Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12530 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AORC ASEC AF AR AM AS AEMR ASEAN AJ AFFAIRS AFIN AMGT AODE APEC AE ABLD ACBAQ APECO AFSI AFSN AY AO AU ABUD ADPM AG ACOA ANET AINF AC APER AMED ATRN ADCO ARF AL ASIG ASCH AID ASUP AADP AMCHAMS AGAO AIT AMBASSADOR AUC AA ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE AMG AFU AN ALOW ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG ACS APCS ADANA AECL ACAO AORG AGR AROC ACABQ AGMT AORL AX AMEX ADM AFGHANISTAN AZ AND ARM AQ ATFN
BR BK BL BA BO BRUSSELS BM BEXP BU BD BG BP BB BF BTIO BBSR BY BH BIDEN BX BE BTIU BT BWC BMGT BC BN BILAT
CA CVIS CO CS CJAN CU CARICOM CI CB CASC CE CH CN CONDOLEEZZA CMGT CW CODEL CWC CT CBW CPAS CFED CG CACS CY CAN CSW CIDA CIC CITT CONS CM CD CLINTON CDG COM CDC CROS CLMT CAPC COPUOS CTR CF CJUS CL CR CARSON CHR CACM CDB COE CV CBC COUNTERTERRORISM CIA CNARC COUNTER CICTE COUNTRY CBSA CEUDA CAC CBE CTM CIS CKGR CVR CITEL CLEARANCE
DR DISENGAGEMENT DE DJ DA DOMESTIC DEA DOD DTRA DOE DS DEFENSE DO DHS DAO DCM DEAX DK DPRK DEPT
ETTC ECON EWWT EC EMIN ETRD EINV EAID EG EFIN EAGR ENRG EIND EPET EUN ECPS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENIV ENGR ECIN ELTN EAIR EI EFIS ECUN EU ELAB EN EFTA ENGY ECONOMICS ET ES ETRDEINVTINTCS EFINECONCS ELECTIONS EIAR EZ EINDETRD EINT EUR EREL EUC ER ESENV ELN ECONEFIN EK EPA EURN EAIG ECONCS EEPET ESA ENNP EDU EUREM ENVR ECA ENVI EXIM ECIP ENERG EFIM EAIDS ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH EINVETC ECONOMIC EINVECONSENVCSJA EUMEM ETRA EXTERNAL ERNG ETRC ETRO ETRN EINVEFIN ECINECONCS ERD ETC EAP ECONOMY EINN EXBS
FI FR FTAA FAC FOI FJ FM FREEDOM FMLN FAO FTA FDA FARC FBI FO FISO FOR FOREIGN FAS FINR FINANCE
GG GM GZ GAZA GH GR GOI GANGS GV GCC GY GT GAERC GERARD GA GE GOV GTIP GLOBAL GTMO GL GF
HK HR HA HURI HO HUMAN HU HSTC HILLARY HYMPSK HUMOR HEBRON HI
IN IAEA IR IS IT IMF IBRD IZ IC IWC ISRAELI INTERPOL ICAO IO ITRA ILO ISLAMISTS ITALY ITALIAN IRAQI IPR IQ IV IRS IAHRC IACI ID INRB ICTY IL ICRC IMO ICJ ITU ILC IIP IRC IDP IDA IZPREL IRAJ IA ITF IF INMARSAT ISRAEL ICTR IGAD INRA INRO IEFIN INTELSAT INTERNAL INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV IBET INR IEA
JA JP JM JO JAMES JOSEPH JOHN JOHNNIE JUS
KPAO KMDR KISL KNNP KRVC KDEM KCRM KPAL KTIA KV KCOR KJUS KOMC KTFN KWBG KTIP KSCA KMPI KSUM KIRF KIRC KE KZ KIPR KWMN KFRD KSEP KN KAWC KOLY KCFE KPKO KIDE KMRS KFLU KSAF KS KGIC KRAD KU KHLS KCIP KOCI KSTH KG KGHG KUNR KR KVPR KBTR KRIM KREC KTDB KDRG KSPR KICC KAWK KMCA KPLS KCOM KAID KGCC KPRP KSTC KNSD KBIO KGIT KSEO KFLO KPAONZ KFSC KOM KRGY KPOA KACT KHIV KTEX KLIG KBCT KWMM KPAI KICA KNAR KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KHDP KHUM KBTS KCRS KHSA KO KVIR KX KVRP KMOC KNUC KSEC KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCMR KPWR KPIN KESS KDEV KCGC KWWMN KPRV KPAK KWNM KWMNCS KRFD KSCI KDDG KIFR KMFO KFIN KNEI KTER KWAC KOMS KCRCM KNUP KMIG KNNPMNUC KNPP KERG KTLA KCSY KTRD KID KSAC KJUST KRCM KTBT KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN KDEMAF
LY LTTE LE LH LU LO LI LG LA LT LABOR LAB LOG
MARR MOPS MG MASS MW MIL MX MNUC MTCRE MCAP MAS MO MTCR MU MRCRE MY MD MK MP MAPP MR MT MCC MZ MIK MTRE ML MDC MAR MA MQADHAFI MASC MV MAPS MARAD MEETINGS MEDIA MEPP MPOS MILITARY MASSMNUC MEPN MI MC MUCN MERCOSUR MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPI
NZ NL NI NU NATO NO NPT NE NRR NA NR NATIONAL NIPP NDP NPA NG NAFTA NT NS NK NGO NP NASA NAR NSF NV NORAD NSSP NH NATOPREL NSG NW NPG NSFO NEW NZUS NSC NC
OTRA OPRC OIIP OAS OPDC OVIP OEXC OPIC OECD OSCE OPCW OREP OFFICIALS ODIP OES OSCI OHUM OMIG OFDP OVP OCII OPAD OIC OIE OCS OBSP OTR OSAC ON OFDA
PHUM PREL PINR PARM PGOV PM PTER PREF PA PHSA PK POL PINS PBTS PL PE PFOR PALESTINIAN PUNE PDOV PGOVLO PAO POLITICS PO PHUMBA PSEPC PAK PTBS PCUL PLN PROP PRL PBIO PGOC PNAT PREO PAHO PINL POGOV PU PF PY POV PNR PGOVE PG PROG PCI PREFA PP PMIL POLINT PGGV PHALANAGE PARTY PHUS PDEM PECON PROV PSOE PAS PHUMPREL PMAR PGIV PRAM PHUH PSA PHUMPGOV PEL PSI PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS PARMS POLICY PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PGOF PKFK PEPR PPA PINT PRELP PINF PNG
QA
RS RU RICE RW RM RCMP RO RIGHTS RUPREL RFE RF ROOD RP REACTION RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RELATIONS RSO REPORT REGION RSP
SCUL SOCI SNAR SENV SY SR SU SO SP SA SZ SF SMIG SPCE SW SIPDIS SYR SHI STEINBERG SN SL SNARIZ SG SNARN SEVN SARS SSA SC SIPRS SYRIA SNARCS SAARC SHUM SK SI SPCVIS SOFA SANC SEN SH SCRS SENVKGHG SWE SAN ST
TPHY TW TU TBIO TRGY TSPA TX TN TSPL TL TV TC TZ TS TF TNGD TI TIP TH TINT TT TFIN TD TP TAGS TK TR TERRORISM THPY TO TRSY TURKEY TBID
UK UP US UNSC UNHCR USEU UNGA UG UNESCO UY UN UNMIK USTR USOAS UNHRC UZ USUN UV UNEP UNODC UNCHS UNDP UNCHR UNFICYP UNAUS UNO UNPUOS UNC UNIDROIT UNDESCO UNCHC UNCND UNICEF UNCSD UNDC USNC USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE
VT VM VE VZ VN VTPREL VTIZ VAT VC VTEG VI
WI WMD WHO WTRO WIPO WHA WTO WFP WS WTRQ WWARD WBG WITH WMO WEU WZ WHTI WA WB
XM XR XZ XF XA XB XV XL XG XC XTAG XK XY XH XT XE XU XX XD XW XI XQ XS
YM YI YE YMCS
ZB ZI ZA ZK ZF ZU ZR ZP ZANU ZO ZOELLICK ZL ZJ ZEALAND ZN

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 06REYKJAVIK210, Iceland Appoints First Female Foreign Minister;

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06REYKJAVIK210.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06REYKJAVIK210 | 2006-06-13 07:47 | 2011-01-13 05:37 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Reykjavik

`

    VZCZCXYZ0001
    OO RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHRK #0210/01 1640747
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    O 130747Z JUN 06
    FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK
    TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2824

` `

    UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000210

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE, SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR IC
    SUBJECT:  Iceland Appoints First Female Foreign Minister;
    Incoming PM Geir Haarde Will Continue to Lead Defense Talks

    REF:  Reykjavik 196

    ¶1. (U) Summary:  Outgoing PM Asgrimsson and incoming PM
    Haarde announced 6/10 results of their talks regarding a new
    Icelandic cabinet to take office 6/15: current Minister of
    Industry and Commerce Valgerdur Sverrisdottir, an
    international relations neophyte, will become Foreign
    Minister. Haarde will, however, continue as Iceland's
    highest official conducting defense negotiations with the
    U.S. Both Haarde and Sverrisdottir will meet with the NATO
    Secretary General during the latter's planned 6/15 visit to

    SIPDIS
    Iceland.  End summary.

    -----------------------
    We have the envelope...
    -----------------------
    ¶2. (U) The leaders of Iceland's Independence Party (IP) and
    Progressive Party (PP) coalition government announced June
    10 their decisions regarding a cabinet reshuffle.  Prime
    Minister Halldor Asgrimsson's and Foreign Minister Geir
    Haarde joint statement culminated a week of intense intra-
    governmental lobbying and media and civil service
    speculation about potential fall-out from Asgrimsson's June
    5 resignation announcement (reftel).  On June 15 FM Haarde
    will become the new Prime Minister, while Valgerdur
    Sverrisdottir (PP) will become the Republic's first female
    Minister for Foreign Affairs.  The IP gives up one
    ministerial seat -- the Ministry for the Environment -- to
    the PP, thus reverting to the original coalition agreement
    forged after 2003 parliamentary elections regarding equal
    division of ministries between the two parties.

    ----------------------
    And the winners are...
    ----------------------
    ¶3. (U) As of June 15 the Icelandic Ministerial line-up will
    be as follows:

    Prime Minister--Geir H. Haarde (IP)
    Foreign Minister-- Valgerdur Sverrisdottir (PP)
    Minister of Finance--Arni M. Mathiesen (IP)
    Minister of Justice--Bjorn Bjarnason (IP)
    Minister of Agriculture--Gudni Agustsson (PP)
    Minister of Communications--Sturla Bodvarsson (IP)
    Minister of Fisheries--Einar Kristinn Gudfinnson (IP)
    Minister for the Environment and Nordic Cooperation-Jonina
    Bjartmarz (PP and first-time minister)
    Minister of Industry and Commerce--Jon Sigurdsson (PP and
    first-time minister)
    Minister of Health and Social Security--Siv Fridleifsdottir
    (PP)
    Minister of Social Affairs--Magnus Stefansson (PP and first-
    time minister)
    Minister of Education, Science and Culture--Thorgerdur
    Katrin Gunnarsdottir (IP)

    ¶4. (SBU) Sverrisdottir has been a member of parliament since
    1987 (and alternate member 1984-1987); and Minister of
    Industry and Commerce since 1999, as well as Minister for
    Nordic Co-operation 2004-2005. As Minister she has been a
    tireless advocate for Iceland's increased industrialization.
    Among government bureaucrats she has established a solid
    reputation for being serious, hardworking, competent, and
    committed to the government's highly successful economic
    liberalization process.

    ¶5. (U) In the face of vocal opposition from
    environmentalists Sverrisdottir has strongly backed efforts
    by Alcoa and Century Aluminum of the U.S. to establish and
    expand their production facilities in Iceland. Her strong
    advocacy for the aluminum projects has slowly eroded her
    popularity, and in a recent Gallup poll she ranked only
    seventh of the 12 ministers in popularity. Protesters at a
    march organized by environmentalists for municipal election
    day, May 27, carried signs that read, "Drown Valgerdur - Not
    the Highlands."  Sverrisdottir later filed a police
    complaint alleging that the slogans amounted to an
    incitement of violence against herself and her three
    daughters.

    ¶6.  (SBU) As Minister of Industry and Commerce Sverrisdottir
    dabbled little in foreign affairs - and aside from language
    studies she has no relevant academic background for the job.
    She speaks halting, though passable, English.  Perhaps
    because she lacks confidence as a diplomat, or perhaps as
    part of an inter-party deal that won her the prestigious
    post, Sverrisdottir announced June 11 that she would leave
    defense negotiations to Haarde.  She also disavowed any
    interest in the PP chairmanship.

    --------------
    NATO SYG Visit
    --------------

    ¶7. (SBU) NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is
    scheduled to meet June 15 with high-level Icelandic
    officials, to include Sverrisdottir and Haarde.  While
    Sverrisdottir will presumably have her hands full just
    coming to grips with an unfamiliar portfolio, Haarde will
    doubtless use the meeting to press for Alliance support for
    a "robust and visible" defense for Iceland.

    ¶8. (SBU) Comment:  The choice of Sverrisdottir, while
    unforeseen by pundits (who favored IP stalwarts more
    experienced in foreign affairs), is win-win-win for the
    Progressives:

    -- They will control the country's second most powerful
    ministry and the patronage that comes with it (not
    insignificant for a party struggling to hold on to
    membership).

    -- By making the argument that continuity is important, they
    leave the loser (as it now appears from a GOI perspective)
    defense portfolio to Haarde and the IP.

    -- After an era in which Asgrimsson was seen as promoting
    loyal young men over more qualified women, the PP will now
    get the credit for finally breaking through the socially
    conservative MFA's glass ceiling.

    In terms of U.S. interests, this appointment is also a boon,
    as in her performance at Commerce and Industry Sverrisdottir
    has demonstrated sympathy for U.S.-Icelandic business
    interests and vision in advancing them.  End comment.

    van Voorst

`