Newspapers Nordlys and Dagsavisen report that the outspoken general's apparent unwillingness to follow government policy means that the left-center majority alliance is now considering replacing him.
"Please remember that it is the Storting (Norway's parliament) and the government that makes decisions in this country," state secretary Espen Barth Eide at the Defense Ministry told Dagsavisen.
Eide refused to comment on Diesen's publicized remarks from Monday, when the Defense Chief blasted politicians for not financing the type of armed services that they had approved.
Dagsavisen reported further that there is political discontent with Diesen not informing political leaders before making his remarks. Diesen is also said to be viewed as being unwilling to assimilate clear policy signals from the government, in particular the government's desire to prioritize defense of Norway's northern territories.
Diesen also said Monday that the defense structure in the north should be scaled down, and Nordlys cited government sources as saying that it was now necessary to find someone else to fill Diesen's position.
Diesen was appointed for a four-year term by Kristin Krohn Devold, Defense Minister under the previous, center-right, government. The general's term expires in the spring of 2009, but he can be replaced by the new government.
