NORWAY – SECOND UPDATE – AT 9:16 P.M. ET:  Norwegian authorities are now suggesting that today's terror attacks were the work of one man acting alone – setting off the bomb in Oslo, then traveling to the youth camp and opening fire on kids.  He is described as a 32-year-old Norwegian.

Obviously, this is an initial report.  It could very well turn out to be true, and we are prepared to accept that if the evidence is there.  So far, we haven't seen any evidence.  Who is he?  What does he believe?  Where would he have gotten the expertise to build so large and sophisticated a bomb?  A number of reports say that he traveled to the island where he murdered those kids by ferry, carrying guns, apparently in a package of some kind.  But reports quoting authorities also say that explosives were found on the island.  Was he carrying these, too?  Must have been a big package.

We learned from British sources today that the United States has been intensely frustrated with Norway's casual attitude toward terror, especially true of its current goofball left-wing government.  Just a day before the attacks, Norway's foreign minister advocated opening talks with Al Qaeda in Somalia.  There is no end to the Norwegian government's willingness to talk to anyone, with no result.

With a policy background like that, a finding that the terror attacks were the work of a lone killer is ideal.  No terrorist connection.  No complications with the Muslim world.  No nasty stuff about local fascist groups to drive away tourists.  Already the attacks are being called Norway's "Oklahoma City."  You know, a homegrown nutbag.

But I've always felt that the Oklahoma City investigation was itself a bit too convenient.  Some enterprising reporters found very odd connections, they claimed, between the convicted Oklahoma City bombers and foreign elements.  But the reports were disparaged by Washington. 

We will wait for the Norwegian investigation.  The press over there is the standard, garden-variety left-wing type, so don't hold your breath for any tough questions.  But I hope that some energetic international journalists will shadow the probe and do their own investigating.  I don't go for conspiracy theories, but I will describe myself as skeptical that one man could pull off two sophisticated attacks in the same day, using a well-designed car bomb.  The methods he used – the car bomb, dressing in a policeman's uniform – fit in very well with the methods used by terror groups in a number of Mideast and Asian countries.

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July 22, 2011