NORWAY - On Attacks, From the Norwegian Foreign Minister

"Breivik Taken to Utoya to Confirm Attack Details, Re-enact Events for Trial"
PBS Newshour (Part-1)


"Norway's FM: Many Questions Yet to Be Answered on Attacks" PBS Newshour 8/15/2011
(Part-2)

Excerpt from transcript

JUDY WOODRUFF (Newshour): Mr. Minister, thank you very much for joining us.

Your country went through such a terrible shock. In a nation with fewer than five million people, where so many must know one another, is it harder to get through something like this?

JONAS GAHR STORE, Norwegian Foreign Minister: Well, I think it's hard for any country experiencing the effects of terror on civilians.

The strength of my country is, I believe, that we come out with a sense of togetherness when something like this happened, because the killed ones came from all over Norway. So almost every community in one way or another was affected. So, there was a strong sense, you know, quite quickly that across all imaginable dividing lines, it was time to come together to support those who -- who were left behind and those who survived.

So, you know, terrible for all, but there was also a strong sense in the response.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Your government has just appointed a commission to investigate what happened. Is the main question out there what the media reported as a slow response, or what?

JONAS GAHR STORE: This is not an investigation.

I mean, police will deal with the -- the suspect, who has admitted to the crime. But we need to know as a country -- a number of questions need to be answered: response time, emergency preparedness, how the media reacted, how we were able to follow up and care for the people who were hurt, how the hospitals responded. So, it's really about digging deep into all aspects and ask all questions, so that we can be certain that we have turned every stone.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Is there a better understanding now of why Anders Breivik did this?

JONAS GAHR STORE: I mean, my answer is no.

I mean, he left a manifesto. He has apparently, according to police, been explaining why he did it. What they say, the police, is that they are pretty certain he was alone, he planned it and he executed it himself. And I think the whole rationale of this man, as we read it, comes from somebody inside the bubble who has launched his own war.

So, yes, the writing is there, but I think it's quite unimaginable for most Norwegians to understand.

Another excerpt

JUDY WOODRUFF: Having said that, do you think your country has been changed by what happened?

JONAS GAHR STORE: You know, my take is the following.

We will be marked forever after by the 22nd of July. Such an experience collectively has marked us, in addition to the terrible suffering of those who were directly hit. But we have pledged, I think, as a society, as a country, that we will be recognizable. Norway will be recognized as an open democracy with the rule of law, with the universal human rights, and with the broad international engagement on the international scene taking upon ourselves responsibilities, because we are a privileged country.

Does this sound familiar? IMHO this mirrors the values for our American Forefathers, of America as a nation.