The policy of the new red/green coalition has been to withdraw all Norwegian troops from Iraq, a total of about 15 officers, and to focus on the NATO-led operations in Afghanistan instead.
During the government negotiations the three coalition partners were at odds over whether the Norwegian troops in Afghanistan could partake in the ongoing operation Enduring Freedom or not. The bone of contention was over whether the US should be allowed to command Norwegian troops or if the troops were to be under NATO command exclusively. The outcome has been a mix of the two. All Norwegian forces in Afghanistan are to be under NATO commanded, but in cases of emergency, Norwegian F-16 fighter planes are allowed to assist allied and US forces in need, operating outside NATO jurisdiction.
The oppositional minority fraction within SV is afraid that this in the end could lead to Norwegian troops being used in military operations exclusively under US leadership. Bitsofnews.com Giving you the latest bits.
