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| Europe |
| US military set to quit Iceland |
| 2006-09-27 |
| The US has reached agreement with Iceland on how to end its military presence in the country. The US Navy is due to leave the island by the end of this month, ending a military presence dating back to 1951. The Keflavik naval and air base played a key role in the Cold War, monitoring Soviet submarines and housing aircraft that could be sent to destroy them. The US says that a new era - in which it is fighting a "war on terror" - means Keflavik is no longer needed. The Pentagon has now agreed the final details of the base's closure, which has been under way since March. As Iceland has no army of its own, it will become one of the few countries with no military presence at all. The US says it will not be left unprotected, however. A spokesman insisted the pull-out would not affect the US commitment to defend Iceland as a Nato ally. "In the height of the Cold War, this was the place to be to protect against Soviet submarines. And we were successful and the [Keflavik] team had a great deal to do with that," said Rear Adm Noel Preston, the navy's European region commander, in a ceremony earlier this month. "Now the world has changed, and we are facing a war on terrorism. We are changing how we plan and prepare for this war. But what will not change is our friendship and partnership with Iceland." |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #23 50 aircraft over all that area doesn't sound like a big deal, prolly some kind of communications test, or attempt to pick up other reaction frequencies or radar. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-09-27 23:10 |
| #22 JERUSALEM POST/JPOST.com > RUSSIAN AIRFORCE to use approxi 50 bomber aircraft [BEARS-BACKFIRES-BLACKJACKS? combos]in AF tests-AirEx's over the Artic, Pacific, Atlantic, Black + Caspian Seas. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-09-27 22:28 |
| #21 An aquaintance of mine from the Lab (LBNL) was from Iceland. Earned her doctorate in accelerator physics while here and returned to Iceland shortly thereafter to accept a position with the government. She was gorgeous, vivacious, outgoing, and very attractive. Did I say she was attractive (I forget when I'm thinking about here)? She was legendary for the dance outfits she would wear up to the lab at nights when she was going out partying, but had to check on an experiment or something. Unfortunately I never had the guts to ask her out for a beer myself. |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2006-09-27 22:19 |
| #20 Let's not forget the Rrhea sisters Dia and Gono! |
| Posted by: Texas Redneck 2006-09-27 21:16 |
| #19 bah! Richard Cranium and a couple hundred other fake names were in the classic National Lampoon High School Yearbook parody in the early seventies. I still have my first edition copy. Famous for the twin sisters, Connie and Anna Lingus |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-09-27 20:56 |
| #18 I invented the name Richard Cranium 20 years ago, but - alas - did not copyright it. Think about it - a four-letter nickname for Richard and another four-letter word for a cranium..... |
| Posted by: Bobby 2006-09-27 20:28 |
| #17 My tax man was an Air Force reservist for 30+ years, and an F-106 pilot. He pulled quite a few 2-week assignments to Iceland. He also has an Icelandic wife - one of very few. Remember, it was the British and Americans that took over Iceland in 1942, to keep the place from possibly falling into the hands of the Germans (plus giving us a base from which to place another part of the Atlantic under aerial surveillance. The Icelanders had no say in that decision, and it rankled. It wasn't until after they joined NATO that they had much say over military activities in the country. They have a right to be a bit stand-offish. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2006-09-27 19:26 |
| #16 Richard Cranium her's a questio for you. What crawled up your ass? I suppose you are British by the way you act like a snotty asshole. By the way they prob like good teth too so i guess i got you in that dept. |
| Posted by: sinse 2006-09-27 17:05 |
| #15 (an Americans-only curfew was in place for decades) Yes, many decades. It was much more than a simple curfew. Study it further, (with an open mind - considering their roots) you'll understand their motivation and reasoning. For the gritty flipside, have a look at Malmo Sweden, Paris or The Hague today. They keep to themselves, threaten no one either verbally or otherwise. I respect that. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-09-27 16:36 |
| #14 ..The Icelanders did not like the US one tiny little bit - everyone I ever knew who was stationed there said that the hostility was only barely disguised and tempered solely by the fact that we were giving them huge chunks of money for the privlege. If you need proof of how much we were disliked (an Americans-only curfew was in place for decades)simply consider this: Everybody has seen American troops come home with wives from the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, Panama, Korea, and the Phillipines. Has anybody ever seen an Icelandic wife? Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2006-09-27 16:28 |
| #13 Ah, yes. Björk = Iceland. You know just how much influence a nation has on the world when you can only think of one 'famous' person from there. At least, she's the only one I can think of..... |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-09-27 15:29 |
| #12 In return, will Iceland take Björk back? |
| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2006-09-27 15:10 |
| #11 Good bye and thanks for all the fish. |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-09-27 14:55 |
| #10 Wouldn't it be wise to keep a force there for preparations for the landing to take back Britainistan ? |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-09-27 14:06 |
| #9 F-15s and P-3s in Iceland don't have a whole lot to do these days. The F-15s would come in handy in the ME, and the P-3s could be better used patrolling the Straits of Hormuz. |
| Posted by: Mike 2006-09-27 12:52 |
| #8 Hima meanie sinse; pae hem know mind |
| Posted by: 6 2006-09-27 12:52 |
| #7 i wouldn't mind being assigne there if all the women are a spretty as what i have seen so far They sure are pretty, and talented too! But, alas, they only go for guys that can spell, capitalize and punctuate! I guess that leaves you out! Sorry mate. Oh, I forgot, being able to construct a complete sentence is also helpful. |
| Posted by: Richard Cranium 2006-09-27 11:03 |
| #6 We never even got the cheap hot water ! |
| Posted by: J.D. Lux 2006-09-27 10:51 |
| #5 Can we finally admit the occupation of Iceland was a complete failure? I blame Bush. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-09-27 10:48 |
| #4 Great another retreat to the forces of Jihad without a shot fired. |
| Posted by: danking_70 2006-09-27 10:36 |
| #3 Rascists society. Heavy restrictions for most of the time our people were there on 'mixing' with the locals. Another example of how long it takes the Generals and Admirals to give up overseas outposts long after their missions have been overtaken by events. |
| Posted by: Glerong Unock6380 2006-09-27 10:36 |
| #2 i wouldn't mind being assigne there if all the women are a spretty as what i have seen so far |
| Posted by: sinse 2006-09-27 09:59 |
| #1 you are on your own, kids. You can stop complaining about mean old Uncle Sam and take care of yourselves now. Via con Dios. |
| Posted by: anon 2006-09-27 09:13 |