Anders Fogh Rasmussen



Anders Fogh Rasmussen (born 26 January 1953) is a Danish politician of the centre-right Liberal party, Venstre, and the 12th and current Secretary General of NATO. Rasmussen served as Prime Minister of Denmark from November 27, 2001 to April 5, 2009. Rasmussen started his career as a classical liberal critic of the Nordic welfare state, although his views gradually moved to the political centre. As Prime Minister, he passed a freeze on Danish tax rates, reformed municipal governments, ratified the Lisbon Treaty, dealt with the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, and opposed the Iraq War. As General Secretary he oversaw NATO's expansion into Eastern Europe, its commitment to the War in Afghanistan, and its intervention in the 2011 Libyan civil war.

Quotes

 * Iraq has WMDs. It is not something we think, it is something we know. Iraq has itself admitted that it has had mustard gas, nerve gas, anthrax, but Saddam won't disclose. He won't tell us where and how these weapons have been destroyed. We know this from the UN inspectors, so there is no doubt in my mind.
 * In support of the Danish participation in the invasion of Iraq (2003)


 * That's what it's like when people have crawled very high up in a tree, then they sometimes need help to get down with ladders and ropes and other instruments.
 * On potential face-saving deals for Poland on the Lisbon Treaty (21 June 2007)


 * The good thing is that all the symbolic elements are gone, and that which really matters – the core – is left.
 * On the Lisbon Treaty, Jyllands-Posten,  25 June 2007


 * I was deeply distressed that the cartoons were seen by many Muslims as an attempt by Denmark to mark and insult or behave disrespectfully towards Islam or Mohammed.
 * In relation to the Danish cartoon affair (6 April 2009)


 * It could never happen in Denmark, Danish people are much more calm than those further south.
 * Asked about the killing of 4 protestors by the police in Albania during anti-government protests (7 February 2011)


 * I often use Sweden as a discouraging example to promte a free and open debate and maintain a strict immigration policy.
 * A. Fogh Rasmussen, in Sveriges Television 2016 program Toppmötet interviwed by Fredrik Reinfeldt, second episode. Youtube clip (in Danish).