Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12559 / 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 2011/05/12 2011/05/13

### 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
AR AF ASEC AMBASSADOR AS AJ AM AORC AEMR ASEAN AFFAIRS AFIN AMGT AODE APEC AE ABLD ACBAQ APECO AFSI AFSN AY AO ABUD AG AC APER AU AMED ATRN ADPM ADCO ASIG AL ASUP ARF AUC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ACOA AADP ASCH AA AFU AN AID ALOW AINF AMG AIT ANET AGAO AROC ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AMCHAMS ACS APCS ADANA AECL ACAO AORG AGR ACABQ AGMT AX AMEX ADM AFGHANISTAN AZ AND ARM AQ ATFN
BR BK BL BA BO BRUSSELS BM BEXP BU BG BB BTIO BF BD BBSR BIDEN BX BP BE BH BT BY BILAT BWC BN BMGT BTIU BC
CI CU CO CS CVIS CA CJAN CARICOM CB CASC CE CH CN CONDOLEEZZA CMGT CWC CW CG CACS CY CPAS CFED CSW CIDA CIC CITT CBW CONS CD CLINTON CHR CACM CDB COE CDG CDC CAN CR CF CT CODEL CJUS CTM CM CLMT CBC COUNTERTERRORISM CAPC CAC COUNTER CV CL CBSA CNARC CEUDA COM CROS CIA CARSON COPUOS CTR CICTE COUNTRY CBE CIS CKGR CVR CITEL CLEARANCE
DR DISENGAGEMENT DE DJ DA DOMESTIC DEA DOD DOE DTRA DS DEFENSE DHS DEAX DO DAO DCM DK DPRK DEPT
ECA EU ENRG EPET ETTC ETRD ELN ELAB EC EFIN ECON EFIS ELTN EAGR EIND EWWT EMIN EINV EAID EG EUN ECPS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENGR ENIV ECIN EAIR EI ECUN EFTA ENGY ECONOMICS ES ELECTIONS EN EIAR ET EINDETRD EUR EZ EREL ER ECONEFIN EINT EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EAIDS EK EPA ENVR EINVETC ETRC ENVI ECONCS ECONOMIC EXTERNAL EINVECONSENVCSJA EUMEM ETRA ESA ECINECONCS EAIG ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS EUREM ESENV ETRN ENNP EFINECONCS EEPET ENERG EUC EUNCH EXIM ERD ERNG EINVEFIN ETC EAP ECONOMY EINN EXBS
FAO FR FI FTAA FAC FOI FREEDOM FJ FMLN FARC FDA FTA FBI FM FO FOREIGN FISO FOR FAS FINR FINANCE
GM GG GZ GAZA GR GOI GANGS GV GCC GY GT GA GAERC GOV GE GH GLOBAL GTIP GERARD GTMO GL GF
HK HR HA HURI HO HU HILLARY HUMAN HUMOR HSTC HYMPSK HEBRON HI
IIP IC IR IN IAEA IS IT IMF IBRD IZ IWC ISRAELI INTERPOL IO ISLAMISTS ITALY ITALIAN IRAQI ILO IPR IQ IV IRS INRB ICAO IMO ID IZPREL IRAJ ICTY ICRC IAHRC ITF INR IGAD ILC ITU IF ITPHUM IL INTERNAL ISRAEL IACI ICJ ITRA INMARSAT ICTR IA IEFIN INTELSAT IBET INRA INRO IDP INDO IRC IDA ITPGOV IEA
JA JP JO JAMES JOSEPH JM JUS JOHN JOHNNIE
KPAO KCRM KNNP KCOR KIRF KISL KSCA KDEM KDEMAF KZ KBTR KUNR KMDR KRVC KPAL KTIA KV KJUS KOMC KTFN KWBG KTIP KMPI KSUM KIRC KE KIPR KWMN KFRD KSEP KN KOLY KPKO KIDE KMRS KFLU KSAF KGIC KRAD KU KHLS KOCI KSTH KS KGHG KAWC KICC KG KSPR KPRP KDRG KGIT KVPR KGCC KSEO KMCA KSTC KBIO KHIV KBCT KPAI KICA KTDB KACT KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KHUM KFLO KREC KSEC KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPIN KCOM KESS KDEV KCFE KNUC KAWK KPLS KWWMN KCIP KPRV KHDP KTEX KFIN KOM KBTS KCRS KNPP KWNM KRFD KVIR KLIG KMIG KDDG KRGY KFSC KR KMOC KPAONZ KNAR KIFR KCGC KID KSAC KAID KNSD KWMNCS KCMR KO KNEI KPOA KTER KOMS KPAK KTBT KWMM KWAC KHSA KX KMFO KPWR KRIM KSCI KVRP KENV KCRCM KNUP KNNPMNUC KERG KTLA KCSY KTRD KJUST KRCM KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN
LY LTTE LE LH LO LI LG LT LU LABOR LA LAB LOG
MARR MX MOPS MNUC MZ MASS MEETINGS MG MW MIL MTCRE MCAP MAS MO MTCR MD MK MP MY MR MT MCC MIK MU ML MARAD MA MAPS MV MERCOSUR MASC MPOS MILITARY MDC MQADHAFI MEPP MRCRE MEDIA MAPP MTRE MEPN MI MC MUCN MAR MASSMNUC MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPI
NATO NL NZ NI NU NO NPT NRR NA NATIONAL NIPP NAFTA NT NS NE NASA NSF NP NAR NV NORAD NG NSSP NW NK NDP NR NATOPREL NEW NPA NPG NSG NSFO NGO NSC NH NZUS NC
OFDA OTRA OPRC OIIP OAS OPDC OVIP OEXC OPIC OSCE OPCW OREP OFFICIALS ODIP OECD OMIG OFDP OBSP OIE OSCI OES OPAD OVP OHUM OIC ON OCII OCS OTR OSAC
PREL PGOV PINR PTER PARM PHUM PA PBTS PINS PM PREF PHSA PK POL PL PE PFOR PALESTINIAN PUNE PGOVLO PAO POLITICS PO PHUMBA PSEPC PNAT PNR PROP POLINT PGOVE PROG PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PROV PSOE PU POGOV PMIL PINL PHUMPREL PGIV PBT PAK PP PGOC PY PLN PMAR PHUH PBIO PF PRL PG PHUS PTBS PRAM POV PEL PAS POLICY PGGV POLITICAL PARTIES PCUL PSA PDOV PCI PREO PAHO PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PHUMPGOV PREFA PSI PAIGH POSTS PARMS PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PGOF PKFK PEPR PPA PINT PRELP PINF PNG
QA
RU RS RICE RW RCMP RO RFE RP RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT REGION RUPREL RF RELATIONS RM REACTION ROOD REPORT RSO RSP
SNAR SENV SOCI SCUL SY SR SU SO SP SA SZ SF SMIG SW SIPDIS STEINBERG SN SNARIZ SG SNARN SSA SK SI SPCVIS SOFA SC SL SARS SNARCS SIPRS SYR SANC SEVN SWE SHI SEN SHUM SYRIA SH SPCE SAARC SCRS SENVKGHG SAN ST
TW TRGY TU TPHY TBIO TX TN TSPL TC TZ TSPA TS TF TI TIP TH TINT TNGD TP TD TFIN TAGS TK TL TV TT TERRORISM TR THPY TO TRSY TURKEY TBID
UK UP US UNSC UNHCR USEU UNGA UG UY UNESCO UN USTR USOAS UZ UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNEP UNIDROIT UNHRC UNDESCO UNMIK UNDP UNC UNO UNAUS UV UNICEF UNCHR UNDC UNCHC UNPUOS USUN USNC UNCSD UNCND USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE
VM VE VZ VT VN VTPREL VTIZ VAT VC VTEG VI
WITH WI WHO WTRO WIPO WTO WS WTRQ WWARD WHTI WEU WZ WHA WMD WMO WA WBG WFP WB
XF XG XT XK XM XR XZ XA XV XL XH XE XB XU XW XQ XS XX XY XD XC XI XTAG
YM YI YMCS YE
ZP ZR ZB ZI ZA ZK ZU ZOELLICK ZF ZO ZANU ZEALAND ZL ZJ 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 06REYKJAVIK130, ICELANDIC FOREIGN MINISTER BEARING UP WELL UNDER

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. #06REYKJAVIK130.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06REYKJAVIK130 | 2006-04-11 16:05 | 2011-01-13 05:37 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Reykjavik

`

    VZCZCXYZ0010
    PP RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHRK #0130/01 1011605
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    P 111605Z APR 06
    FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2700
    INFO RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0208

` `

    UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000130

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE, SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: NATO MARR PREL KPAO IIP ECA IC
    SUBJECT:  ICELANDIC FOREIGN MINISTER BEARING UP WELL UNDER
    OPPOSITION FIRE ON BASE ISSUE; COULD STILL USE OUR HELP

    ¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Icelandic Foreign Minister Geir H. Haarde
    has spent early April trying to diffuse criticism from press
    and politicians who accuse him of failing to predict the
    U.S. decision to draw down Naval Air Station Keflavik
    (NASKEF), and who say he is too passive in letting the U.S.
    define Iceland's defense needs.  Haarde's critics are
    variously using the base closure issue to argue that
    Haarde's Independence Party is not the guarantor of national
    security that it has long claimed, that the Government is
    asleep at the switch, and that Iceland should join the
    European Union.  We will reward Haarde's dogged Atlanticism
    if we come up with a plan for security post-NASKEF that he
    can sell to an increasingly skeptical public. End Summary.

    ¶2. (U) Foreign Minister Haarde used his twice-yearly speech
    on foreign policy to the Althingi (Icelandic Parliament)
    April 6 as a platform to defend himself against criticism
    that he did not foresee the U.S. decision to zero out
    NASKEF's budget. "The world is constantly changing, even in
    the short time between reports by the Foreign Minister to
    the Althingi on the current aspects of foreign affairs,"
    Haarde told Parliament.

    -------------------------------
    Changes in Security Environment
    -------------------------------
    ¶3. (U) Haarde told MPs that the world now faces a variety of
    threats, ranging from hostile dictatorial states and complex
    ethnic conflicts to tiny terrorist groups and environmental
    damage and epidemics. "It is not unreasonable, therefore,
    that NATO, led by the United States, is now trying to adapt
    its defensive capabilities to these new circumstances," the
    Foreign Minister said.  "The membership in NATO and the
    Defense Agreement with the United States have been the
    cornerstones of Iceland's security policy for over half a
    century.  Although one might be led to think otherwise by
    the recent public debate, the defense cooperation has,
    indeed, changed in light of the changed world order. . .Not
    changed enough, however, to warrant the sacrifice of an air
    defense capability for which there is a defined need within
    NATO."

    ------------------------------------------
    Base Announcement a `Great Disappointment'
    ------------------------------------------
    ¶4. (U) Mr. Haarde continued, "Whatever the expectations may
    have been, it cannot be denied that March 15 was a historic
    day, and the unilateral decision by the United States while
    talks were in progress was a great disappointment and a
    setback for the defense cooperation. The possibility of a
    revision, or even termination, of the Defense Agreement
    cannot be excluded.  But in light of the fact that the U.S.
    Government reiterated its commitments under the 1951 Defense
    Agreement, the first step was for Iceland and the United
    States to enter into negotiating on the future of their
    cooperation."

    -------------------
    Opposition Reaction
    -------------------
    ¶5. (U) Since the March 15 announcement that no significant
    U.S. military presence will remain in Iceland after
    September 30, 2006, the Foreign Minister has been ridiculed
    by editorial cartoonists and opposition political parties,
    who portray him as being a pawn of the Americans. One
    editorial cartoon showed Secretary Rice dragging the Foreign
    Minister along the ground by his ears, telling him, "It is
    so comfortable dealing with you Icelanders because you can
    take anything we throw at you."

    ¶6. (U) An April 4 Morgunbladid op-ed by the Left Green
    Party's chair and his deputy fumed, "It still looks as if
    everything revolves around what the United States is willing
    to do -- with Icelandic envoys in the role of supplicants."
    Ossur Skarphensson, former Social Democratic Alliance (SDA)
    Chair and now an influential MP, remarked in the Althing
    April 5, "The Foreign Minister was the only person in the
    country who believed the Defense Force would not leave
    Iceland."

    ¶7. (U) Ogmundur Jonasson, MP for the Left Green Party and a
    reliably strong critic of Icelandic and U.S. foreign
    policies, quipped that Mr. Haarde's April 6 speech amounted
    to "a very good analysis by the Foreign Minister that could
    have come straight from the Pentagon."  Ingibjorg Solrun
    Gisladottir, SDA Chair and Haarde's main competition for the
    Prime Minister's job in 2007 elections, criticized the
    government for lacking a policy on security and defense:
    "They are sitting there with their hands in their laps, with
    no proposals of their own, waiting for the United States to
    make up a new contingency plan for Iceland. These are
    Iceland's willing and steadfast leaders."

    ¶8. (U) Gisladottir added (comment:  accurately, in post's
    view; end comment) that there was a different foreign and
    defense policy emphasis between the two parties making up
    the coalition government.  Haarde's Independence Party seems
    more in favor of cooperation with the United States, she
    said, and Asgrimsson's Progressive Party with Europe.
    Gisladottir affirmed that SDA policy is to work so that
    Europe "will be our security community in the future."

    --------------------
    What It Means For Us
    --------------------
    ¶9. (SBU) Comment:  FM Haarde is handling the barbs and
    public ridicule smoothly so far, and he used his speech to
    underscore his rationale for taking a `wait and see'
    attitude toward bilateral defense cooperation.  EUCOM is due
    to brief the GOI later this month on how it plans to
    `replace the base.'  The EUCOM plan will not satisfy
    everyone in Iceland, especially the opposition parties.  But
    if it can convey clearly that we continue to offer genuine
    defense preparedness to this long-time ally, the plan will
    help not only Iceland but also Haarde, thus far the most
    levelheaded of our senior Icelandic interlocutors. End
    comment.

    VAN VOORST

`