Carry On Icelandic: Culture [selections] (2004)
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Ísland í NATO, bandarískur her - Iceland in NATO, the American Military
Ísland í NATO, bandarískur her
Þegar hafinn var undirbúningur að stofnun Atlantshafsbandalagsins (NATO), og Íslendingum boðin aðild, var deilt um utanríkisstefnu landsins. Ísland var eina þjóðin í bandalaginu sem ekki hafði eigin her né aðrar landvarnir. Yfirgnæfandi meirihluti var þó á Alþingi fyrir aðildinni og hún samþykkt.
F-15 orrustuflugvél Bandaríkjahers baðar sig í nætursólinni á Keflavíkurflugvelli (A U.S. F-15 fighter jet with the midnight sun in the background at the Keflavík Air Base).
Þegar ástand heimsmála varð aftur ótryggt vegna Kóreustyrjaldar 1951 var samþykkt að Íslendingar gerðu varnarsamning við Bandaríkin fyrir hönd Atlantshafsbandalagsins og fámennt bandarískt herlið yrði staðsett í landinu. Með þessu var lagður grunnur að þeirri stefnu í varnarmálum sem hefur verið fylgt síðan. Bandarísk herstöð er staðsett í Reykjanesbæ, skammt frá Keflavík.
Margir voru ósáttir við ákvarðanir stjórnvalda og hrópuðu: "Ísland úr NATÓ, herinn burt!", ,,Íslenski fáninn, bandaríski bjáninn!" og ýmis mótmæli voru höfð í frammi. Minna hefur þó borið á herstöðvarandstæðingum hin síðari ár.
Iceland in NATO, the American Military
When preparations were made to establish the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Iceland was offered membership, debate ensued about the line Iceland ought to take in foreign affairs. Iceland was the only nation in the alliance without its own military or defence structure. Nevertheless, an overwhelming majority of the Parliament was in support of membership, and the move was carried.
When world affairs again became unsettled due to the Korean War (1951), a defence agreement was made with America on behalf of NATO which allowed a few American troops to be stationed in Iceland. This decision formed the basis of a direction in military affairs which has been followed since. The American military base is located in Reykjanesbær, a short distance from Keflavík.
Many people were dissatisfied with the decision made by the government and protested "Iceland out of NATO, get the army out!", "The Icelandic flag is cool, the American is a fool!" Various rallies were held outside the base. Fewer people have rallied against the base in past years.
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