Mary Wells | 10/18/2008 10:06 am

Iceland's Former NATO and US Air Force Base a Prize For Russia? That's The Rumor in London.

Iceland, Russia, United State, NATO, Air Force Base, Keflavik

Google Maps, wowOwow

Last night at a posh London dinner party, the Gypsy of wowOwow learned that the question circulating among the European cognoscenti concerns how the American press has missed the strategic implications of a possible Russian bail-out of financial basket case, Iceland.

Why the concern?

The presence of former United States Naval Air Station Keflavik on the southern tip of Iceland.

Decomissioned in 2006, this outpost was a strategic NATO and US base during and after the Cold War. Home to the the United States Air Force’s 85th Group, the Iceland Defense Force (NATO) and U.S. Naval Hospital Keflavik, the concern is that it could become a key strategic geo-political prize in any potential bail out by oil-producing and oligarch-riddled Russia.

Geopolitics being what they are…and one glance at the above Google Map helpfully provided to the American press by the Gypsy…should make the EU and NATO countries think twice about refusing to help out the Icelanders before the Russians lend a cold (war) hand.

Read more about: Air Force Base, Bail-Out, financial crisis, Iceland, London, NATO, News, Russia

48 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Looks like Iceland will be bailed out - the Price? Join the EU? The International Monetary Fund, along with a group of Nordic countries and Russia, is poised to announce a $6 billion rescue plan for Iceland, whose once-booming financial system collapse early this month. Iceland would receive about $1 billion in emergency cash from the monetary fund, and the balance of the $6 billion from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Russia, according to an official of the fund who asked not to be identified because the formal announcement had yet to be made. The plan for Iceland was the latest extraordinary rescue effort led by governments, central banks and multilateral institutions to address the global credit crisis and its fallout. So now everyone can relax about Iceland becoming Russia.

By Jennifer Dooley on 10/20/2008 3:08 pm

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Mary, My husband, son and I spent two years in Argentia, Newfoundland, in the mid seventies. The Americans shared a base with the Canadiens, and we often heard that Russian subs were detected in the bay. We were the ‘last outpost’ before American soil. We moved on to Lajes, Azores, Portugal, and we’ve since heard that Argentia closed in 1994. Now Maine is the ‘last……..well, I guess we don’t have one.’ Mary, I recently read an article about an ultra modern yacht, I believe owned by a Greek shipping tycoon. Have you seen this yacht? Personally, I find yours to be much more tasteful. Peace and grace

By beth willis on 10/20/2008 4:26 pm

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CLAMO, CLAMATIS, OMNES CLAMAMUS PRO GLACE LACTIS

By John G on 10/18/2008 3:36 pm

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duhhh? clams like ice cream?

By gulliver fourmyle on 10/18/2008 9:28 pm

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don’t we all

By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 10/19/2008 9:20 am

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my life has left me few opportunities to laugh—-thanks—-i think you understand—-

By gulliver fourmyle on 10/19/2008 6:46 pm

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Possibly I go for the light side too often, it is my way of getting past the hard times, but I would rather laugh than cry or be angry. But the way the world is going,if I stay in that thought pattern, I may laugh my head off.

By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 10/19/2008 8:38 pm

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laughter = long-life—-AND GO RAYS—-‘The Burg’ has always been a ‘secret-retreat’ of busted PTSD CEO’s, as i, the homeless, shattered Nam Vets—- but i’ve seen it rise to easily one of our Great cities—-i kinda liked it more, 10 years ago—-it was ‘funky-town’—-then billions poured in—-as Tampa had become a ‘little-Houston’—-the public transport is superb/affordable—-there are ‘senior-apartments’ only blocks from me where ya get a real i bedroom apt. for $150/month—-i choose to be closer to the incredable world-known museums and a safe night-life that throbs of both young and old—-cost a few hundred more—-but i don’t have worries on my trusty-beater Camry plopping—-and i’m 3 blocks from the Gulf—-Snook, Tarpon, sharks—-fishin’ heaven—- my only beef? Summer and bad Md.s—-and God help the fool w/o A/C—-apologies for this—-but The Rays whuppin’ Boston has us all fired-up—-

By gulliver fourmyle on 10/19/2008 11:49 pm

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Was happy to see the Ray of light last night, was starting to worry when it went to 7 games. My Mother lived in Tampa for many years, in a place called Carefree Village, til we got her to move over here where the rest of the family lives. We always enjoyed going there to visit. We get Summers here, maybe even worse, wonderful Dr’s, big city problems, but I love the place. My Astro’s don’t seem to win but love em anyhow. Wanted your Rays to be playing LA but since I’m originally from PA, Phillies are OK.

By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 10/20/2008 7:16 am

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VAH! DENUONE LATINE LOQUEBAR? ME INEPTUM. INTERDUM MODO ELABITUR.

By John G on 10/19/2008 9:44 am

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Iceland’s bluffing.

By Dr. Mark Klein on 10/18/2008 6:35 pm

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CAESAR SI VIVERET, AD REMUM DARERIS !

By sibelle daubigne on 10/18/2008 6:54 pm

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Translation for my answer to Dr KLEIN; “If Caesar were alive, you’d be chained to an oar” ( With due respect, Dr Klein is a personality on this site)

By sibelle daubigne on 10/19/2008 10:22 am

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No doubt true which is why I’m a big 1st Amendment fan!

By Dr. Mark Klein on 10/19/2008 10:37 am

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That reminds me Klein. How’s the market for you doing….? Fording and Oil Sands? Are they OK? What about Diana Shipping? Did you survive the crisis so far?

By Amelie Poulain on 10/20/2008 4:43 pm