Posted on 07/11/2006 5:03:17 AM PDT by Truth29
07/11/2006 | 10:17
Americans walk out after Speech by Icelandic Member of Althingi
Representatives of the United States walked out from a meeting of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly after Icelandic member of Althingi, Dagný Jónsdóttir, criticized how the US had notified Icelandic authorities that the American base in KeflavÃk would be closed.
Fréttabladid reports on the speech this morning. Dagný especially noted the short notice with which the American base would be closed. (On March 15 US deputy secretary of state, Nicholas Burns, had phoned the then Icelandic Foreign minister, Geir Haarde, and informed him that the US government had decided to pull its fighter jets and helicopter rescue squadron out of Iceland before October.
Previously talks had been conducted at the highest level between the Prime minister of Iceland and the President of the United States. Pundits in Iceland said: “At least they did not end it by sending an SMS.â€)
Dagný Jónsdóttir, member of the Progressive party of Minister of foreign affairs, Valgerdur Sverrisdóttir, said in her speech that in Iceland operating like that was not considered good manners, not least in light of the fact that Icelanders had been strong supporters and allies of the US through the years. Dagný said that she had previously taken the matter up in a committee meeting but then the US representatives had shown no reaction. “I pointed out the situation in security in the North-Atlantic Ocean after the US had left Icelandâ€, Dagný says in an interview with Fréttabladid.
In the final meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Dagný took the matter up again to reaction from the Russians, the Canadians, the British and Scandinavian representatives. Still there was no word from the US representatives. “I don’t know whether it was a coincidence but as soon as I finished my speech [the US representatives] walked out of the meeting room†Dagný Jónsdóttir said.
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Well, Althingi's considered....walking out was a good move.
Actually, Iceland is a fortress from which the North Atlantic can be controlled and attacked, and a major position for blocking the Soviets, er, Russkis from sending subs into the Atlantic trade lanes.
We're just not fighting, or preparing to fight, that particular war any more.
Are American communities treated any different concerning base closures or are they also left high and dry?
I guess our diplomats are expected to hang around for cake and coffee after getting verbally abused by every two-bit ingrate whose country we protect for free, allowing them to socialize their population and assure their party's reelection for generations.
And here I thought we were imperialist war mongers. They ought to be glad to be rid of us. Go figure.
What I remember about my stay in Iceland was the strong socialist and anti-American bent of the place. It was like Cuba North in some ways. There were constant protests against the US presence, nasty anti-US speeches in the Althing were so predictable you could set your watch by them.
This is more of the same. They would have complained regardless of how the notice was given.
Why did they tolerate us those many years? What are they losing now? A ton of money. If they feel vulnerable, they'll now have to field their own armed forces at their own cost. It's easy to be a pacifist and to rail at the big bad US for being such a warmongering bully when you don't have to pay a dime toward your own defense. As long as someone else is paying to keep the wolves at bay, you can indulge yourself in the vain fiction that the world would be a wonderful place if they were only as righteous, liberal, and pacifist as you (Iceland).
And Iceland's economy is largely based on fishing in rough, rough seas. They loved the free search and rescue courtesy of the US.
Not all Icelandics are anti-US. Many of them are truly wonderful people and stout allies who are very grateful for the contributions the US has made toward their security and prosperity. Unfortunately, they are discovering that this is what happens when the moonbat left gets what it prayed for.
Mark for later.
Mixed answer. There is a very public and time consuming process used to decide base closures in the US with much community involvement. However The final decision is made by the base closure commission with political/congressional input.
There is often an economic development plan to make use of what would become the former military real estate and assets, but some communities are unhappy and cannot replace all of the economic benefits of the closed bases. Others have gone on to new prosperity.
You don't have a clue.
Keflavik has been home to about 1,200 active-duty Air Force and Navy personnel, as well as four F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft. The United States spends about $260 million each year to maintain its military presence in Iceland.
Actually if she was your kid she would be Tijeras_Slimsdottir. LOL
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!
I lived in Iceland 69-71. I know better.
Only two F-15s? How many did we have back in the 80's?
We had a squadron of F-4s there when I was there. But the Navy presence (P3 Orions) was much larger.
Kef's was also a Navy communication station. I used to spend a lot of time tuned in to their LF and VLF broadcast.
VLF Annapolis and Anthorn (Scotland) shut down years ago. The reduction in message traffic combined with the shift in operational priorities and modern communications technology make things obsolete, unfortunately.
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