Anti-war Slogans: Ingen Krig i Irak

Picture yourself amidst a throng of chanting protestors. Men, women, even children bear boldly lettered placards, thrusting them into the winter air as they march. Here and there in the crowd, a demonstrator circulates with a ballpoint pen, collecting signatures against military interference in Iraq. Earnest voices call out anti-war slogans, criticizing the Bush administration and admonishing the Norwegian government to take a stand for peace. Norway is, after all, the home of the Nobel Peace Prize.

On February 15th more than 100,000 Norwegians across the country took to the streets to demonstrate their commitment to working toward international peace. Oslo saw at least 60,000 demonstrators; over 40 other major towns, including Bergen and Stavanger also saw an enthusiastic turn-out. Even Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik joined the 1,500 protestors in Skien.

As with numerous other demonstrators across the world, many Norwegian peace activists see the proposed US war on Iraq as a thinly disguised move toward American imperialism. Though Norwegians voiced strong objections to comedian Otto Jespersen’s burning of the American Flag during his “Thursday Club” television program, seeing anti-American sentiment as going overboard, they are nevertheless uneasy about the agenda held by President Bush’s administration. Just look at their slogans, many of which express a deep-seated suspicion of US intentions in the Middle East and beyond:

”Nei til imperialistisk krig”
(No to imperialist war.)

”Nei til krig mot Irak. Serbia, Afghanistan, Irak. Hvem er neste?”
(No to war against Iraq. Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq. Who’s next?)

”Globaliser kampen mot imperialismen.”
(Global war against imperialism)

”Stopp USA-imperialismen, NKU krever: Norge ut av krigen mot Afghanistan - hent F-16 flya hjem. Ingen norsk deltakelse i Irak. Norge ut av Nato. Solidaritet med verdens undertrykte.”
(Stop USA imperialism. NKU wants: Norway out of the war against Afghanistan – bring the F-16 home. No Norwegian participation in Iraq. Norway out of Nato. Solidarity with the world’s oppressed.)

Some take up the cry that is already well-known across the world – “Ingen krig i Irak – ingen krig i vårt navn!” (No war in Iraq – not in our name!), flagging the poised soldiers and breathless civilians who wait as unwilling pawns in a schoolyard game of political posturing.

Though Prime Minister Bondevik is hopeful for a peaceful resolution, some demonstrators remained critical of what they considered to be a weak response to the conflict. Carrying posters that featured a picture of the prime minister with Mickey Mouse ears and the slogan “Mann eller mus?” (Man or mouse?), protestors questioned his willingness to take a stand against US action in a possible war.

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