Teemu Leisti writes:
>cindy@solan10.solan.unit.no (Cynthia Kandolf) writes:
>
>> If he is interested in sports, however, i hope he has the sense to
>> stay away from Lillehammer in '94. After his behavior at King
Olav's
>> funeral, he can hardly expect a warm reception....
>
>Why, what did he do?
If i answer this question, will you guys all please please please
stop sending me e-mail about that post? (Except cool old stories
about King Olav, which are always welcome 8-)
Dan Q. was sent to represent the US at the funeral of King Olav,
who died in 1991. (A few hours before the air war portion of the
Gulf War began, actually.) Now, on the morning of the funeral, the
respresentatives and the mourners were all to walk from the Palace
to the Cathedral, in an open procession behind the casket. The
US State Department said they considered that a "high security risk"
and said Quayle would not be participating. So far, so good... he
would still be at the funeral, and the dinner for the heads of state
that evening.
Except that about two days before the funeral, the announcement came
that Quayle would be somewhat later than expected, because there was
"important business" that Quayle had to take care of at the time when
he was supposed to be leaving for Norway. That was the whole of his
announcement, no "I regret that..." or "my sincerest apologies" or
any of the usual phrases of courtesy. He seemed to think that if
he attended the dinner afterwards (which he did), his obligations were
fullfilled without some boring ceremony for a dead guy. (The US was
represented at the ceremony by the lovely and stylish Mrs. J.
Danforth. Hooray.)
Having now offended the population at large, he proceeded to be
a rather lousy representative for the US during his less than 24
hours in Norway. He simply failed to show up for two meetings that
had been arranged for him (with people from Germany and Finland,
i believe). While talking privately with Prime Minister Brundtland,
he mentioned that the US was satisfied with Norway's role in the
Gulf War. (For the record, Norway sent a hospital ship, and had
other units on stand-by, but was not willing to get involved
militarily unless Turkey was attacked, in which case NATO obligations
would require it.) He then went out to a brief press conference
during which he told the attending journalists that the US was
_NOT_ satisfied with Norway's role in the Gulf War.
>And has he really talked about "restoring democracy to Iceland?" (The
>country with the oldest parliament in the world.) Oh, Danny, Danny,
>Danny.
I haven't heard that one, but you can never know with this man...
All i can say is, as an American, i was very embarrassed when Quayle
came to town. Next time there's a funeral and George can't make it,
send Millie, please?
-Cindy Kandolf
cindy@solan.unit.no
Trondheim, Norway
(
geocities.com/hanson_c)