Swedish FM has died

[ps1074]

The story was just on CNN International. No link yet.

[Pert_UK]

1. BBC Link

"Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh has died in hospital one day after being stabbed several times by an unidentified man in the centre of Stockholm.

Lindh was attacked in a department store as she was shopping in the centre of the city on Wednesday.

She suffered wounds in the chest, stomach and arms in the attack and doctors had spent most of the night trying unsuccessfully to control her severe internal bleeding. "

Full article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3099106.stm

Rest in Peace.....I hope they get the fucker who did this.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. BBC Link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/world/europe/3099106.stm

BBC radio says Swedish leaders are meeting to discuss whether to postpone the euro referendum.

[KellyW]

3. What ? I already voted

And I voted no. It looked like the Euro vote was going down. How can they call off and election that has already begun ?

[oldshoe]

5. They will probably hold the referendum

as a demonstration that terror must not deter democracy. It's been a long campaign, and most people have heard all the arguments.

[LivingInTheBubble]

13. Terror?

Is every crime terror now?

[oldshoe]

4. I read Dagens Nyheter

Sweden's main paper this morning. The police were reported to say that the stabbing seem planned, and that the guy who did it knew what he was doing (ie, how to efficiently stab). He even walked away from the victim until someone shouted to grab him.

Anna Lindh has been a very prominent Social Democrat and was being talked about as a real candidate to becoming either Prime Minister or being one of the EU's top directors under its new constitution.

She was a wonderfully articulate, caring person and is survived by husband and two children. She did not have a body guard. Very few politicains use body guards as they still want to hope that such are a sign of social decay.

She has been campaigning for the introduction of the Euro as currency in replacement of the Kroner.

The killer has not been apprehended, although they have a description of the person. It is too early to tell if this was a political murder, or a nutcase with fringe political ideas, or none at all and just after a celebrity.

This follows the murder of Olaf Palme a decade and a half ago, he too without a body guard that day, and his murderer also unresolved.

The referendum on the Euro is this Sunday, and all campaigning from both sides has been suspended.

[grasswire]

6. google...

...the words "bush palme assassination" and see what you find. Plenty of people allege that Bush Sr. was involved.

[BiggJawn]

15. Why not? It's what Poppy does best...

"Assassinations 'R' Us"...:tinfoilhat:

[AP]

7. RW'ers don't want the Euro to pass, especially in the US.

A successful ECM is really going to fuck up America's plans for it's lazy, uncompetitive, monopolistic hegemony.

I'm sure there are lots of RWers who think they're being patriots and they're protecting America from decline by fucking up the economies of the rest of the worlds' regions. I think America is going to be a better place when it engages the rest of the world on a level playing field governed by the rule of law.

[KellyW]

8. But the Euro vote was losing badly

But the Euro vote was losing badly despite the backing of all the major parties ,left and right.

[AP]

11. I'm not saying the murder was meant to throw the vote

I'm just saying that RW'ers in the US fear a strong Euro and a strong Euro Market and will do their damndest to sabotage both.

[saigon68]

9. I was there 3 weeks ago in Malmo

In southern Sweden there are 3 currencies

Danish Kroner
Swedish Kroner
Euros

It is a mess-- it is also hard to believe that something like this could happen in such a progressive country.

[rjbcar27]

10. This vote is being closely watched in the UK.

At least by me anyway.

I'm still not convinced by the Euro, growth in Sweden and the UK is still well ahead of the eurozone.

Reports suggest that Sweden will vote No, but it ain't over until the fat lady sings.

[gottaB]

12. I'm so sad

I'll always remember her for telling the truth about George Bush and his stupid policies.

[DuctapeFatwa]

14. She was very critical of Israel's "policies"

Her assassination should come as no surprise.

[Lurking Dem]

24. Careful! You could be next!

Boo!

[papau]

16. Conspiracy - Olaf critical of Reagan-then Dead,- then Anna and Bush

Anna Lindh was a favorite of mine.

I liked the way she put down Bush as a pretend "Lone Ranger" and said neither he or his friend in Italy had the respect of other countries (she was blunt but not as blunt as my phrasing - but then I am nor running for office) - in any case the "Lone Ranger" quote is her's and I liked it!

Now Olaf Plame - the PM - was critical of Reagan, and was killed in 1986, and no murderer every convicted (they blamed a Kurd at first, then a fellow's drug deal mistake look liked the drug dealer trial was overturned on appeal, so no prison time/conviction)

And Now Anna was critical of Bush, and she is dead and after stabbing her a dozen times in a public aisle of a large store, the "tall" fellow disappears - I suspect never to be caught.

Now who is charge of conspiracy theories at DU?

[amberdisc]

28. A report on Finnish news says

no tapes in the security cameras.

[MaineDem]

17. BBC said the vote will go on

Anna will be missed.

Yesterday's reports said the injuries weren't life-threatening. I was surprise to hear this morning that she had dies. RIP, Anna.

[MaineDem]

22. Sorry I can't edit

I tried to go back and correct my grammar but I can't. Oops.

[smirkymonkey]

26. I thought it was strange as well...

something smells like pickled herring in this situation..

[Ripley]

18. CNN said yesterday she had minor stab wounds.

That were not life threatening.

And she is dead today. Kind of reminds me of the stories about our soldiers, except we never hear about the next day consequences.

[hang a left]

21. yes i remember that as well

hearing that she had only been stabbed in the arms. And by the way what the hell is wrong with conspiracy theories?

[mithnanthy]

27. After the recent bombing of the UN high official..

It was also reported that he was still trapped inside the building and was only slightly injured and didn't have life threatening injuries. Then he was dead.

[tabasco]

19. What a wonderful democracy

In which senior politicians are not constantly surrounded by security squads. I hope this terrible crime does not cause the Swedes to change the tradition of staying in touch with the people.

[muriel_volestrangler]

25. Lindh spoke out against close police protection

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/12/1063268526658.html

"We must defend this special little political environment we have - that we don't have blue lights and sirens like they do in other countries," she said in a recent interview, re-broadcast by Swedish television hours after her death was announced.

Like other Swedish politicians, she valued proximity to voters highly, and could not imagine doing her job with a massive security apparatus getting in the way.

[ixion]

20. condolences to her family, and to Sweden... she was a great lady...

"She dubbed U.S. President George W. Bush a "lone ranger" for going to war in Iraq. She criticized Italy's current EU presidency, saying Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi did not enjoy wide support. "
-- CNN story

[CBHagman]

23. Terribly sad news.

My condolences to her family and the people of Sweden. We in the U.S. mourn her as well.

[travisleit01]

29. Absolutely...

I didn't know of her before this, but am terribly sad at this news. What is happening with the world??

[Nottingham]

30. How can the News say her Stabbing wasn't Politically motivated

:bounce: She is a Politician for heaven sakes and then if it isn't tell us why you think it isn't

I smell a rat here :bounce: It sounds like very Powerful men want the European Union to go and if you oppose it your in trouble!

:bounce: :tinfoilhat:

[PartyPooper]

31. Deep and sincere condolences to her family.

I understand that she left 2 sons behind. This is so sad.

:-(

[Nottingham]

32. Excuse me! This Prime Minister was ASSASINATED!

Get aload of this

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=62df7553c77af602

In his press conference, Mr Persson spoke for the country when he said: "The deed against her damages the society we have built here, and that we still want to live in. It hurts the trust in our society, so it’s important we get to the bottom of this attack."

"He meant finding the murderer - something Sweden’s police conspicuously failed to do when Mr Palme was assassinated.

And in what seems to be an act of monumental incompetence, they have so far produced no CCTV coverage of the latest killer. Someone who stabbed a cabinet minister in the middle of a department store was able to run down the stairs, covered in blood, into a busy shopping street at 4pm and get away.

All Sweden’s police have produced is a baseball cap and a pair of jeans. They forgot to ask for the underground trains to be stopped; they did not even radio officers in the area.

The internet site of Sweden’s most popular newspaper had a poll asking whether the police are likely to catch the murderer. The "no" side were winning there as well: 59 per cent believe that the murderer can walk into a department store, kill a minister, then return home. "

There is a chance that Sweden will turn now and vote to be in the European Union now


We live in scary times people! :bounce:

[frank frankly]

33. scary times, indeed

I've never experienced anything like these last 3 years, and I agree with Dr. Krugman's column today--its going to get worse.

Hang on, everybody.
Hang on.

[Nottingham]

34. I really believe this Woman was assasinated

The European Union is a very powerful Union!

:bounce: