Come again?
May. 23rd, 2003 01:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
misscamSo there I was, idly watching the news and groaning at Al-Quaeda's latest auido taped threat against various countries - and lo and behold, Norway is named as a spesific target... *twice*.
I quote:
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.
Full text of the audio: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3047903.stm
Um, what? Norway was not even involved in the Iraq war (we turned down the American request for military help) and it's not like we have a lot of interests in the Middle-east. I don't think we have ever been singled out like that before, and we're a tiiny country of 4.5 million people. We have no millitary strength to threaten outsiders and our economical power is nowhere near some of the European giants. So why? *looks baffled* Even the journalists who reported it seemed rather surprised. (Some suggested we were confused with Denmark, who did participate in the Iraq war, but the guy who allegedly made the tape actually once had asylum granted in Denmark, so you'd think he'd know) The Norwegian muslims are rather upset, as this could cause Norwegians to become more fearful of them. I hope not.
Norwegian reaction: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3048153.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3050677.stm
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article.jhtml?articleID=550755
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article.jhtml?articleID=550828
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/22/1053585644225.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,960923,00.html
Of course, we don't know when the tape was made and I recall Canada was once named as a target too in an audiot tape, but has had nothing happened to it. Panic will do no good. But it is a chilling reminder of the power of a terrorist organisation - the power of fear. And from that, not even my silly little Norway is safe.
ETA: The US closed its embassy in Oslo following the threats. *blinks*
I quote:
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.
Full text of the audio: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3047903.stm
Um, what? Norway was not even involved in the Iraq war (we turned down the American request for military help) and it's not like we have a lot of interests in the Middle-east. I don't think we have ever been singled out like that before, and we're a tiiny country of 4.5 million people. We have no millitary strength to threaten outsiders and our economical power is nowhere near some of the European giants. So why? *looks baffled* Even the journalists who reported it seemed rather surprised. (Some suggested we were confused with Denmark, who did participate in the Iraq war, but the guy who allegedly made the tape actually once had asylum granted in Denmark, so you'd think he'd know) The Norwegian muslims are rather upset, as this could cause Norwegians to become more fearful of them. I hope not.
Norwegian reaction: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3048153.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3050677.stm
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article.jhtml?articleID=550755
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article.jhtml?articleID=550828
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/22/1053585644225.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,960923,00.html
Of course, we don't know when the tape was made and I recall Canada was once named as a target too in an audiot tape, but has had nothing happened to it. Panic will do no good. But it is a chilling reminder of the power of a terrorist organisation - the power of fear. And from that, not even my silly little Norway is safe.
ETA: The US closed its embassy in Oslo following the threats. *blinks*
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no subject
Date: 2003-05-22 08:46 pm (UTC)*terribly bamboozled*
no subject
Date: 2003-05-23 12:52 am (UTC)All the news broadcasts I heard it on reported it as "...America, England, Australia, and surprisingly Norway..." so it does seem to have come out of left field.
Stupid Howard. If they reenact 911 over here, let's hope they get his house for getting us onto this rickety bandwagon...
At least if they're looking for carnage, they're unlikely to go for Perth. Unless they like the idea of levelling a whole capital with one missile. We're just about the most concentracted population, but also the smallest.
Ugh.
Date: 2003-05-23 05:47 am (UTC)Is anyone else really, really sick of hearing all these "grand speeches" and "calls to action" from Bush and "America's enemies" and other world powers? :P Or of the paranoia and ignorance that makes them seem *good* to a lot of the leaders'/groups' followers?
no subject
Date: 2003-05-23 07:52 am (UTC)I think al-Qaeda's leaders have been smoking entirely too much crack.
no subject
Date: 2003-05-23 10:30 am (UTC)Argh.
Heh...
Date: 2003-05-23 03:14 pm (UTC)And nothing happened, of course. So don't worry, Osama and co. are probably just confused, as usual. They need a Geography lesson or two, maybe. Maybe a good hit on the head. Surprising really, how similar the Bush regime and the terrorists can be.
--Beauty in Disguise.