Thursday 13 March 2003

Pic of the day: You can't just kill all men to make sure it doesn't happen again. Well, except perhaps in fantasy games. (Screenshot: Morrowind.)

Shut up, Mr Ambassador

A political commentary for a change. Let me quote from the English version of the well-reputed Norwegian daily paper Aftenposten: In remarks deemed highly unusual in diplomatic circles, [US ambassador] Ong suggested that Norway's failure to actively support the Bush administration's campaign against Iraq could permanently damage future relations between the two countries. He also suggested Norway, along with Europe as a whole, should show more gratitude for US support in the past. "When Norway's security has been threatened, the US has been there... not just three times out of four, but every time," Ong said. He likened the situation to two old friends, with one of them asking for help and, "for one reason or another," not getting it from the other. When that happens, Ong said, "the relationship changes."

Ambassador Ong is said to be a personal friend of George W Bush, and I guess that would explain why he's talking about things he doesn't know. Luckily politicians and political scientists in Norway have generally agreed in their reaction, which is to point out that Norway's relationship with the USA is not identical to its relationship with the current administration, and in particular its most zealous members. Most Norwegians still believe that when the American people gets to elect a president by a majority vote again, a more reasonable and capable government will brush over the mistakes of its predecessors.

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For those not in the know (such as ambassadors from less literate governments), Norwegian soldiers are fighting side by side with their American cousins in Afghanistan. In this case, it was judged that our ally actually had been attacked, even though it was not by a nation; and Norway has given all the support that was expected in such a situation.

I personally believe that the USA would have done the same for us, but they never had the opportunity during the time that the NATO pact has existed. Before that, in 1940 when Norway was invaded by Germany, the USA did not exactly lift a finger. I'm not saying they were obliged to, just pointing out that they did not take part in the war against an evil, inhumane regime trying to conquer the world. Not until they were attacked themselves did they move. It was a good thing those idiots were ruling Japan at the time, or we would have needed to wait for the Soviet Union to help us.

Anyway, the status is currently 1-0 to Norway in aiding friends that were attacked. The fact that our friends' ambassador is too stupid to look this up before speaking in public is a testimony to the incompetence of the current American administration, not the American people as such. It is a sad fact of life that the current president became president by a mistake, and has continued to make mistakes until this day. He is a good lad, but underqualified for the job in tough times such as these. And so is his ambassador to Norway. The more they both shut up, the better for them, their country, and the world.

Hopefully the next generation of Americans, who inherit the bill from the current government, will remember who their real friends are. Right now Bush is acting like a rape victim who wants to kill all men just to be sure that it never happens again. But a real friend needs to tell that you can't do that. Life must go on, hard as it is, and at least you still have friends. Unless you chase them all away.