Wednesday may in the long run prove to be a turning point in the public debate over Norway's participation in the increasingly controversial military operations, almost on the day seven years after US leaders entered and overthrew the Taliban regime in 2001.

The interest was strikingly significant when SV's Deputy Chair Audun Lysbakken, who chairs the program committee, on Wednesday went to the pulpit and presented the party's proposal for a work program for the parliamentary period 2009 to 2013. And especially with regard to Afghanistan policy, where Norwegian forces are subject to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF): “SV believes that Norwegian military involvement in ISAF forces in Afghanistan must be wound up. In this way, Norway can concentrate its efforts in the civilian area and strengthen the possibilities for a political solution that allows the UN to assume responsibility for security and stabilization. SV is against contribution to ISAF during the parliamentary period. ”

Given the deterioration of security policy in recent months, there is an ever-increasing weight of realpolitik behind this proposal. The military solution, and the alleged good co-operation with civilian forces, have proved not to work. This week there have been reports that Afghan policemen are luring themselves into the so-called Taliban groups, in frustration over the lack of progress and in despair over the many civilian lives lost due to NATO's reckless operations.

And growing doubts about the project are emerging in several NATO countries, which are now in danger of losing military purity. On Tuesday, US General John Craddock stated that it is NATO's entire existence and relevance that is now being decided, as support for ISAF operations is now declining in line with its success.

New books raise questions about what Norwegian soldiers are and have been involved with. Tom Bakkeli's book One shot, one death states that Norwegian soldiers also kill. While Fredrik Græsviks The shots at Serena Hotel reveals the political game taking place around Afghanistan. The most important thing in Norwegian politics does not always seem to be what is best for Afghans, but what serves the various parties best in the fight for power in the Storting.

The new book Between the powers. Norwegian strategic interests (Res Publica) also lays a foundation for a more independent and less uncritical warfare by the Norwegian authorities. Doubts about today's participation in Afghanistan are spreading slowly but surely.
In view of the current development, the parliamentary election year 2009 is set to be a fateful year for which direction Norwegian war participation will take in the 21st century.

Morgenbladet in plain mood

Actually, we had not needed to mention the many emotional outbursts this week as well, after Ny Tid, after consideration and editing on 10 October, chose to print a column by Ali Farah, the physical victim from Sofienbergparken on 6 August 2007. For the first time, he then even speak in writing.

Since recently, Fagbladet Journalisten has concluded that «the idea that the drama's main character should be shielded from himself is both meaningless and condescending. The media should not censor the victim's version. This is in response to those who wanted to ban the text because it was not politically correct and academically worded enough for the majority of readers in Norway.

It is not surprising that the text provokes. In recent days, however, we have seen that some just manage to read the text on its own terms, and see what is actually there. Editor Helge Øgrim in Journalisten concludes, for example, as follows:

«A-magazine and Østli, Ny Tid and Farah have done us all a favor. If we are to take advantage of it, we must take a closer look at both Ali Farah's accusations of systemic racism and the sustainability of the agitation of anti-racism activists. "

There we could stop. But then the weekly newspaper Morgenbladet (MB) goes into editorial space on 10.10. out with an attack on the entire text on Ny Tid's debate pages. Under the title "Find the racist", a commentator claims that "Farah with this article stands out as the real racist…" (sic!)

Such a condemning personal stamp, without citation, would have been rejected on Ny Tid's editorial pages. Ny Tid does not use the R-word to name Schjenken, Farah or others. We have criticized the exercise of power by the Norwegian authorities in this case, not the individuals.

Editor Alf van der Hagen, however, makes an editorial claim that "Farah's statement qualifies for the label racist…" Ny Tid is then accused, in accordance with the Norwegian Patriots' police report, of having violated section 135a of the Penal Code.
If van der Hagen thinks this, he can report us to the police – at least if the words are to have any value.

But it's getting worse. Without quotes or evidence, MB concludes: "If we are to take what Ali Farah writes seriously, the rational response the next time we pass a group of Somali men will be to go in an arc outside" (sic!).

Such a general warning against Somali men, due to Farah's one statement, is not only frightening considering Morgenbladet's past. Ironically, van der Hagen then printed statements on his own editorial pages that are more judgmental than what Ny Tid has had in the debate.

It will no longer be Farah's text that is the main problem, but the baseless interpretations and the categorical claims about it. And Farah's post is in any case not at a lower level than the stereotypical accusations of several academics in recent years in the editorial space.

In a book review in Morgenbladet, Professor Trond Berg Eriksen states: "If you stand outside a mosque and look at the clientele, there are shining, able-bodied men in their prime." And now in 2008, Morgenbladet concludes that Obama's election campaign is part of the "New Race War". Without any reactions.

This is how we see that majority Norwegians are allowed to use their freedom of expression in a completely different way than Somali men. Class justice prevails. But if nothing else, the double standard is now revealed.