'He Should Respect the Monarchy'

Boy, do those Norwegians need a wake-up call. Sure, they give some meaningless peace prize to Barack Obama. So what do they expect? Some reciprocity? Some thanks? Hah! Don't they realize they don't matter? They've served their role as useful idiots, so just shut up and bow down to The Obama. Besides, he's getting a bit self-conscious over bowing to royalty, in case you haven't heard.

Barack Obama's trip to Oslo to pick up his Nobel peace award is in danger of being overshadowed by a row over cancellation of a series of events normally attended by the prize-winner.

Norwegians are incensed over what they view as his shabby response to the prize by cutting short his visit.

The White House has cancelled many of the events peace prize laureates traditionally submit to, including a dinner with the Norwegian Nobel Committee, a press conference, a television interview, appearances at a children's event promoting peace, a music concert, as well as a visit to an exhibition in his honour at the Nobel Peace Centre.

What has also annoyed them is that Obama is snubbing a lunch invitation from the King of Norway. According to a poll published today by the daily VG, 44% of Norwegians believe it was rude of Obama to cancel his scheduled lunch with King Harald, with only 34% saying they believe it was acceptable.

"Of all the things he is cancelling, I think the worst is cancelling the lunch with the King," said Siv Jensen, the leader of the largest party in opposition, the populist Progress party. "This is a central part of our government system. He should respect the monarchy," she told VG.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the peace prize, dismissed the criticism. "We always knew that there were too many events in the programme. Obama has to govern the US and we were told early on that he could not commit to all of them," said Geir Lundestad, the secretary of the committee.

Although Obama will not lunch with King Harald, he will see him on a visit to the Royal Palace. Peace activists opposed to the Afghanistan war are planning a 5,000-strong protest in Oslo and have put up posters round the capital, reprising his famous campaign poster but altered to "Change?"

The visit will test Obama's rhetorical skills. He will seek to reconcile acceptance of the Nobel peace prize with sending an extra 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan. Obama, intent on minimising any embarrassment, is cutting short his trip, a move viewed as a snub by many Norwegians.

How can it test his rhetorical skills? TOTUS accompanies Obama everywhere, so have no fear, his soaring oratory will be on display and just for that alone the Norwegians should be thankful.

That king of theirs should get over it. Maybe Obama will give him an iPod with The Best of Obama loaded on it.

Meanwhile, other "peace activists" are descending on Oslo to protest, not that Obama will pay them any mind.

Spitzer Rules Out Norway as Vacation Destination

I always thought those Scandinavian countries were a little more free-wheeling.

Guess not.

The Norwegian government proposed on Friday to fine or jail clients of prostitutes for up to six months in a bid to stamp out human trafficking, and said the law would also apply to its citizens abroad.

Norway signalled in mid-2007 that it would make it a criminal offence to buy services from prostitutes, following the example of Scandinavian neighbour Sweden which introduced a similar ban in 1999.

The amendment will now be put to parliament for approval and if passed will take effect in January 2008, officials said.

"People are not merchandise, and criminalising the purchase of sexual services will make it less attractive for human traffickers to look to Norway," Justice Minister Knut Storberget said in a statement.

Prostitution is allowed in Norway although procuring, or "pimping," is illegal. A rise in street prostitution in the capital, Oslo, in recent years has triggered calls for a ban.

Proponents of the measure say it makes sense to try to stop prostitution by punishing those who use the service rather than the women themselves, who are often poor, young immigrants.