I think that we play into the hands of those who critisize the U.S.A. by giving their comments too much consideration. We know that we're a very generous people and we don't have to defend ourselves to anyone--especially those who owe their very existance to us (WWII).

You are probably right.

"How much has Norway donated to anything?"

- As mentioned in the WP article you linked up to, the Norwegian government donates each year 0,94 percent of their GNP. - A GNP which is about the same as that of the US per capita, - higher actually. Norway has a population of about 4,5 million people, which is about half of Ohio.

USA is only donating 0,14 of their GNP per year. Very little. It matches that of many of the poorer East European countries.

Sure, the Norwegians are also donating 'privately'. I have no statistics on this, but I would be supprised if not also the private donation of the Norwegians to human aid is larger than that of the US, GNP per capita compared.

So. Take the signal; 'you are stingy!'

A few other corrections:

- Norwegian taxes (which includes health care, pensions, kinder garten, education beond university etc. etc.) are low. Compared to what any American is paying for the same services.

What are you paying? And what do you get for that? Law and order...? Defence against terrorists...?

No. I don't think that most Americans are a heartless lot. You pay what you can afford.

This is from Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,142878,00.html)

'"We gave $2.4 billion last year; 40 percent of total contributions by all countries," said U.S. Agency for International Development (search) Administrator Andrew Natsios. "We are by far the largest donor � no one even comes close to us."

Well, aah-hum, a dollar is not what it used to be....

The sum mentioned is not more than 14 billion Norwegian kroners, - and rapidly falling. To comparison, only Norways governmental contribution to foreign aid is about 6 - 7 billion NOK. Sweden, a small nation of 9 million people contributes about the double of this. - And so on. So, only the contribution from two of the smallest nations in Europe is larger than than the US contribution....

We talk of 'governmental human aid to poor countries'. Not just 'donations'.

In this league, the European countries are the biggest contributors. By far.

You what what they say opinions are like. Here are some facts for you to study before you spout off any further.

It is also worth noting that with no need to provide for your own defense these last 50 years, it isn't surprising that you can get more for your tax money in the categories you mention. Your welcome.

"With no need to provide for your own defense these last 50 years, it isn't surprising that you can get more for your tax money in the categories you mention. Your welcome..."

- Norway's economical contribution to endless US weapons programs through the 50 years amounts to large sums too...

If you say so, we are supposed to believe? Show me the money. In the meantime, I will continue to value to opinions of Daniel Drezner over yours. I am sure you will understand.

Also, I wondor if disaster victims are more comforted with the smaller actuall dollar amounts they get from some countries, even though they represent a larger per capita giving rate. Or do you suppose that they prefer actuall dollars to good intentions?

Finally, I didn't notice mention of Norway sending its Navy over there with floating hospitals, power generating capabities, equipment for distributing aid, and thousands of abled bodied men and women. Must have missed it I guess. But I did run across this.

Yep, we are sooo stingy. Riiight. Let's see. How about the billions that our country has spent funding medical research that has produced life-saving medicines and procedures, which we give to third world countries for free, which save the lives of the children they know they shouldn't be having in the first place. How about the security and assistance our armed forces provide around the world, at our own expense. How about the info we provide freely to the rest of the world on agriculture and technology, info discovered by research we funded. How about the fact that many times when we try to help, we are rebuffed by the ridiculously ignorant people that populate so much of this troubled world. For example, when we tried to give out polio vaccines in Africa, the Muslim powers-that-be refused them because they said we were just trying to vaccinate their children with drugs that would sterilize them.Or the fact that we give so much to fund AIDS research and prevention, yet while Africa is crying out that we don't give enough, and that we may actually have started the epidemic ourselves, those same ignorant people are the ones spreading the disease like wildfire by rutting with wild abandon, thereby not only spreading AIDS but also making more kids they know they can't and won't care for, more mouths for the U.S. to step in and feed. Nobody seems to have enough guts to say that the ones that usually need foreign aid the most are exactly the same ones that absolutely refuse to take responsibility for their own actions and decisions. America has given freely for so long, and all we ever get in return is a bitten hand. And now we are starting to get really angry about it. Witness the customer-driven decision by Target to ban The Salvation Army from panhandling in front of their stores. Because at some point, the hard-working citizens of the world demand that people have to pay the price of bad decisions and irresponsible lifestyles. I'm all for giving whatever funding is needed to help the victims of natural disasters like the Tsunamis. But when ignorant Europeans shoot their mouths off about us not giving enough to starving children in Africa, I say they should instead be yelling at Africans, Asians, South Americans, etc. to stop screwing if they can't afford to pay for children. Sex is not a requirement, you know.

"How about the billions that our country has spent funding medical research that has produced life-saving medicines and procedures, which we give to third world countries for free..."

Ha, Ha! Do you read a newpaper now and then..?

If this was the case, HIV would not be a problem in, say, Africa. - Even in the US, - also hard hit by HIV.

What the 3. world need is fresh, unpoluted water. That will save millions more lives than any fancy cancer research.

"Because at some point, the hard-working citizens of the world demand that people have to pay the price of bad decisions and irresponsible lifestyles..."

Well put. Think of Soharto and his cohorts, helped to power by USA. Now the Indonesians have to pay the price of the 'bad decitions (loans) and the 'irresponsible lifestyles' of himself and his corrupt mafia family. Billions have dissappeared out in thin air. The people have to pay the bill.

The reason AIDS is so rampant is the same reason there is not enough clean water for the number of people on this planet, and also the same reason there are so many starving children in the world. Because men can't keep it in their pants. It sure isn't the women of Africa jumping the men's bodies for more sex all the time. Try the other way around. Same goes for South America and Asia, and even here. That is the main fundamental problem in this world, whether you can make yourself face it or not.

I am just watching a BBC report from Afganistan. A nation occupied by US troops. Typically, public health care is in ruins. 'It was much better during communist time', one vitness tells. - So was education for women and their juridical rights.

Advicers are warning Karsai (an ex. US oil company consultant) that insurgency (terrorists, in CNN language) will increase unless 'quality of life' of ordinary Afgans is not drastically improved. Fast! Conditions is definately worse compared to the times under Taliban, we are told. BBC is not bulshitting people. Like George Bush or CNN.

In Afganistan US is spending one billion dollars per month looking for the Saudi billionair Bin Laden who hides there. We are told. If so, - who knows, obviously with massive local help.

Isnt the conditions of ordinary Afgans now a US responsibility..?

Nope. We never would have invaded if those d***heads had handed over Osama when we asked them to. Just curious, are you even an American? If so, in which state do you live? You sound like one of those socialist pukes from Canada to me.

Tom is a troll or a moron or both. Citing the Baghdad Broadcasting Corp as a reliable source is the give away. Claiming that Afghan citizens are clamoring for the good old days of the Taliban cements it, especially his comments as they relate to the quality of life for women. Apparently his news outlet of choice failed to note the massive voter turnout in Afghanistan when they were finally allowed to vote for a leader for the first time in the history of that country.

True, Cowboy. It also appears as if english is not his first language. Vitness? Juridical? Fill us in, Tom. What are those things? lol. By the way, communist time? Were the Taliban a Communist regime? This is news to me. Were you by any chance home-schooled by Ted Kaczynski, Tom?

Lets not sound like a chat room you guys--don't shoot the messenger. What we're dealing with, more than anything else, is the "King of the Hill" syndrom--smaller, less effectual countries are very envious of the U.S. and it's power. Although there's lots of room for improvement, America has the best thing going on this planet and that makes us a prime target for criticism (even hatred) by less potent, begrudging nations. Mr. Egeland was premature with his "stingy" remark for certain, but more than that, he was wrong.

1) To Duckhead: I dont know why US (and Norwegian) troops stand in Afganistan. Except for seeing to that this ex US oil consultant is seccured the position as president. I dont know oil business that well to see the real motive. That it has nothing to do with 11/9, that I am sure of.

And: The election had nothing to do with democracy due to the frail security situation for the voters.

No. English is not my mother tongue. But I could communicate with you in German, Norwegian, Swedish of Danish. Whatever you prefer.

2)
To MTATOM: I have never heard of any King of the Hill-syndrom. It is for sure that we dont think that 'US has the best thing going on this planet'.

- European nations feel very comfortable about themselves and have economies that makes them feel 'potent' and would make Alan Greenspan even greener.

But I can assure you that Europeans are very worried about US democracy (or rather lack of it) and US agressive foreign policy. Which many thinks (in the last few years there has been major demonstrations in all the European cities, with more than 100.000 demonstrators in places like London, Paris, Rome etc.) is counter productive.

Further; Mr. Egeland's remarks was not premature. European (EU) nation's contribution to the sunami victims is now close to the double of that of the US, - which is more in-line with the Japanese contribution. Here we talk hard cash.

That said: I dont believe for a minute that Americans and Europeans are that much different.

Duckhead? Ha ha ha. What's the matter? Did the letter F fall off your keyboard? lol. I think the lutefisk has burned a hole in your brain pan. By the way, blondie, you can start thanking us any time now for the fact that you and the rest of your European kissin' cousins don't have to bow to Nazis and speak German. I love your uninformed, half-legible rants, based on what you hear from the left-leaning European media. I cordially invite you to shut your pie hole, since you don't live in this country and have no real clue what you are talking about. I think you are unclear on the concept of what an educated opinion is. Plus, and here's the bonus, it doesn't matter what Europeans think, not even a little bit. When you didn't want us to invade Iraq, and we did anyway, did you do anything to stop us? Did the U.N.? Nooo. Because you can't anyway, and would never dare to try. Whine all you want, we don't care. We don't have to. We're the United States, and we are your daddy. Why don't you get a hobby in which you are more skilled. Yodeling is good.

Æhum.. Sorry, it's supposed to be DUCKTHUNDER. Sorry, it wont happen again.

What and who to be thankful when it comes to the liberation from nazi occupation, it is best described by the words of one of the founding figures of the Italian democratic republic, Piero Calamandrei's words: 'Italians (Europeans) owe their regained freedom to the heroic resistance of the British in August 1940, miraculous victory of the Russians at Stalingrad and the crushing weight of the American armaments production'. I think that describes the situation for Norwegians too.

And the USA we were allied with back then was something totally different than the one we see today. The European Social Democrats, - socialists, actually, who have the majority of the seats in almost all the European countrie's parlaments and governs most of them, have Roosvelt's New Deal very much as a ideal still today. That is what the majority of the Europeans wants and it works excellently.

Further; Norwegians contributed quite much to their own liberation back in WWII. We had the world's largest merchant fleet which were put to the service of the Allied, - some 6000 Norwegian sailors lost their lives in the convoys. And we payed cash for all the weapons used by Norwegian forces. From Spitfires to destroyers bought in USA. Not even the British ever payed their weapons bill to the USA...

Those who saw facism close up back then look fearsome to the US administration of today, - like Guantanamo, rigged elections, police brutality, death row etc, etc.

Wonder who's gonna liberate you from facism some time in the future. You dont seem to be able to do it by yourselves.

Regarding Afganistan again:

Afgainistan had, for some short years just before and during the Soviet/Afgan war, a communist puppet government in Kabul. Afgan women, according to BBC, had it the best under this government (the commies dont suffer any relious hypocrits, - how could I agree more..). They got the same education and jobs as men, had the freedom to devorce etc.

Tragically, the Taliban won the bloody powerstruggle after Soviet pulled out. With the help of Pakistani Secret Service (led by the 'president' of Pakistan today,- then general) and reputedly; USA... Yet another totally counter-productive foreign policy act. You seem to stumble from one to the next, these days.

The conditions for the ordinary Afgan under the Taliban has been thoroughly described on CNN - and has not got any better under US-puppet rule according to BBC.

OK Tom. It sounds as though you are set in your views concerning the U.S. Perhaps we Americans do get envolved in matters that we shouldn't, but we also get envolved in things that save or defend countries from tyrannical, brutal despots--actions that have freed millions of people to lead themselves, or enabled them to return to their former lives. You certainly can't fault us for wanting to protect our own interrests--even your country does that.