– It is quite obvious that if the culture is about sweeping problems under the rug, then we have a defense with a weakened defense capability, says former lieutenant general Robert Mood to news. In recent weeks, news has presented several cases of warnings in the Armed Forces. – I am a little surprised that the Armed Forces has apparently not come any further. I recognize the discussion from 10-15 years back. It is about long-term value work. It’s about taking things seriously, it’s about handling alerts and I thought we had come further, says Mood. Punished for raising the problem The stories of Kristine Solhaug and Lieutenant Colonel Line Svingen have aroused debate and attention after news’s revelations. In 2009, Svingen was removed from his position as squadron commander. The Armed Forces has admitted that Svingen was deposed on a failing basis, and the case ended with the Armed Forces having to give her an unreserved apology. Line Svingen is Norway’s first female helicopter pilot. Photo: Tomm W. Christiansen / news – If we take the Line Svingen case, then she is actually describing a culture where the problems are pushed under the rug. You are rewarded for pushing problems under the rug, then you move up the hierarchy. You are punished if you bring the problem to the table, says Mood and continues: – And at the end of that culture, if it is a culture, then you get a defense that will not perform if they are put to the test. Sweeping the problem under the rug There have been a record number of warnings after news’s revelations. – This is a crisis for me, it is a crisis for the Armed Forces. We have to clean this up, that’s how we can not have it in the Armed Forces, said Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen earlier this week. The Minister of Defense, Eirik Kristoffersen, has reviewed the warnings he is sitting on and has found a possible case worthy of criticism from 2018. Photo: Oyvind Bye Skille / Oyvind Bye Skille The former lieutenant general believes Kristoffersen is making a good effort, but that he needs more support. Mood also believes that the Ministry of Defense must move more away from detailed management, to support the Chief of Defense in his efforts to clean up the warnings that have come in. – The Ministry of Defense has for many years pushed problems under the rug and painted the defense capability. Well-known problems such as thin staffing, poor endurance, lack of air defense and far too few vessels and units are sold externally as “a strong defense that can defend the country”, says Mood. Robert Mood believes that the Ministry of Defense has for many years swept problems under the rug. Photo: André Børke / André Børke On the other hand, he believes that the truth is that we have a marginal defense without the ability to defend the country, and without the ability to ensure reception of the reinforcements we will need early in crisis and conflict. news has been in contact with the Ministry of Defense, which does not wish to comment on the case.
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Former general believes the Armed Forces rewards sweeping problems under the rug – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
