by
Sax
(this idea was not a practical deterrent, for reasons which, at this moment, must be all too obvious)
To: Tailgunner Joe
Unilateral condemnment.
Rally request for those of like sentiment afterwards
Otherwise it comes across as a school-born excercise. Sorry, it just does.
18
posted on
08/18/2008 10:03:18 PM PDT
by
Sax
(this idea was not a practical deterrent, for reasons which, at this moment, must be all too obvious)
To: Tailgunner Joe
” She also accuses the Norwegian red-green government coalition of failing to nurse relations with the USA.”
oh SURE!!
It’s times like these when it enters their minds that being friends with the US might be a good thing.
Any other time, we are to be sneered at.
To: Tailgunner Joe
Eventually the Russian invaders will pay the highest price for their war crimes. The Georgians will never surrender to Putin's rampaging horde!
A Georgian man amid the rubble of a destroyed street in the town of Gori. Photo: Zurab Kurtsikidze/European Pressphoto Agency
France's foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner (center) and the foreign minister of Finland, Alexander Stubb (left), look at shell-damaged buildings in Gori on Aug. 11. Mr. Kouchner has been trying to arrange a cease-fire. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said Georgia had signed one. Photo: Dimitar Dilkoff/Agence France-Presse Getty Images
Georgian soldiers prayed with an Orthodox priest. Air attacks by Russian forces caused numerous casualties among the civilian population in Gori. Photo: Wojtek Grzedzinski/Napo Images
20
posted on
08/18/2008 11:21:25 PM PDT
by
M. Espinola
(Freedom is not 'free'.)
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