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In return, the Norwegian government angered liberals and some moderates in its parliament last November by passing the Supplementary Defense Cooperation Agreement (SDCA). Under the new deal, the U.S. legal system would have jurisdiction in certain “agreed areas” in the North over American soldiers accused of crimes off base, as well as over those Norwegian citizens accused or suspected of interfering with the work at the base.-->

In return, the Norwegian government angered liberals and some moderates in its parliament last November by passing the Supplementary Defense Cooperation Agreement (SDCA). Under the new deal, the U.S. legal system would have jurisdiction in certain “agreed areas” in the North over American soldiers accused of crimes off base, as well as over those Norwegian citizens accused or suspected of interfering with the work at the base.-->

Norway was one of the original signatories of the NATO Treaty in 1949, in the early days of the [[Cold War]]. Today, the supreme commander of NATO is Jens Stoltenberg, a committed anti-communist, who served as Norway’s [[prime minister]] for eight years before moving to his high NATO post, with American backing, in 2014. He was a hardliner on all things Putin and Russia who had cooperated with the American intelligence community since the [[Vietnam War]]. He has been trusted completely since. “He is the glove that fits the American hand,” a source directly familiar with the matter said.<ref>https://scheerpost.com/2023/02/08/how-america-took-out-the-nord-stream-pipeline/</ref>

Norway was one of the original signatories of the NATO Treaty in 1949, in the early days of the [[Cold War]]. Today, the supreme commander of NATO is Jens Stoltenberg, a committed anti-communist, who served as Norway's [[prime minister]] for eight years before moving to his high NATO post, with American backing, in 2014. He was a hardliner on all things Putin and Russia who had cooperated with the American intelligence community since the [[Vietnam War]]. He has been trusted completely since. “He is the glove that fits the American hand,” a source directly familiar with the matter said.<ref>https://scheerpost.com/2023/02/08/how-america-took-out-the-nord-stream-pipeline/</ref>

Back in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]], planners knew they had to go to Norway. “They [[Russophobia|hated the Russians]], and the Norwegian navy was full of superb sailors and divers who had generations of experience in highly [[profit]]able deep-sea oil and gas exploration,” the source said. They also could be trusted to keep the mission secret. (The Norwegians may have had other interests as well. The destruction of [[Nord Stream]]—if the Americans could pull it off—would allow Norway to sell vastly more of its own [[natural gas]] to [[Europe]].)

Back in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]], planners knew they had to go to Norway. “They [[Russophobia|hated the Russians]], and the Norwegian navy was full of superb sailors and divers who had generations of experience in highly [[profit]]able deep-sea oil and gas exploration,” the source said. They also could be trusted to keep the mission secret. (The Norwegians may have had other interests as well. The destruction of [[Nord Stream]]—if the Americans could pull it off—would allow Norway to sell vastly more of its own [[natural gas]] to [[Europe]].)

On September 26, 2022, a Navy P8 surveillance plane made a seemingly routine flight. Three of the four pipelines were put out of commission. Within a few minutes, pools of [[methane gas]] that remained in the shuttered pipelines could be seen spreading on the water’s surface and the world learned that something irreversible had taken place.

On September 26, 2022, a Navy P8 surveillance plane made a seemingly routine flight. Three of the four pipelines were put out of commission. Within a few minutes, pools of [[methane gas]] that remained in the shuttered pipelines could be seen spreading on the water's surface and the world learned that something irreversible had taken place.

Asked at a press conference days later about the consequences of the worsening energy crisis in Western Europe, [[Biden regime]] foreign minister [[Antony Blinken]] described the moment as a potentially good one:

Asked at a press conference days later about the consequences of the worsening energy crisis in Western Europe, [[Biden regime]] foreign minister [[Antony Blinken]] described the moment as a potentially good one:

===Medieval Norway===

===Medieval Norway===

Inside Norway the Middle Ages were a time of political turmoil. Harald Fairhair's throne was fought over for nearly a century bloody civil wars among kings and earls, pagans and Christians, and between Norwegians and Danes. Olav II (reigned 1016-1028) briefly united Norway and introduced Christianity. He was killed in 1030 by rebel nobles who had allied themselves with Denmark. After his death Olav was hailed almost at once as a national saint; he was canonized in 1154. Trondheim cathedral was founded in his honor, and his family regained and kept the throne after a brief period of Danish rule (1028-1035).

Inside Norway the Middle Ages were a time of political turmoil. Harald Fairhair's throne was fought over for nearly a century bloody civil wars among kings and earls, pagans and Christians, and between Norwegians and Danes. Olav II (reigned 1016–1028) briefly united Norway and introduced Christianity. He was killed in 1030 by rebel nobles who had allied themselves with Denmark. After his death Olav was hailed almost at once as a national saint; he was canonized in 1154. Trondheim cathedral was founded in his honor, and his family regained and kept the throne after a brief period of Danish rule (1028-1035).

English Christian missionaries had a major impact; their monasteries became the owners of large estates. The Viking traditions died out, surviving in the carvings on the new churches of dragons and other pagan symbols. Harald Hardraade (Hard Ruler) was the last Norwegian king to claim England (1066), but he was killed in England. In 1170 the papacy made Trondheim the seat of an archbishop, with five suffragan bishops in Norway and six in the western islands, Iceland, and Greenland. Norway became the ecclesiastical center for the widely dispersed Norse peoples.

English Christian missionaries had a major impact; their monasteries became the owners of large estates. The Viking traditions died out, surviving in the carvings on the new churches of dragons and other pagan symbols. Harald Hardraade (Hard Ruler) was the last Norwegian king to claim England (1066), but he was killed in England. In 1170 the papacy made Trondheim the seat of an archbishop, with five suffragan bishops in Norway and six in the western islands, Iceland, and Greenland. Norway became the ecclesiastical center for the widely dispersed Norse peoples.

===World War II===

===World War II===

Norway tried and failed to be neutral during [[World War I]], but was invaded by the Germans in 1940<ref>François Kersaudy, ''Norway 1940'' (1991). 272 pp.</ref> and ruled by traitors, led by Quisling.  The king and the government escaped to Britain in 1940, serving as symbolic leader of a nation under occupation by the Nazis.  In 1940-45, sharp jokes about the occupiers circulated widely among Norwegians. The jokes contained contempt for the oppressors, ridicule of Nazi ideology, depictions of the cruelty of Nazi methods, and mockery of the inflated self-image of the Germans. All of the jokes served to boost morale, educate Norwegians about the occupation, and encourage a sense of solidarity.<ref>Kathleen Stokker, "Heil Hitler - God Save the King: Jokes and the Norwegian Resistance 1940-1945." ''Western Folklore'' 1991 50(2): 171-190.</ref>  

Norway tried and failed to be neutral during [[World War I]], but was invaded by the Germans in 1940<ref>François Kersaudy, ''Norway 1940'' (1991). 272 pp.</ref> and ruled by traitors, led by Quisling.  The king and the government escaped to Britain in 1940, serving as symbolic leader of a nation under occupation by the Nazis.  In 1940–45, sharp jokes about the occupiers circulated widely among Norwegians. The jokes contained contempt for the oppressors, ridicule of Nazi ideology, depictions of the cruelty of Nazi methods, and mockery of the inflated self-image of the Germans. All of the jokes served to boost morale, educate Norwegians about the occupation, and encourage a sense of solidarity.<ref>Kathleen Stokker, "Heil Hitler - God Save the King: Jokes and the Norwegian Resistance 1940-1945." ''Western Folklore'' 1991 50(2): 171-190.</ref>  

===Postwar===

===Postwar===

* Gjelsvik, Tore. ''Norwegian Resistance, 1940-1945.'' (1979). 224 pp.

* Gjelsvik, Tore. ''Norwegian Resistance, 1940-1945.'' (1979). 224 pp.

* Gran, Thorvald. ''The State in the Modernization Process: The Case of Norway, 1850-1970.'' Oslo: Ad Notam Gyldendal, 1994. 415 pp.

* Gran, Thorvald. ''The State in the Modernization Process: The Case of Norway, 1850-1970.'' Oslo: Ad Notam Gyldendal, 1994. 415 pp.

* Greve, Tim. ''Haakon VII of Norway: The Man and the Monarch.'' (1983). 212 pp.; he reigned 1905-57.

* Greve, Tim. ''Haakon VII of Norway: The Man and the Monarch.'' (1983). 212 pp.; he reigned 1905–57.

* Haywood, John. ''The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings''  (1995) [https://www.amazon.com/Penguin-Historical-Atlas-Vikings-Hist/dp/0140513280/ref=pd_sim_dbs_b_2 excerpt and text search]

* Haywood, John. ''The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings''  (1995) [https://www.amazon.com/Penguin-Historical-Atlas-Vikings-Hist/dp/0140513280/ref=pd_sim_dbs_b_2 excerpt and text search]

* Hovde, B. J. ''The Scandinavian Countries, 1720-1865: The Rise of the Middle Classes'' (1948) [http://www.questia.com/read/23307473?title=The%20Scandinavian%20Countries%2c%201720-1865%3a%20The%20Rise%20of%20the%20Middle%20Classes%20-%20Vol.%201 online edition]

* Hovde, B. J. ''The Scandinavian Countries, 1720-1865: The Rise of the Middle Classes'' (1948) [http://www.questia.com/read/23307473?title=The%20Scandinavian%20Countries%2c%201720-1865%3a%20The%20Rise%20of%20the%20Middle%20Classes%20-%20Vol.%201 online edition]