So what do our soldiers in Iraq think about their mission and their withdrawal next month? I've been meaning to link to this online Q&A a few weeks ago, between readers of VG and some of the Norwegians stationed near Basra. (Partial translation here.) Some readers send greetings to friends and family, others want to know what it's like down there, what our forces do, and how they're perceived by the local Iraqis .. and other readers already seem to know, like Nina A:

The Norwegian soldiers have nothing to do in Iraq! Are you willing to lose Norwegian soldiers in a terrible war lead by the US? The Iraqis see you as enemies, get out before it's too late!

Most questions are respectful, though, even admiring, as well as curious, a healthy sign. (Media groupthink can do nothing against a curious citizen armed with a web browser.) Here are some of the answers.

One reader wonders whether Iraqis can tell the difference between Norwegian troops and Americans. You see, if the Iraqi resistance can't tell the Norwegian peacekeeping forces from the American occupation force, they may accidentally kill a Norwegian who's just there to help them, while actually intending to kill an invader. Who in their right mind would ever want to kill a Norwegian? But as Audun Mikkelsen replies:

Another question is if those who want to harm us really care about what nationality we belong to. The average Iraqi is positive to our presence, and glad for the job we do. The extreme groups who want us out of the country I don't believe care at all about what function we have. Whether we're here as a working company, or in the worst case should have a role as combattants, I don't think this would make a big difference. As I said, the local people are glad for the job we do, they recognize us by the vehicles, the flag, and the writing on the vehicles in Arabic explaining that we're a Norwegian engineering company. We feel that the average Iraqi here in the South is happy that we're here.

Pretty obvious, really - the extremists hate our troops in Iraq because of what they do, because they're helping to build a stable, free, democratic Iraq, not because they're mistaken for Americans and Brits. Obvious, but news to a number of pundits back home.

About what they do:

Yes we're en engineering company, and yes there is still need for rebuilding in this country. The job we're doing is to provide clean drinking water, electricity and improved living conditions for the local population. Pure security forces there are many of down here, but few nations have the machine and engineering capacity we have.

Too bad for the Iraqis we don't have the guts to use it.

About the situation right now:

That the situation is getting worse is something we've noticed also down here. The aggressive groups are using harder measures, and now also attack so-called "soft" Western targets, ie. Western aid workers who are not in uniform. How the US decides to act to maintain control will be interesting to see. Few people doubt that they have a hard job ahead.

About Abu Ghraib and the American reason for going to war:

What has come out in the media recently is just disgusting. It can't be defended in any way, as prisoners after all have right to a certain amount of respect. (May as well also mention that the Norwegian force doesn't take prisoners, as this isn't out job. If a situation should arise where people needed to be arrested, we call for help from the British.) I can't answer for everyone down here, but personally and along with many others, I can't exactly say that we supported the way the occupation and the war was started. The basis was perhaps a bit thin.

Which is a position I disagree with but can respect, unlike the irrational belief that nothing good can come from a questionable war (Vietnam vs Khmer Rouge?), and that you should never get involved in the aftermath of a questionable war. The affairs of others is not our concern. Let chaos attend to itself.

The american policy towards Iraq should be changed somewhat, and this should probably be done soon. But in either case, stability and peace unfortunately won't come over night in this country. There are too many tribes and power mad tribal leaders who want to sit on top of the ladder. Cooperation and common sense doesn't always work in practice. In addition, there are those who don't want stability and peace, and then we're especially thinking of Iran. The politics between the countries down here is extremely complex, and I'm afraid that we're now seeing only the beginning of unrest and war here.

More about what they're doing:

We have for instance created a water supply for tens of thousands of people in 11 villages in Southern Iraq. For large parts of the population this is actually all about survival, and for that water is one of the most powerful means. We have repaired bridges and roads connecting villages, we have repaired irrigation canals for farmers around Basra city. When we are on these missions, we're in contact with the civilian population, and have an interpreter with us. We have only had positive reactions to the work we have done.

I believe it is too early to withdraw the soldiers, as they're here to protect the population, aid the police and the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC) to get started and gain some control. Financial assistance and medical/psychological aid we must also provide, but at a somewhat later time. Of value to the society here I think we should keep in mind security for the civilians, safe water supply, and thereafter increased access to jobs. I believe that to help a country and a people that suffers is valuable, and if one can do it with own soldiers, and security so you don't lose your life, that's preferable.

So? Anyone listening? Don't pull these guys out of Iraq. I know it costs money, and that we have limited resources. So we'll spend that money, increase our resources, it's worth it, or else stop pretending to have any more than your average country's interest in the outside world. We could afford to give $12 million in budgetary aid to the Palestinian Authority recently, (to pay the salaries of public employees and "maintain a minimum of public services"), which at best will prolong the life of an authoritarian regime, and at worst will contribute to terrorist attacks against Israel. Imagine what that money could do in the hands of the people quoted above. We tried to make a difference in the Palestinian conflct, and failed. We are making a difference in Iraq. A very small difference, but we're a small country, and a small, real difference is still better than a partly questionable, partly imaginary, big one.

"Peace in the Middle East" won't come about the easy way, momentous and media-friendly, but from millions of people making their own small contributions, here an American hunting terrorists, or a Norwegian repairing bridges, there an Arab getting used to freedom of speech, or a Muslim deciding that life is good and Islamism sucks. Noone will thank us if we succeed, but we should do our part.

Thanks for these comments....I enjoy reading the thoughts of others involved in the situation in Iraq. Not much in life that really matters comes easily!

Thank you Bjorn, for what you do and Fredrik, too!

I see he was on TV again and said the experience was better than the first time.

The Blogfather linked it.

It's time for Norway and the rest of Europe to cut back on social spendings and show a real will to defend itself, and pay what that defense costs. Norway should stop trying to be the Arctic version of Cuba.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/05/20/2003156252

Through a glass darkly: rivalry distorts US views of Europe

Is this US view of Europe unfair? Perhaps, but no more unfair than how the US is regularly portrayed in Europe's media these days. But if Americans are critical of Europe, they are also self-critical, far more so than most Europeans. As a European editor wrote apropos the flow of scientists from Europe to the US: "What's most sad is that Europeans still believe that their society represents the epitome of civilization, while the US is on its way to downfall. What if the reality is the reverse?" Every European should contemplate that possibility, at least for a moment, before resuming their current aversion to all things American.

http://www.secularislam.org/

http://www.faithfreedom.org/newspage.php3

http://www.middleastwomen.org/

Once again, you justify my pride in my heritage...

Well, half of it. I'm 1/4 Danish, and the rest mongrel-American.

Oh, yeah, we can come to terms w/these people, via LGF. And most of your countrymen wonder why we're in Iraq:

An Iranian black turban:

...Thus far, the usual jihadist rhetoric, although the specific confirmation of Iran’s intimate links to three of the world’s most lethal terrorist organizations was a bit unusual. But then he went on with a megalomanical vision that bears some attention. “We intend to withdraw $53 billion of Iranian and Arab investments from the U.S.A. and thus cause instability [in] its economy, we take pride that our actions have brought 1/9 of the budget deficit in America’s economy this year and we shall keep up with our economic actions.” The claim to have caused nearly ten percent of the American deficit probably refers to the rise in oil prices. But this was only the beginning of his promise to bring America to its knees.

“We have identified some 29 weak points for attacks in the U.S. and in the West, we intend to explode some 6,000 American atomic warheads, we have shared our intelligence with other guerilla groups and we shall utilize them as well. We have set up a department to cover England and we have had discussions regarding them[;] we have contacted the Mexicans and the Argentineans and will work with anyone who has an axe to grind with America.”

Let’s not quibble over the details, since I doubt Abbasi would be inclined to reveal chapter and verse about specific Iranian operations. His list of potential South American allies omits Venezuela, which actively cooperates with the terror masters, and the figure of 6,000 warheads targeted by Iranian-backed saboteurs is beyond the pale, even for a mullah. But when an official as authoritative as Abbasi tells the regime’s loyalists in a closed meeting that Iran is sabotaging our economy and organizing terrorist attacks on our territory, you can take that to the bank.

--we have contacted the Mexicans --

Mexicans in the US are going to have to choose.

We'll close down that border w/Shoot-to-kill orders.

And pulling $53 billion out of our economy? Please, weren't they listening to the Sauds? Sauds lost their turban on the Euro, admitted US$ is the place to be.

Bjorn, love your blog. I've been to Sweden and Finland, not Norway just yet. Would love to.

It's fascinating what happens when an open-minded European hears facts other than the propaganda spewed at them by their monolithic media. You can literally see their eyes open wider, as the scales fall off.

We need to find ways to open more of those eyes. Forums like the one you discussed are a start. I suspect that as soldiers and other Norwegians working there return from Iraq, they will spread the word to their immediate circle. (The media there will probably never air anything positive coming from them, just the relative handful of disgruntled types. You can find them in any group.)

"We tried to make a difference in the Palestinian conflct, and failed."

On the contrary Bjørn, Norway made an enormous difference to the Arab-Israeli conflict. I am sure that in the eyes of many Europeans, the Oslo Accords were tremendously successful in achieving (and in continuing to achieve) their true goals.

Excellent, that was really well explained and helpful

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