Norway shocked by 'al-Qaeda' threat

BBC ^ | 5-21-03

[mikenola]

Norway should have been included in a threat attributed to the al-Qaeda network broadcast on Al-Jazeera television on Wednesday.

The hope of the authorities was that al-Qaeda simply got their geography wrong and did not mean to threaten Norway at all

The threat from what is said to be the al-Qaeda network has baffled authorities and people here alike. Analysts are struggling to come up with any reasons why Norwegian embassies and interests abroad should be singled out for attacks from Muslim fundamentalists.

Norway has traditionally been seen as a peacemaker in the Middle East and the country protested against the war in Iraq.

The government has also been critical of aspects of Washington's declared war on terror.

Awaiting instructions

One possible reason which has been put forward is the presence of Norwegian special forces in Afghanistan, but this is a small force and other countries have a much more pronounced presence there.

Norway's diplomatic efforts in the Middle East is considered a welcome activity by most of the Arab world and not a root cause for Muslim anger.

The threat is being taken seriously, however, and Norwegian interests abroad are awaiting instructions from Oslo about any possible extra security measures to be taken.

The hope of the authorities, as expressed by one diplomat, was that al-Qaeda simply got their geography wrong and did not mean to threaten Norway at all.

[mikenola]

Looks like the Islamic mafia isn't satisfied with the amount of protection money Norway is shipping them.

The Blog that Care Forgot

[McGavin999]

Norway is a western country and that makes them a target. Why on earth would they think that showing weakness would keep them safe?

[Desecrated]

"Analysts are struggling to come up with any reasons why Norwegian embassies and interests abroad should be singled out for attacks from Muslim fundamentalists."

Here's a hint: they're not muslim.

[AZLiberty]

Osama must be pinin' for the fjords.

[b4its2late]

You're either a muslim or an infidel.

I wonder what it is about that statement that Norway doesn't get?

[AntiGuv]

You're missing part of the first paragraph, which makes the opening text read oddly:

The Norwegian authorities are struggling to come up with a clear reason why Norway should have been included in a threat attributed to the al-Qaeda network broadcast on Al-Jazeera television on Wednesday.

Just trying to help!

[Seydlitz]

Another hint: Sending a force of special forces, highly versed in cold weather and high altitude combat, to kill al-Qaeda and Taliban types alongside the Americans in Afghanistan probably annoyed the Islamofascists, too.

[CaptRon]

Oh those wiley Norwegians. Never could trust 'em :-)

[jpl]

Norway is a western country and that makes them a target. Why on earth would they think that showing weakness would keep them safe?

The more relevant question is: why on earth do people insist on trying to attribute sense and rational thought processes to stupid, deranged psychopaths?

[Blzbba]

Where are the Viking Kittens when you need 'em?

[Williams]

Comical in a deadly serious way, that they want to apply logic to Al Queda and believe they won't hurt a Western democracy that arguably "plays ball" with them. Al Queda will blow up anybody, including its own people, to achieve evil ends, and they hate all westerners, christians, democracies, etc.

[AmericanInTokyo]

"Norway" = probably some code language for somewhere else or some particular methodology to be employed.

Damn! al Jazeera to straight to hell for serving as the al-Qa'ida transmission mode for terrorist orders straight from the caves right into the islamofascist homes in suburbs of major American and Western cities.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Norway is upset because they thought they would be safe if they threw Israel to the wolves, pay PA/Hamas/al-Qaeda protection money to Arafart, and curse everything American. Euro-freaks, how many times do you have to learn the lessons of WWI & II before it finally sinks in?

[Blood of Tyrants]

And blond Norwegian women.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Maybe the threat is a holdover from the 1998 World Cup preparation match described below. (You know, those extremists hold grudges from even hundreds of years ago.)
=========================
Norway - Saudi-Arabia 6-0

Match report
------------
A game, which was suppose to be a friendly between two nations preparing for the World Cup, was instead ruined by a far too strict Danish referee. First, he sent off the Saudi-Arabian goalkeeper, after he dragged down Solskjær in the penalty area as a consequence of a bad clearance. Though, there were strong suspicions of handball (twice?) by the Norwegian attacker, so the taking of the penalty had to be delayed for several minutes due to the strong protests. Also, even though the goal keeper did foul Solskjær, a yellow card would have been sufficient in my opinion, as there were a couple of defenders rushing back at the time. Eventually Rekdal stepped up and scored with ease.

Some ten minutes later, Mykland sent Solskjær through in the middle, and he finished the nice move off with a typical striker finish, a fierce shot unstoppable by the new Saudi goal keeper. A few minutes later, the Saudi frustration showed, and again, Solskjær ws in the heat of the action. He was subjected to a late, sliding two-footed tackle from behind by the Saudi defender Al-Khlawi. This time , the referee did the right think, and sent the culprit off straight away.

Referee: Knud Erik Fisker, Denmark.
Yellow card: Sami Al-Jaber (10), Khalid Mas'ad Al-Muwalid (18), Hussein Solaimani (85), Saudi-Arabia, Håvard Flo (29), Norway.
Red card: Mohammed Al-Daeya (18), Mohammed Al-Khlawi (35), Saudi-Arabia.

[headsonpikes]

Why Norway???

Two words...'pickled herrings'.

[epluribus_2]

to which Bush responds:

You are either a civilized human or are a worthless animal

Which part of this statement does Al Qaeda not understand?

[kesg]

What a hoot! Did they really believe, just like most of the West did prior to WWII in response to Hitler, that if they only appeased the bad guys they would never be threatened?

[AntiGuv]

In all seriousness, it does sound as if the Al Qaeda guy actually meant to target Poland rather than Norway. Here's the relevant text:

O Muslims, take matters firmly against the embassies of America, England, Australia, and Norway and their interests, companies, and employees.

Burn the ground under their feet, as they should not enjoy your protection, safety, or security. Expel those criminals out of your countries.

Do not allow the Americans, the British, the Australians, the Norwegians, and the other crusaders who killed your brothers in Iraq to live in your countries, enjoy their resources, and wreak havoc in them.

The only nationality which that could accurately apply to are the Poles. Of course, the rationality of Al Qaeda terrorists leaves much to be desired, so who really knows?

[gridlock]

Somebody needs to tell the Norweigans the story of the dog and the scorpion crossing the river.