Almost 100 Killed in Twin Attacks in Norway on Friday

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Breivik was a member of Norway’s conservative Progress Party, which is the second-largest political party in Norway, with lower taxes and anti-immigration policies its main issues. A former “youth member,” Breivik had criticized the party for turning to embrace “multiculturalism” and “political correctness” and straying from its “idealistic stand.” He was described as “calm and quiet” by those who knew him in the Progress party. A self-described “Nationalist” and bodybuilder, hunter and Freemason, Breivik had criticized both immigrants and politicians who supported them frequently on online fora. He also boasted of links to the far right in the UK including the English Defence League and other anti-Islamic European organizations.

Breivik listed Kafka and George Orwell’s 1984 as among his favorite books on a Facebook page that was only set up on July 17 and listed no “friends.” According to the Guardian, while the pictures that have so far emerged of Breivik suggest a clean-shaven “young entrepreneur,” the reality was that his business ventures were failures. In 2009, Breivik established a farm business in Rena in eastern Norway through which, say authorities, he was able in May to order six tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, which can be used in making explosives.

On the BBC, journalist Liss Goril Anda says the attacks were “squarely aimed at the values Norwegians treasure most (…) openness, freedom of expression and feeling of safety.” Norwegians are asking if the country has been focusing too much on countering Islamist terrorists over and above native right-wing extremists and the anti-Islamist right. Says the New York Times:

“This is the Norwegian equivalent to Timothy McVeigh,” the right-wing American who blew up a government building in Oklahoma City in 1995, said Marcus Buck, a political scientist at the University of Tromso in northern Norway. “This is right-wing domestic terrorism, and the big question is to what extent Norwegian agencies have diverted their attention from what they knew decades ago was the biggest threat” and instead focused on threats from militant Islamist groups.

The authorities recognized in terrorism reports as recently as March that threats could come from tiny right-wing groups that numbered no more than 50 people, Mr. Buck said. But the unclassified versions of the last three reports assessing the threats to the country by the Norwegian Police Security Service, the national security and counter terrorism organization under the Ministry of Justice, all played down the threat posed by right-wing and nationalist extremists.

Instead, the reports emphasized the dangers of radical Islam, groups opposed to Norway’s participation in NATO operations in Afghanistan and now Libya, economic espionage against the country’s resources and technology assets and potential threats to Norwegian dignitaries.

As Knut Olav Åmås, culture and op-ed editor at Aftenposten, Norway’s leading newspaper, writes in the Guardian:

The events of this weekend have given many Norwegians a sense of alienation towards their country. We have lost that feeling of safe and secure normality that Norwegians are so predisposed to take for granted. As the prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, remarked in a speech yesterday, the island – which he had visited every summer since 1974, hosting the summer camps – had suddenly changed from paradise to hell. And so many of us are afraid that the events of Friday could change Norway forever, characterised as it is by a high degree of openness and egalitarianism.

It is not unusual to meet cabinet ministers accidentally on the street, or our foremost celebrities in grocery stores. A sort of charming naivety has been our hallmark, combined with a considerable degree of homogeneity.

The terrorist loner (if he was acting alone) has shown Norway the immense costs of being a touchingly open society. The Labour party’s youth organisation has already decided to return to the island and win back the future that a terrorist intended to turn into past.

But I can’t get rid of the sense that the cracking of machine-gun fire that ended almost 100 young and political lives was also the sound of fundamental change.

As a resident of New Jersey — and with the tenth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11 in a few months — I understand what Åmås means.

We will continue to post updates about the twin attacks in Norway and we send all thoughts to those who died and their families.

Related Care2 Coverage

BREAKING: Gunman Shoots At Least 80 at Youth Camp on Norwegian Island of Utoya: Coordinated Attacks?

Giant Blast Hits Government Buildings in Central Oslo

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Photo by L.C.Nøttaasen

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Eternal G.

5:50PM PDT on Aug 30, 2011

Noted.

August 30
send a green star

Lydia S.

1:59AM PDT on Aug 4, 2011

William Y wrote: "@ Lydia S. It is the same in that it is stereotyping. You are claiming that at all Muslims are terrorists which is an absurd statement. It it the same as saying all priests are pedophiles or that all blonds are idiots."

William, I never said "all muslims are terrorists" ... obviously, that is not true. What I DID say is that islam FUELS terrorism. That the koran calls on all "good" muslims to "WAGE JIHAD" against all non-muslims. That "terrorists" use these violent passages & the teachings of various mullahs, ayatollahs & imams to JUSTIFY attacks on non-muslims and even on each other. Various muslim sects persecute other muslims for following "unIslamic" teachings. The Ahmadiyya sect is one example, being mercilessly persecuted in Indonesia.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/112/stop-killing-ahmadiyya-innocent-people-in-indonesiaon-rel/

August 4
send a green star

1:45AM PDT on Aug 4, 2011

Flannel D wrote: "ISLAM = EXTREMISM!"

"Um..
You don't realize that that's an extremist statement?

"Priests = Child molesters!"

That's another one."

UM ... NO! "Priests = Child Molesters" is a non-sequitur, since the PEDOPHILE PRIESTS ARE IN VIOLATION OF CHURCH DOCTRINE and secular law. Unlike in islamic countries, where pedophilia is permitted & even sanctioned by the example of mohamed and Aisha. Child marriages are the NORM!

Islam IS Extremism ... Because:

1) No other "religion" STONES women, as a matter of POLICY based on their RELIGIOUS LAWS, which are part of the STATE "JUSTICE" SYSTEM, CARRIED OUT BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

2) No other "religion" makes homosexuality a CRIME, PUNISHABLE BY DEATH ... Again, this is GOVERNMENT POLICY

3) No other "religion" makes it a CRIME, PUNISHABLE BY DEATH to convert to another religion

4) No other "religion" allows children to be married off to men MUCH OLDER than they are; the same "clergy" who marry them off, refuse to give them a divorce, based on sharia law!

I have signed many, MANY petitions, right here on Care2 on ALL of the above issues! Do I really need to post all the links?

Is there anyone here who believes that just these 4 items are NOT proof of the "EXTREMISM" inherent in islam & sharia!? What is wrong with you people?

1:10AM PDT on Aug 4, 2011

Pego R wrote: "Whenever we fall for extreme, intolerant viewpoints, we fail to serve ourselves, our own goals and each other."

Indeed Pego, islam IS extreme and intolerant, which is why ALL freedom-loving people MUST unite to DEFEND OUR FREEDOMS -- muslims & non-muslims alike!

Freedom-loving muslims are repressed & abused in their islamic countries. WOMEN ARE SYSTEMATICALLY DENIED EQUAL RIGHTS!

Those of us who are fortunate enough to live in free countries, HAVE A DUTY TO SPEAK FOR MUSLIMS WHO FACE DEATH FOR APOSTASY & BLASPHEMY FOR EVEN QUESTIONING THE "TENETS" OF THEIR "religion"!

GREAT video from a muslim: his views on islam & DENIAL OF FREEDOM TO MUSLIMS!

http://www.livestream.com/ideacity/video?clipId=flv_fd017d81-dc18-42cc-821a-18b86fdea840

Some info on muslim attacks on Ahmadiyya muslim sect.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2010/06/state_persecution_and_pakistans_ahmadi_sect

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLcNTI8u3Pw

Jonathan Y.

6:52PM PDT on Aug 2, 2011

Jesus

August 2
send a green star

bob m.

2:13PM PDT on Aug 2, 2011

Tepid drool....smokin!

2:11PM PDT on Aug 2, 2011

William Y.

10:46AM PDT on Aug 2, 2011

@ Lydia S. It is the same in that it is stereotyping. You are claiming that at all Muslims are terrorists which is an absurd statement. It it the same as saying all priests are pedophiles or that all blonds are idiots.

Flannel D.

9:59PM PDT on Aug 1, 2011

"ISLAM = EXTREMISM!"

Um..
You don't realize that that's an extremist statement?

"Priests = Child molesters!"

That's another one.