Edvenson Consulting

Well, here we are, on the other side of a lovely summer, and enjoying a rather outstanding 'sensommer' or, literally, late summer, to boot!  What could be better?

Answer:  Perhaps (1) a bit more 'international justice' at home (in Norway), and (2) a bit less generosity of our Prime Minister with OPM - that is, other people's money.

We note two stories that made the headlines this past summer.  First, in case you did not know it, Norway is a good place for international criminals to hide - from justice, that is.  Reasons are various:  Norwegian authorities actually let them in, on purpose, that is, and then don't prosecute them or send them back home; and, Norwegian authorities don't have much money, staff, or time (read: small country) for the creation of international tribunals on our own soil, and really don't want to take the time to 'bring these folks to justice,' as we might say in the U.S. - well, not as long as they stay out of trouble and keep a low profile.  That low profile can even include a free apartment and a monthly welfare endowment, so, hey, why not come to Norway?  As long as you can stand the cold and dark months, it's like the global stage version of 'Home Free.'

That said, we have one especially high profile world terrorist who has been in Norway - for his own safety, of course, with his family for some years, and manages to threaten the authorities on a regular basis if they suggest they might honor a legitimate request for extradition from the country in which he committed his terrorism atrocities, that is, Iraq.  He goes by the name of Mullah Krekar, and a file of articles published on his warnings and statements to Norway reveal a clever man, formerly a deadly killer, wreaker and leader of planned havoc.  This lawyer used his case as a Moot Court example in the International Legal English course of 2006, with good success:  We came to the conclusion that, since he had already been found by a Norwegian court to qualify, officially and legally, as a "terrorist," his case needed to go to court.  Alternative to extradition, the case should proceed in Norway, with a jury of his country's peers.  And, while he was walking around free, doing whatever he wanted whenever he wanted to, his liberty should, in the meanwhile, be curtailed.  And finally, two years later, the state of Norway has taken the suggestions of this small class of eager international legal English students forward.  Well, at least in part...they are holding his passport, which he had been using to violate the terms of his permissions - ie: to go anywhere and do any terrorism business he wanted whenever he wanted to - and they have curtailed his internet usage and his ability to work. Nice job, Norway.  A good start, that is.

And thus does Mullar Krekar, with his intense and scary visage, jump off the cover of the Aftenposten's magazine of June 13, 2008, complaining, (as translated by me), "Now I can't feel myself safe in any place."  Well, Mr. Krekar, that is one problem with being loose, you know, and since the state of Norway has begun to curtail your freedom of movement, you suddenly do not feel safe in any place.  I suggest that the state of Norway therefore proceed with all speed to answer your concerns.  This would mean that the state of Norway would be sure to provide you with an expeditious trial and sentencing, umm, as required by international treaties of which Norway is already a member nation.  Should you be found guilty of the international crimes with which you have already, for years, been charged, the state of Norway could put you in Norwegian prison for, perhaps, the rest of your life.  Then you could feel a bit more safe.  We will continue this topic in the future, and fill in some of the background, as little reaches the English press, it seems to me, on this important and neglected international case.

On to our second topic, the Prime Minister's magnanimous suggestion that we double Norway's contribution to development in foreign lands through the U.N. - that is, Aftenposten, Thursday, July 24, 2008, "Norsk rikdom i en fattig verden."  Jens Stoltenberg, like many Norwegians who support uncontrolled NGO development, gets lots of moral and ethical brownie points for calling for a 'radical increase' in Norway's contribution . . . at the same time that the effectiveness of 'today's contributions' is in great doubt (per several studies, both Norwegian and international).  As all colonial empires did, just throw money at 'them,' and the more the better. 

Meanwhile, the tattered 'coalition' government currently residing in Norway and headed by Stoltenberg fails to assure sufficient funding for simple and basic health care needs, services, supplies, hospitals, doctors, nurses, and nursing homes. The situation has become critical, and is well past being a wonderful experiment in efficiency.  

Meanwhile, the sorry excuse for effective government now in place in Norway watches the roads and highways crumble, there being no federal authority in this area - or at least not one willing to buy and build the highways and byways needed to effectively and safely transport its citizenry.  Go anywhere else in Europe, and you will see better roads than here in Norway, whose oil fund is overflowing with . . . invested wealth.  To compare, start with Sweden, which has put together a magnificent highway system, we are told.

Sorry to complain, folks, but perhaps someone is listening - or reading, for that matter.  Overall, the summer was lovely.  Fresh air and sunshine in Norway were cheap this summer.  The fjords became warm and refreshing, and the enjoyment was here for the having. What more could one ask for?