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It is my understanding that we left Iceland completely just a few weeks ago. We wanted them to upgrade the base some and they said no, so we said goodbye.

I wonder if they are rethinking their decision now?

There are a number of articles posted on FR about the Keflavik negotiations. What was reported was our unilateral decision to redeploy and close the Keflavik base even after Iceland offered to pay for the cost of operating the base and to start to develop a defense capability to take over operations. We said that the world and our defense needs had changed and we did not need to station forces in Iceland anymore. I have never heard about any request on our part to upgrade the base.

Negotiations ended abruptly when a lower level US State Department official called the Iceland government and informed them that negotiations were over and that we were leaving. This decision and the method of announcement has weakened the US oriented governing coalition and will help the leftists campaign to win the next election in 2007.