Opinion
Norway’s intelligence failure
Boaz Ganor
Published: 24.07.11, 13:50
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
25 Talkbacks for this article
1. Inteligence failure
Marianne ,   Norway   (07.24.11)
First of all Boaz, I am a big fan of your work! However what do think that the police in Norway should have done to prevent this attack, which as you say and it apears to be, started and ended in his own head! Yet we cant go into people's head, and as Norwegians dont want a militaristic society like Israel (have lived there 5 years) there are not so many options in my head, thats why I ask you for specific suggestions. So to say that this is an inteligence failure is to me to take it too far, unfortunaltely as long as evil people exist in the world terror will happen...
2. Marianne is wrong to call Israel "militaristic"
DavidM ,   USA   (07.24.11)
Marianne (#1) is wrong when she terms Israel a "militaristic" society. Militaristic societies do not have a vibrant free press, independent judiciary, and mass demonstrations against government policy that are tolerated and protected by the police. The IDF does not interfere with freedom of expression.If Marianne want to see a militaristic society I suggest a trip to Syria.
3. Who wants to live in a police state?
(07.24.11)
A society where you are 'safe', but under permanent control and with little freedom. Me not.
4. My heart goes out to Norway!!!
Michael Rosenbaum ,   Israel   (07.24.11)
these is no time for asking questions!!! i hope anybody won't suffer what we here get to suffer....
5. Norway
Debbie ,   Israel   (07.24.11)
For the life of me, I can't understand why people who live in the most beautiful country, are so full of hatred and bitterness. The children at the camp were demonstrating against Israel (shame on the parentsand leaders f-for teaching their children this rubbish), and the killer was full of hatred for whom? For Muslems, Jews, Left wing, Norwegians, and who else? The neo-Nazi movement is thriving in Norway, and anti semitism is at a peak. Why don't parents in Norway teach their children to love and respect others? And to Marianne, who claims that Israel is a militaristic society, Israel has no choice in the world but to defend itself in order to keep anti semites from once again murdering 6 million of its people. If Israel were surrounded by Finland, Sweden and Denmark, Israelis would also have the luxury of not being "militaristic", just as you do in beautiful peaceful Norway. Further I raised my children in Israel and there is no better place in the world to raise children. They're free and proud, and aren't dependent on the good will of countries like Norway, and others, to pat them on the head for good behavior. What's amazing to me is how good the life is in Israel, how full of joy and optimism the people are, and how the children go from nursery age right through school, without learning any bitterness or hatred, for the other side, who has caused so much death and suffering on the Israeli side. It seems to me that you are on the outside looking in, and don't really understand anything about Israeli society. You may have lived here for 5 years, but I've also lived in other countries, without really understanding the mentality or culture of the people.
6. Standard Operating Procedure in Europe
Steve from Raleigh   (07.24.11)
Is to do nothing at all and hope that it doesn't happen soon again in Norway.
7. The chickens have come home to roost
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (07.24.11)
Obviously, the Norwegians have sustained a horrible wake-up call. Am I sympathetic? Yeah, partly. The bigger part, however, feels smug. This is what Norway gets for bashing Israel on every possible occasion. This is what Norway gets for its incredible state-sponsored anti-Semitism. Now they know how we feel. The difference, of course, is that for Norway, this is probably a one-off. For Israel -- we live and have to defeat this kind of terror every single day of our lives. Perhaps Norway should stop feeling so sorry for itself. One off. Every day. Do the math.
8. In Norway people are very, very angry
Moshe ,   Netanya   (07.24.11)
It does not mean they shout like in Israel. They are soft spoken anarchists. As everywhere in EU and Israel, threre is no free press at all. But anarchists are rather patriotic, and they concentrate on hate for Jews, capitalism (for them the same as Jews) and love for good old Germany of the 30s. People are indoctrinated from the early age, and you thought that it was in China 40 years ago. Indoctrination does NOT go like in China with force.
9. You Can't Give Norway Lessons?
Salma ,   Palestine   (07.24.11)
"Israel’s" intelligence failure is well known : )
10. EXCUSE ME
mike caton ,   usa   (07.24.11)
Excuse me, I don't understand how one can really call Norway a democratic country. It has de facto, only one political party--the Labor Party. This party runs indoctrination camps for its youth.IN the USA, , UK Franc Holland, for example, such a thing would be unthinkable. It was the common practice however, in the former Soviet Union.
11. So sad - the loss of freedom
Barbara ,   Haifa Israel   (07.24.11)
Sad that in this global economic recession that countries need to find the necessary budget to finance security because of terrorists. Terrorism is an expensive commodity. But yes, we see that this expense must be provided otherwise human lives are at stake.
12. security
Jessmo ,   ISRAEL-Sweden   (07.24.11)
Scandinavia is waking up to a new reality Maybe you should start guarding your kindergardens and schools with armed security personnel as we have to do in Israel to protect our loved ones from our neighbors that just don't want us to excist.
13. If "the writer is a head" of anything other than va'ad
tom ,   tel aviv   (07.24.11)
ha bayit we should be worried in deed! Arab terror for 40 years has not produced much "change" in global attitude (unless grabbing womens boobies counts as anti-terror measure) but now ho-ho: one loony Nordic twit and the Change is a-comin'!!?? Get real& get a Coke....
14. This is no Intelligence failure !.
Arn. ,   Sweden.   (07.24.11)
You cant detekt the thoughts and plannings of only One Individual. However - There is a solution to such things as theese. Turn to HASHEM the whole Nation. Of cause this is a Punishment from HIM because HE allowed it. Norway as well as Sweden should as Nations and Peoples turn to GOD otherwise it will become worse. Arn.Sweden.
15. To Boaz Ganor
R ,   Israel   (07.25.11)
I don't understand why you called this an intelligence failure and then proceded to describe the role of intelligence and types of terror attacks. While that is interesting info, it doesn't show how this was a result of failed intelligence. What were the warnings that were missed?
16. Tom from Ground Control
Jerry   (07.25.11)
Grab a life and hold on reality. The world has changed completely since the days anyone including arab terrorists can go on commercial flights with knives as will.
17. my comment censored while Sarah B hands out candy
phil ,   the free world   (07.25.11)
I cannot understand why Ynet posts such a hate-filled comment by Sarah B yet refuses to publish my response She says she feels smug about the killings and "this is what Norway gets for bashing Israel" I fail to see how Norway "deserves" to have tens of children shot down in cold blood.. Pehaps you will publish this, or do you only post racist vitriol on this site?
18. Sarah
Simon ,   Israel   (07.25.11)
You are one sick creature. Shame.
19. Can't support terrorism and supress it at the same time
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (07.25.11)
The Norwegian government supports Hamas terrorists against Israel. Apparently believing that there are 'good terrorists'. It is way past time that the KGB claim that 'one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter' be denounced as a fraud. One man's terrorist is everybody's terrorist.
20. Something Not Being Told
World Citizen ,   the world   (07.25.11)
And that is that the suspect hated Muslims and loved Israel. He frequently blogged about this on-line and in journals. The youth camp had just completed a rally for the BDS movement. Norway backs the declaration of a Palestinian state in September. Interesting points to consider.
21. Norway
Debbie ,   Israel   (07.25.11)
TO GEE, That's absolutely right: One man's terrorist is everybody's terrorist. Norway, as well as Scandanavia, and almost all other European countries, support Hamas, Fatah, Hizbollah, and other terrorist groups, claiming that Israel is to blame because of the ""occupation."" However, this was an absolute outrage, and I'm not sure how it could have been prevented. There are crazies in all societies. I cry thinking about those poor kids, going off to have a good time at camp, and running into this monster. I cry for their parents. I'm not sure, however, what business they had carrying signs against Israel, who exactly is teaching them this rubbish, and why, and how does it benefit Norway or its people to be against Israel, and on the side of evil.
22. the killer is pro zioinst
Yafa ,   Palestine   (07.25.11)
are you proud?
23. Posters 17 & 18: You may not like what
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Canada   (07.25.11)
Sarah B. has to write but Shadenfreude is a term used to describe what many of us feel. No country has been as smug as Norway. The people and the state of Norway despise the state of Israel and also the Jewish people (generalization). They establish youth camps for Palestinian Arab youths (see Maan News) where they can associate with Norwegian youths who also hate our state as well as the Jewish people. Norway recognizes Hamas and has no compunction about this alliance in spite of the havoc which Hamas has created on our own state (in the south) as well as amongst its own opposition. Norway is in bed with terrorists. Now Norwegians must open their eyes to the fact that they have terrorists, other than Muslims, in their own backyard while we, in Israel, have dealt with terrorist threats for generations. So, berating Sarah B. for her honest, if distasteful, comment, does not pass muster. And let's not forget, this is the same Norway which several generations ago invited the Nazis into their country under the authority of Mr. Quisling. In spite of internal resistance, Norway remained an outcast nation then and, as far as I'm concerned, remains so now.
24. Yafa #22 No we aren't
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (07.26.11)
We are not proud of murders, that we leave to Arabs. We do not honor war criminals that too is an Arab trait. We do not claim any deranged people as our representatives, that too is yet another Arab trait. Perhaps you should look to your own actions.
25. Quisling
iselin ,   Oslo, Norway   (07.31.11)
Re: #23. I think you should get your facts straight. Look up Quisling on Wikipedia. Quisling's political party never got much more than 2% of votes. After the German invasion April 9, 1940, Quisling asked for Hitler's support for a coup (is that what you mean by invitation? That was at any rate after the invasion). This was a personal request, not on behalf of the government or the people, whose support he never enjoyed, otherwise he wouldn’t have needed a coup. The king and government refused to transfer power or acknowledge anything other than the Norwegian government in exile in London. The Norwegian people resisted, and even the German occupational government marginalized him when they realized how unpopular he was. By 1942, he wasn’t even allowed to write personal letters to Hitler! After the war, Quisling was executed by firing squad. His name was first used as a synonym for traitor by the London Times on April 15, 1940, and it still is. Any Quislings left in Norway changed their name long ago. His former home is now the Holocaust Museum.
Back to article