Center Party leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum tells Ny Tid that The government's war contribution to Iraq is little thought out. But Deputy Speaker Ola Borten Moe does not say that his party agrees with the SV in the Iraq strategy.
(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
Interview. Last week, the Center Party was the only party that, together with SV, voted no to sending Norwegian soldiers to Iraq. Party leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum tells Ny Tid that he fears that the Norwegian effort may hurt worse.
- I don't think we've thought well enough about how this war could develop, and how far into it we risk being dragged. We are entering a civil war with strong ethnic and religious conflicts. It will have a starting cost. Experience shows that placing international forces in Iraq can mobilize and strengthen terrorist organizations such as ISIS, says Slagsvold Vedum.
The center party responds that the KrF was the first to call for military force against ISIS. He recalls the legacy of Kjell Magne Bondevik, who was prime minister when the US invaded Iraq in 2003. At that time, Norway was out of the war.
- Bondevik said that Norway's place in the world is like a humanitarian superpower. What we can do is help to create stability in neighboring countries, where Syrian refugee flows create a tremendous need for relief. This is where we can make a difference, says Slagsvold Vedum.
- Aggressive foreign policy
According to Slagsvold Vedum, a new line in Norwegian foreign policy is being developed, which has gradually developed with Norway's efforts in Afghanistan and NATO's "Out of Area" strategy. At the same time, Norway is not increasingly participating in wars to a large extent.
The government can make decisions about Norwegian participation in war without discussing it in the Storting. Here, Norway differs from Denmark, where decisions on Danish military operations abroad must be made in the Parliament.
- Is the time ripe for a constitutional amendment, so that the decision to go to war is made in the Storting?
- I hardly think there will be any majority for such a proposal, but it must be debatable, says Slagsvold Vedum.
On Wednesday, 5 November, Erna Solberg presented the military operation in the Storting. There, Solberg linked the fight against ISIS directly to the terror threat in Norway. On the same day, the Police Security Service (PST) had announced that ISIS encourages its supporters to carry out attacks in the countries that are part of the US-led alliance, Norway included.
Solberg called the war participation a "long-term investment in our own security". The Prime Minister emphasized that Norwegian forces should not participate in fighting, but that they can use force in self-defense. "We need to be prepared for the mission to be demanding and long-lasting," Solberg said.
Away Moe: Doubt about party line
Former Minister of Petroleum Ola Borten Moe has been mentioned as belonging to the right wing in the Center Party. He has been in open quarrel with SV members when he – as with former Minister of the Environment Bård Vegar Solhjell. Borten Moe lost the leadership position against Slagsvold Vedum, and is now deputy leader in Sp. But he does not want to say that he and the party agree with SV in saying no to the Iraq war, but emphasizes that the party supports the blue government in Afghanistan. Ny Tid did not manage to get a conversation with Borten Moe, but here is our sms interview with the Sp deputy leader:
New Time: «Hello! I want a comment on Sp's refusal to send troops to Iraq. "
Borten Moe: «Are Trygve and Marit [Arnstad, ed. note] which holds in that case. Check with them. We support the government's plan in Afghanistan. ”
Ny Tid: "Ok, but from the media picture it appears that Sp says no?"
Borten Moe: "There is a difference between what we mean about Iraq and Afghanistan. Check with Marit. ”
New Time: “So you are for participation in Afghanistan, but against participation in Iraq? Is that right?"
After some time: Borten Moe: "I'm pretty sure I'm referring to the party line here, and then you should check? I mean what the party thinks :-) »
