Tim Blair

IXLNXS has made his presence felt in Norway.

Oh god, he mentioned the oil pipeline. Quick, go to the store, IXLSTX's tinfoil beanie has developed a tear and his few remaining synapses are overloading.

So what, if the reason is oil? At least now the revenue from the Iraqi oil would not end up in Saddam's coffer.

So what, if the reason for war in Afghanistan is to build oil pipeline? Isn't that a good thing for the Afghans? Wouldn't building the pipeline create jobs for afghans?

Well, rainier, I agree. Of course, one of the things that so many knee-jerk libs don't ever address is the simple fact that if middle eastern oil is cut off, the whole planet - not merely us gas-guzzlin' Americans - will be plunged into an economic nightmare. Government largesse will no longer be devoted to welfare and Medicare and roads. It will be devoted to suppressing riots and desperately trying to distribute food and clean water and combatting pestilence.

Of course, for some of the lefties, that's precisely the formula for saving the planet.

Correction: Our first casualty in Afghanistan - and in the war on terror in general.

Wait a minute, I thought the US was *isolated* in Iraq?

Richard: Some 'isolation'. But yes, that's what our increasingly weird leftist enemies try to argue.

Bjorn: This Aussie is very sorry about Tommy's death. May his family find peace in knowing that he was yet another man of quality whose death has not - and must not - be in vain.

Corrected, Bjorn. Thanks.

Tommy and those like him have all my respect and admiration. His situation is not unlike that of many professional soldiers from smaller countries these last few years. They're more clear-headed and serious about international security than their civilian bosses, who often are drinking deeply of the bizarre anti-US kool-aid, or simply bumbling into fiascoes of their own making (Spain).

A US Marine friend described how incredibly motivated and enthusiastic were the contingents from places like El Salvador serving in southern Iraq. To them it was an almost unimaginable honor and opportunity to be serving alongside US and UK forces on such an important mission. He recounted how officers of a small NATO country serving there told him that the Iraq mission had inspired their entire force and become the defining moment for the country's new international identity.

There are many Tommy's out there. For civilization, it's a very good thing.

Tommy and those like him have all my respect and admiration. His situation is not unlike that of many professional soldiers from smaller countries these last few years. They're more clear-headed and serious about international security than their civilian bosses, who often are drinking deeply of the bizarre anti-US kool-aid, or simply bumbling into fiascoes of their own making (Spain).

A US Marine friend described how incredibly motivated and enthusiastic were the contingents from places like El Salvador serving in southern Iraq. To them it was an almost unimaginable honor and opportunity to be serving alongside US and UK forces on such an important mission. He recounted how officers of a small NATO country serving there told him that the Iraq mission had inspired their entire force and become the defining moment for the country's new international identity.

There are many Tommy's out there. For civilization, it's a very good thing.

You know tim, it would have been an interesting experiment to leave the title uncorrected for a while, then let the trolls rant about him "dying in BUSHITLER's war"

then change it to Afghanistan.

Oh, the dilemma! The left (or the less loony ones) are always careful to iterate how much they supported war in Afghanistan.

My condolences to Tommy Rødningsby's family and his nation. They've lost something priceless.

I thought the only job that some wanted to see in Afghanistan was the job of poppy-grower.

The pipeline's a much better deal.

I have never met Tommy Rødningsby, but I feel that I have lost a good friend. My condolences to his family, and to the people of Norway.

I had no idea we had the Vikings on our side.

I had no idea we had the Vikings on our side.

We have the Mongols and the Romans. No news so far from the Corsicans or the Prussians.

We precuate all the good words about our fellowsoldier Tommy. Today we send him back home to his parents with a honourable "parade" at the airport. I will tell Tommys parents about all the good words around the world.

God bless!
John. The Norwegian chaplain in Afghanistan