Unofficial Tex Murphy

What's up with this? I just read your American ambassador here in Norway has just issued what might be conceived as a very badly hidden threat to our nation. A "You-are-either-with-us-or-against-us" kind of statement, if you will.

Now, I know Norway is one of the most oil-rich nations on the planet, but that does not give your government the right to try and wrest it from us.

I will quote your ambassador.

"I have to ask - no, we have to ask - if our historical and special friendship has a meaning in the 21st century, or is that something that belongs in the past? As sovereign nations, Norway and The United States have the right to stake their own course. Nations have to choose their allegiance carefully, because special relationships demand special commitments about energy, and resources... and sometimes sacrifices must be made."

I take this as an insult to the friendships between our nations. Not between governments, but between it's peoples. You all know me as the least policitally active poster on this board, but this is something you should know about your government. This is how it treats it's own country's oldest friends.

Now you know I love all of you here, american and non-american posters alike. I am not doing this to start a long thread of flame and hate. I am doing this because I think you americans here deserve to know what your government is doing to it's own country and it's public relations.

Feel free to lock this thread up immediatly to avoid Flame Wars... But please... See what's going on.

I mean... we're NORWAY We send you your annual Christmas Tree for Washington D.C. as thanks for bailing us out during world war II. Our people have always looked up to you, we've been there for you when you've needed us. We're even part of this coalition-thingy.

And now you want our lunch-money?

This makes Fred a saaaaaad panda!

-Fred,
sad lil' panda.

Fred Buer wrote:I am doing this because I think you americans here deserve to know what your government is doing to it's own country and it's public relations.

Oh, believe me, Fred, I am all too well aware... things like this don't even really surprise me anymore, unfortunately. There are a LOT of sad pandas here, too...

Fred Buer wrote:Feel free to lock this thread up immediatly to avoid Flame Wars...

Not immediately... but... please try and be civil, everybody.

Don't worry. No flame here.

I'm trying real hard to see insult in the ambassador's statement, but I'm coming up dry. Maybe there is some context that I'm missing, or maybe you've seen some political spin on the statement that I haven't seen.

At any rate, I think one has to look pretty hard to see an insult there. And then there's the fact that ambassadors, in general, tend to be pompass a$$es anyway. So, I'm outa here.

Hey, Fred, where did you hear that? It sounds like a news blurb - did you hear the whole speech? Here it is:
http://tinyurl.com/ep7pf
My impression is mostly of an ambassador trying to solidify ties between the nations he is representing, justifying and trying to deepen the bonds of friendship. His mention of energy is only one among many areas that he is talking about. Any ambassador's main purpose is to argue for better representation of his own country's interests among the nation he is ambassador to.

I'm just saying, don't jump to conclusions - just because we're the big old nasty U.S. doesn't mean that other nations shouldn't try to honestly analyze our viewpoints before assuming the worst.

Found it on norwegian newspaper Dagbladet's webpages. Might be they presented it with a wee bit o' the spin to it, yes... after reading the whole deal, it does sound a little different. I still don't like his formulation and choice of words, but... still.

Hmm...

-Fred

I agree that his words sound like he's issuing a challenge, but he honestly strikes me as someone benignly, albeit clumsily, trying to be persuasive, unaware of the impression he's giving. Sort of like an American.

In most of our schools, the ancient skill of rhetoric, the eloquent presentation of one's position, has given way to political rhetoric, which is more bold and less tactful manipulation. That's one major reason we often end up sounding arrogant, even when we're not.

Yeah, after reading the whole thing (well, okay, not the whole thing, but most of it ), it seems more like a poorly-phrased attempt at sparking a dialogue, rather than a direct threat. I'm still not surprised at the "poorly-phrased" part, though.

Oh yeah, I know... Abrasive, demanding, believes he's right Kinda like in the movies! *snickers to self*

Reminds me of this quote from a comic called Preacher:

"John Wayne? Typical american hero, brash, loud, crudely simplistic approach to any given situation..."

"...Always wins..."

"A detail, Featherstone."

-Fred

I love you Fred.

freepizza wrote:I love you Fred.

Wow... talk about sharing the love.

Oh well, in regards to the rest... I guess, not my country, not my concern. Perhaps if I wake up one day, go outside and find my country compeltely obliterated, with little bomb shells with "made in the USA" stamped on them lying around, I might just work up the courage to say something... but until then, I let it be.

(Besides, even if I am right, or by some stroke of dumb luck; politically informed... not really a good idea to sprout that kinda stuff in front of my friends... not any more anyway).

Oh, by the way Fred... you missed that week's lunch money payment... so hand it over or else!

-Cub. =o)

Cub, you secure that manure unless you want to learn how to play the didgeridoo with your wazoo!

Oooh, pretty rhymes!

-Fred