Free Republic

Norwegian Intelligence Active in Iran September 08, 2007 The Norway Post Rolleiv Solholm The Chief of the Norwegian Intelligence Service, Torgeir Hagen has confirmed a NRK TV report stating that Norwegian intelligence is active inside Iranian borders. Expert is deeply shocked by the news. Major General Torgeir Hagen says that the Intelligence Service is charting Iran's possible nuclear weapons program, registering threat against Norway's allies, and at the same time securing Norwegian interests in the country. Researcher at the the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), professor Daniel Heradstveit, says he is deeply shocked by the news that Norwegian intelligence...

As I have spend a some time in this forum I found not all, but quit a few people to have a hostile attitude against Norway and Norwegians. It is strange to me since we have so much incommon. We have respect for your culture, but must be allowed to ask critical questions now and then about foreign policies. Mostly we agree on foreign policies, but some times we disagree with the US. As a country we are free to do our own decisions. Well enough of that.. I tell you that after the UK, Norway is probably the best...

Three Norwegian soldiers represented their scores of colleagues in ceremonies marking the handover of power to the new Iraqi government this week. Now they're packing up and ready to head for home. The Norwegian soldiers currently in Iraq have been there since January, working mostly on infrastructure improvement projects in the area around Basra. On Wednesday three of them took part in military ceremonies as Iraqi officials took over for coalition forces. "It was a very special day," one of the soldiers, identified only as "Corporal Erlend," told newspaper VG. "It was a fine ceremony, everyone behaved honorably and showed...

STORTINGET (TV 2 Nettavisen): Stortinget’s extended foreign affairs committee approved Thursday to prolong the Norwegian staff officers’ deployment in Iraq. The government got support for prolonging the deployment of the nine staff officers when the Norwegian engineers return home during the month of June. The Norwegian commitment ends June 30. The government got support from the Progress party, in addition to the government parties. Stoltenberg critical Jens Stoltenberg, head of the Labor party, is not pleased with the decision. «The tidiest thing to do would be to discontinue the presence of the Norwegian military,» Stoltenberg said to the TV 2...

Norway is the next coalition country to leave Iraq before June 30. According to Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen, his country sees as priority the peacekeeping mission of its troops in Afghanistan. Since Spain announced that it would pull out its 1,400 troops, Honduras, with 368, and the Dominican Republic, with 302, have also decided to withdraw their soldiers. Meanwhile, Thailand's prime minister said his country would withdraw its non-combat troops from Iraq if they were attacked. US Secretary of State Colin Powell has made phone calls this week to try to hold the rest of the 20-some coalition intact.

Norwegian troops will probably leave Iraq Norway will probably withdraw its troops from Iraq within the next few months. Foreign Minister Jan Petersen said this following meetings at the UN in New York on Tuesday. 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...

Foreign Minister Jan Petersen is more positive to extending Norway's military commitment to the rebuilding of Iraq after a surprise secret visit to troops in the field. After a day seeing things first-hand in Basra, Petersen was convinced that the soldiers are doing an important, humanitarian job in Iraq. Foreign Minister Jan Petersen, (center, with helmet) being shown round operations in Basra by Major John Otto Pettersen (right). Wearing a helmet and bullet-proof vest, Petersen was flown in a military helicopter from Kuwait to Basra, where Norway's 150-man force is operating under British command. The trip made an impression on...