E-MAIL THIS LINK
To: 

Norwegian special forces soldier killed in Afghanistan
Norway's second casualty and the first from their special forces. Rest well, sir.
The Norwegian Defense Ministry reported that the soldier was killed during an exchange of fire at around 9am Norwegian time, in Lowgar Province. The Norwegian patrol was on assignment along with Afghanistan's special forces when they came under fire, believed to be from rebel Taliban forces. Birgitte Frisch of the defense ministry said the units were working to prevent a terrorist attack on Kabul. She declined to reveal further details of their mission but one official said the patrol was "routine" and wasn't connected to any operations surrounding a group of South Koreans who have been kidnapped by the Taliban.

The casualty is the first among Norway's special forces in Afghanistan and the second among all soldiers taking part in ISAF operations. Another Norwegian soldier was killed while on patrol outside Kabul in 2004.

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg expressed "deep sorrow" after receiving word "that we have lost one of our soldiers in Afghanistan." Stoltenberg extended his "deepest sympathy" to the soldier's family and colleagues on behalf of the government. Defense Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen said the Norwegian special forces were making a "formidable contribution" to efforts to secure stability in Afghanistan and boost security.

"We have always known that this assignment was dangerous," she said, "but this loss nonetheless makes a deep impression."
Posted by: Seafarious 2007-07-25
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=194418