" We will not force the US to maintain its military presence"

Icelanders will not force the US to maintain its military presence should they wish withdraw said prime minister Halldór Ásgrímsson at a meeting of the central committee of the Progressive Party Friday night.

According to the Icleandic National Broadcasting Service, Halldór said that the US needed to speak clearly and take the initiative on Iceland's defenses. He said that Icelanders would not tolerate the status quo. He plans closer cooperation with the European nations. He said he was not hopeful that a solution regarding the defense issues would be found in the coming months.

The prime minister said it was unacceptable that the agreement on Iceland's defenses had taken five years and was still not concluded. He said that the current US proposals mean in effect that Iceland would pay not only the operation of Keflavík airport but also the defenses.

Actually Mr. untrained skeptic, I do not think these ideas of mine are actually talked about. I can understand your reservations, when you put it in this way, maybe I did not think it through, as I would newer dream of doing anything against the US (at least if it keeps beeing a free democraty). But I know the many leftists could hinder the US using the base greatly if they could, so to do that I guess the US would have to pay more for runing the base. So I do not understand why the agreement talks have stalled, unless you are preparing to leave altogether, wich they have claimed not to, as the pretext of this discussions is continuing the joint agreement from 1951.

I would like them to do more to teach us to defend ourselfs, even though our participation could never bee anything else than supportive, it could make people more realistic in this country without armed forces. Actually we have a police and coast guard I beliewe could take more part in and responsibility for defenses, but that would have to be in cooperation with you guys, and within a favorible policy here of course.

I want to thank the others for kind words, those responsible for them. And to the others I would like to point to my previous post. Best wishes from Iceland,

Leifur

I'd also suggest that decision making in the US at the moment is focused on the Middle East and Asia. Any long term strategic decisions for other geographic areas are likely on hold until the world situation becomes clearer. The US should be supportive of other countries with similar philosophies and, in general, is so. I'd say to hang in there, find out who in the US military and gov't have similar interests and keep talking and pointing out the advantages of maintaining an appropriate presence in Iceland. Best of luck.

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