Americans Go Home

For months, while Iceland's NATO partners listened in silent apprehension, four of the island's five political parties vied in pre-election demands for the removal of the 5,000 U.S. troops from strategic Keflavik air base. Last week, full of such talk, Icelanders went to the polls in the uninterrupted light of the long northern day.

The Independence Party of wing-collared Premier Olafur Thors, alone in wanting the Americans to stay, got the largest popular vote, up 5% from the election three years ago, but Iceland's complicated electoral laws gave it only 19 seats in the Althing (parliament), a loss of two seats. An alliance of Progressive and Social Democrat parties won a commanding 25 seats (two short of majority). Holding the balance of power with eight seats: the Communists. They are strong among fishermen (the Soviet bloc has replaced Britain as the leading market for Iceland's main crop, fish).

Iceland's agitation against the U.S. base comes from a people who have had their independence from Denmark for only twelve years, have no army of their own and dislike having foreign troops around. Iceland has no intention of closing Keflavik air base, feels simply that it can handle the NATO base with less U.S. help. Progressive Leader Hermann ("The Wrestler") Jonasson, who will probably head a coalition government, admits that Iceland is not ready to take it over now. Under the base agreement, it would be 18 months before U.S. troops would have to leave. His party does not object to the continued presence of U.S. technicians. Iceland, just a few miles south of the Arctic Circle, is an important NATO watchtower, but if asked to leave, the U.S. will have to comply.

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