Up yours, Iceland. (And you, too, Iran?)

[Stinky The Clown]

Rumsfeld's Five Sided Fortress-on-the-Potomac has announced they are withdrawing US forces from Iceland. This in the face of a 1951 pact we signed - and which remains valid - to provide for Iceland's security. So, while it is true that Iceland is not of any particular strategic importance to us anymore, we just think its time to ignore them.

The base has a measley four jets and a few helicopters. Largely, they provide Iceland with some air-sea rescue capabiltiies. I mean, how much does it cost us to keep this base?

But oh no. We can't honor treaties with friends that are in force but no longer suit us. Better we take that base down and recall the troops. So they can go to ......... ?

You listening, Iran?

Uncle Sam wants YOU!

U.S. to withdraw troops from Iceland

Updated Thu. Mar. 16 2006 12:49 PM ET

Associated Press

REYKJAVIK, Iceland — The United States, which has long provided Iceland with its only military force, has decided to withdraw most of its service members and all of its fighter jets and helicopters from the country later this year, the U.S. ambassador said Thursday. Iceland's government, which had recently offered to pay some of the cost of its defense to try to keep U.S. forces here, said it regretted the decision.

In an interview with The Associated Press, U.S. Ambassador Carol van Voorst said she and Nicholas Burns, the U.S. under secretary of state, had told Prime Minister Haldor Asgrimsson and Foreign Minister Geir H. Haarde of the unilateral decision on Wednesday. But Washington also said it would continue to honor its 1951 agreement with Iceland requiring the United States, under the auspices of NATO, to provide this country's defense. U.S. and Icelandic officials were to hold talks about how that will be done, Van Voorst said.

"Icelandic authorities regret this decision by the United States government," Haarde said in a statement Wednesday.

In it, he informed Icelanders that the four U.S. jet fighters and several U.S. helicopters used in search-and-rescue missions would leave by the end of September.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060316/iceland_troops_060316/20060316?hub=World