Icelandic Vikings They'll have to upgrade their military defenses.
Posted on 07/22/2006 1:11:16 PM PDT by Mobile Vulgus
The Telegraph newspaper apparently cannot believe that America is gauche enough to take it upon itself to evaluate its own distribution of military forces in the world. How DARE the USA think that, in this era of unrest in the Mid East and terrorism, it can do what it wants to do with its own military!
In an article by David Rennie titled American pullout leaves Iceland defenceless, America is reported as "tactless" for its need to reevaluate keeping forces in Iceland, forces that were originally posted there for fighting the Cold War.
Apparently, many in Iceland, not to mention the offices of the Telegraph, have not caught up to the news that the Cold War is over.
In a classic example of ingratitude for years of free service, Iceland is all aghast over the United States' decision that its armed forces are best stationed in other places in the world than the land of ice.
As a result, according to the Telegraph, the USA is being nasty to the good people of Iceland.
"The United States, which had assured Iceland's defence for decades, stunned the country in March when it announced that it would be closing its bases on the island, withdrawing its F-15 fighters and thousands of servicemen in the space of just six months.How DARE those evil Americans!This bombshell was dropped in a single telephone call from an underling at the State Department, followed by a letter from the US ambassador."
Apparently the Telegraph found at least one Icelander that agrees with them that America is just being a big poopyhead. Björn Bjarnason, the minister for justice and ecclesiastical affairs, who oversees the coastguard and police, is not very happy.
"The situation could one day require the 'tactless' Americans to be invited back, Mr Bjarnason thinks."Well, THAT cinches it. We need to double the U.S. military presence. We don’t want to be thought of as jerks by ol' Björn, do we?
Kind of crazy to judge iceland on one word from one guy.
I don't see where The Telegraph says anything against America.
It's just about the money.
Germany made that point when the Schroeder regime was making noises about not supporting US policies. When force strengths in Germany was to be re-evaluated, the tune changed. The loss of money to the Germany economy would have been considerable; likewise Iceland.
Mount Athos - I was stationed in Iceland. Most Icelanders think it is America's duty to defend them. They would rather spend their taxes on social programs than the defense of their nation. Their call not ours.
When I went on vacation in Iceland, every tour guide spoke about how grateful the people of Iceland were for the Americans and the Marshall Plan. After the navy used Iceland's fjords to keep their warships during WWII, the military showed the Icelanders how to use their abundant supply of water for hydroelectricity. This is how they heat their homes and keep the sidewalks free of ice in Reyjavec. Then through the Marshall Plan theys started building homes and building up the population. Iceland also didn't join the European Union so they had control over who settled in their country. You have to pass a proficiency exam in Icelandic and have a job and sponsor to live there. The Icelanders were worried about the effect of the military base closure on their economy but the many we ran into understood why the US military would pull out. I don't know what the author of that article was smoking but we were there 3 years ago and the Icelanders knew the base was closing. It wasn't a surprise. Icelanders like Americans except the ones that don't understand their culture and leave tips in restaurants.
Bad, BAD USA thinking it has control over its OWN military!!
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Yeah, for a second there, I thought this was something right out of the United Nations!!!!
If they any problems after we're gone, they can always call Sportacus...
...correct....the Dept of Defense has already done a great job closing bases in the U.S. and wrecking economies here, so Iceland.....you are screwed..........
>>In an article by David Rennie titled American pullout leaves Iceland defenceless, America is reported as "tactless" for its need to reevaluate keeping forces in Iceland, forces that were originally posted there for fighting the Cold War.<<
This is cunfusing on several levels
1. I thought it was mainly a rescue station, not a war station.
2. I thought the pullout was more to do with a disagreement with Iceland than us no longer needing a rescue station in the north Atlantic and certainly didn't have anything to with defense.
JMO, but the more allies we can have, the better. If we can afford it, we need to have some type of base there. We may need there help someday.
They are upset that they are going to lose a lot of income and be forced to go back to chewing on whale blubber rather than enjoying Big Macs.
Well if what was said was factually correct and the people were surprised then that is a bombshell.
Maybe in "American" a bombshell is negative but in British English slang it is a neutral term:
All the quotes were from Icelandic ministers so blame them. I mean - you don't think the Telegraph are anti-American pinkos do you? :D
This is much about nothing. The US Military draw down started during the Clinton administration when a squadron of F15 fighters was reduced to only 4 F15's. The US will still have an agreement to defend Iceland via NATO. NATO will be as close as the UK which is only 500 miles out. I don't think Icelanders are that surprised by a US pull out. But they are going to miss AFRTS and the base nite life.
"We don’t want to be thought of as jerks by ol' Björn, do we?"
Well,,, I guess Bjorn thinks we're bjerks then!
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