The Bush Administration has informed the Government of Iceland that it plans to draw down this fall four US Air Force F-15 Eagles and USAF rescue helicopter squadron from NAS Keflavik, Iceland, a base that the US has used since 1951 under a bilateral security agreement. Pentagon spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Joe Carpenter called the Keflavik mission a relic of the Cold War, saying that the move is part of the Pentagon’s overall restructuring to meet current and emerging threats. State Department officials say the US is working with Iceland to devise “an appropriate arrangement.” Iceland’s Ambassador to the US, Helgi Agustsson, told the Washington Post that Iceland was “deeply disappointed” over the decision.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.