Should the US stop meddling with other countries? ( Archived) (98)

03.09.07


"Newspaper Aftenposten reported over the weekend that the US ambassador to Norway met with Norway's Justice Minister in June, to discuss the Americans' "interest in the Ministry of Justice's proposed terrorism legislation."

The meeting was followed up last month with a letter from US Ambassador Benson Whitney, to which he attached a five-page, admittedly detailed "summary of observations, comments and questions from experts in Washington who have had the chance to examine the proposed legislation."

The summary, Whitney wrote, was also "shared" with Norway's Foreign Ministry.


In it, the American experts make it clear that they don't think Norway's proposed legislation is tough enough. They criticized the Norwegian government's proposal that it won't be illegal to be a member of a terrorist organization. The Norwegians think penalties should only apply if a suspect can be linked to the planning of a specific terrorist act.

The American experts also don't think proposed rules against fund raising for terrorism are strong enough, and they raised many questions about how Norway would react to such events as hostage-taking, terrorist recruiting and threats.

Justice Minister Knut Storberget of the Labour Party says the Americans themselves took the initiative to express their views. Asked what he thought of the US' objections, he said he believes the proposed Norwegian legislation is "very good and balanced." He made it clear no changes would be made because of the American criticism.

Olav Gunnar Ballo, a member of Parliament for the Socialist Left (SV) party, didn't appreciate the Americans' input in the Norwegian legislative process. "I think Americans would have reacted as well, if Norway's ambassador in Washington had written a letter to American authorities and said they shouldn't go so far in their own terror laws," Ballo said.

Storberget, whose Labour Party shares government power with SV, said he had no problems with the US initiative. Representatives from the Center Party, the Conservatives and the Progress Party had no problems, either. Elisabeth Aspaker of the Conservatives said it was "important that we learn from those in other countries, so that the law won't be worthless before it's passed."

Yeah, we should just take care of our own. Who cares what happens around the world? If there is suffering or civil wars or tyranny, we shouldn't do anything. We should just take care of OURSELVES, make money, go on vacation in countries we didn't bother to help like Mexico and Italy. You're right, why in the hell do we always try to instill justice, peace and "democracy" everywhere? We should just not give a damn and take care of our own, to hell with anyone else who's not a US citizen.
Does that answer your question?

Yes.

You know Oslo with all due respect, this thread reminds me of the other thread entitled wise men fear to thread where fools go, so I think I'd better stay out of it.

Additionally, all those countries who accept foreign aid from the USA should refuse it? After all America is just meddling.

"It’s no wonder that most Americans think they live in an extremely generous nation: Media reports often quote government officials pointing out that their country is the largest overall aid donor, and the biggest donor of humanitarian aid. But what reporters too often fail to explain is how big the U.S. economy is—more than twice the size of Japan’s, the second largest, and about as big as economies number 3–10 combined. Considered as a portion of the nation’s economy, or of its federal expenditures, the U.S. is actually among the smallest donors of international aid among the world’s developed countries."

Little Norway gives away more of its wealth than does the US; even Iceland, not known as the hub of capital, is far more generous than us.

Right, man. Give all that money back, after all, you don't need us or our "aid"...Coulda used some of that cash on my house remodeling...Or a pool table in my basement.