

Currently released so far... 12553 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
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
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
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 Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
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 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
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
Browse by tag
APECO
ASEC
AMGT
AFIN
APER
ACABQ
AORC
AEMR
AF
AE
AR
AGMT
AU
AY
ABLD
AS
AG
AJ
APCS
AX
AM
AMEX
ATRN
ADM
AMED
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AL
ASUP
AND
ARM
ASEAN
AFFAIRS
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AODE
APEC
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AO
ABUD
AC
ADPM
ADCO
ASIG
ARF
AUC
ASEX
AGAO
AA
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AIT
AADP
ASCH
AORL
AROC
ACOA
ANET
AID
AMCHAMS
AINF
AMG
AFU
AN
ALOW
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ACS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AGR
BEXP
BR
BM
BG
BL
BA
BTIO
BO
BP
BC
BILAT
BK
BU
BD
BRUSSELS
BB
BF
BBSR
BIDEN
BX
BE
BH
BT
BY
BMGT
BWC
BTIU
BN
CA
CASC
CFED
CO
CH
CS
CU
CE
CI
CM
CMGT
CJAN
COM
CG
CIS
CVIS
CR
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTER
CIA
CLINTON
CY
CPAS
CD
CBW
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CDG
CW
CODEL
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CARICOM
CB
CONDOLEEZZA
CWC
CACS
CSW
CIDA
CIC
CITT
CONS
CL
CACM
CDB
CDC
CAN
CF
CJUS
CTM
CBSA
CARSON
CT
CLMT
CBC
CEUDA
CV
COPUOS
CTR
CROS
CAPC
CAC
CNARC
CICTE
CBE
ECON
ETRD
EIND
ENRG
EC
ELAB
EAGR
EAID
EFIS
EFIN
EINV
EUN
EG
EPET
EAIR
EU
ELTN
EWWT
ECIN
ERD
EI
ETTC
EUR
EN
EZ
ETC
ENVI
EMIN
ET
ENVR
ER
ECPS
EINT
EAP
ES
ENIV
ECONOMY
EXTERNAL
EINN
EFTA
ECONOMIC
EPA
EXBS
ECA
ELN
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENGR
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
ELECTIONS
EIAR
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
ENERG
EFIM
EAIDS
EK
ETRDECONWTOCS
EINVETC
ECONCS
EUNCH
ESA
ECINECONCS
EUREM
ESENV
EFINECONCS
ETRC
ENNP
EAIG
EXIM
EEPET
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
ERNG
ETRO
ETRN
EINVEFIN
ICTY
IN
IS
IR
IC
IZ
IA
INTERPOL
IAEA
IT
IMO
IO
IV
ID
IRAQI
IEA
INRB
IL
IWC
ITU
ICAO
ISRAELI
ICRC
IIP
IMF
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
ILO
IPR
IQ
IRS
IAHRC
IZPREL
IRAJ
IDP
ILC
ITF
ICJ
IF
ITPHUM
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
IACI
IBET
ITRA
INR
IRC
IDA
ICTR
IGAD
INRA
INRO
IEFIN
INTELSAT
INTERNAL
INDO
ITPGOV
KWMN
KSCA
KDEM
KTFN
KIPR
KCRM
KPAL
KE
KPAO
KPKO
KS
KN
KISL
KFRD
KJUS
KIRF
KFLO
KG
KTIP
KTER
KRCM
KTIA
KGHG
KIRC
KU
KPRP
KMCA
KMPI
KSEO
KNNP
KZ
KNEI
KCOR
KOMC
KCFC
KSTC
KMDR
KFLU
KSAF
KSEP
KSAC
KR
KGIC
KSUM
KWBG
KCIP
KDRG
KOLY
KAWC
KCHG
KHDP
KRVC
KBIO
KAWK
KGCC
KHLS
KBCT
KPLS
KREL
KCFE
KMFO
KV
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVPR
KTDB
KSPR
KIDE
KVRP
KTEX
KBTR
KTRD
KICC
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KDEMAF
KMRS
KRAD
KOCI
KSTH
KUNR
KNSD
KGIT
KFSC
KHIV
KPAI
KICA
KACT
KHUM
KREC
KSEC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCMR
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KNAR
KNUC
KPWR
KENV
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KPRV
KOM
KBTS
KCRS
KNPP
KWNM
KRFD
KVIR
KTBT
KAID
KRIM
KDDG
KRGY
KHSA
KWMM
KMOC
KSCI
KPAK
KX
KPAONZ
KCGC
KID
KPOA
KIFR
KFIN
KWAC
KOMS
KCRCM
KNUP
KMIG
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KJUST
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MX
MCAP
MO
MR
MI
MD
MK
MA
MP
MY
MTCRE
MOPPS
MASC
MIL
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MU
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MZ
MEETINGS
MG
MW
MAS
MT
MCC
MIK
ML
MARAD
MV
MERCOSUR
MTRE
MPOS
MEPP
MILITARY
MDC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MRCRE
MAPS
MEDIA
MASSMNUC
MC
NZ
NZUS
NL
NU
NATO
NP
NO
NIPP
NE
NH
NR
NA
NPT
NI
NSF
NG
NSG
NAFTA
NC
NDP
NEW
NRR
NATIONAL
NT
NS
NASA
NAR
NV
NORAD
NSSP
NK
NPA
NGO
NSC
NATOPREL
NW
NPG
NSFO
OPDC
OTRA
OIIP
OREP
OVIP
OSCE
OEXC
OIE
OPRC
OAS
OPIC
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFFICIALS
OECD
OSCI
OBSP
OFDA
OPCW
ODIP
OFDP
OES
OPAD
OCII
OHUM
OVP
ON
OIC
OCS
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PINR
PTER
PARM
PREF
PM
PE
PINS
PK
PHSA
PBTS
PRGOV
PA
PORG
PP
PS
PGOF
PL
PO
PARMS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PAK
POL
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PBIO
PINF
PNG
PMIL
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PAO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PTBS
PCUL
PROP
PNAT
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PROG
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
PGOC
PY
PCI
PLN
PDOV
PREO
PGIV
PHUH
PAS
PU
POGOV
PF
PINL
POV
PAHO
PRL
PG
PRAM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLICY
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGGV
PHUS
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PEL
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PBT
PTERE
RS
RU
RW
RM
RO
RP
REGION
RSP
RF
RICE
RCMP
RFE
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
RUPREL
RELATIONS
ROOD
REACTION
RSO
REPORT
SENV
SNAR
SCUL
SR
SC
SOCI
SMIG
SI
SP
SU
SO
SW
SY
SA
SZ
SAN
SF
SN
STEINBERG
SG
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SAARC
SL
SEVN
SARS
SIPRS
SHUM
SANC
SWE
SHI
SYR
SNARCS
SPCE
SYRIA
SEN
SH
SCRS
SENVKGHG
TRGY
TSPL
TPHY
TSPA
TBIO
TI
TW
THPY
TX
TU
TS
TZ
TC
TH
TT
TIP
TO
TERRORISM
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TL
TV
TNGD
TD
TF
TP
TFIN
TAGS
TK
TR
UNSC
UK
UNGA
UN
US
UNHRC
UG
UP
UNMIK
UNHCR
UE
USTR
UNVIE
UAE
UZ
UY
UNO
UNESCO
USEU
USOAS
UV
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNEP
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDP
UNPUOS
UNC
UNAUS
USUN
UNCHC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCSD
UNDC
USNC
USPS
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 07REYKJAVIK247, ICELAND: EXERCISE NORTHERN VIKING,
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.
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. #07REYKJAVIK247.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
07REYKJAVIK247 | 2007-08-27 17:38 | 2011-01-13 05:37 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Reykjavik |
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHRK #0247/01 2391738
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 271738Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3416
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE 0057
RHMFISS/HQ USAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0032
C O N F I D E N T I A L REYKJAVIK 000247
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
USAFE FOR GENERAL HOBBINS
OSD FOR ASD/RA HALL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2017
TAGS: MOPS PREL MARR PGOV RU IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND: EXERCISE NORTHERN VIKING,
RUSSIAN BOMBER FLIGHTS PUT SPOTLIGHT ON DEFENSE
Ref: Reykjavik 233
Classified By: Amb. Carol van Voorst for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
¶1. (C) Summary: Exercise NORTHERN VIKING
2007, held August 14-15, was the first defense
exercise conducted under our commitments set out
in the bilateral Joint Understanding of October
¶2006. The successful exercise brought new
positive attention to the U.S. defense
commitment to Iceland as well as the future of
the Iceland Air Defense System (IADS) radars.
In meetings with USAFE Commander General Hobbins
and Assistant Secretary of Defense Hall, both
Prime Minister Haarde and Foreign Minister
Gisladottir expressed their interest in
continued bilateral engagement on defense,
though some tension within the governing
coalition on security issues was apparent.
Adding to the focus on defense was the
appearance on August 17 of six Russian strategic
bomber aircraft in the airspace around Iceland,
part of the resumption of strategic flights
announced by Russian President Putin. Wags and
serious commentators alike have opined that the
Russian flights likely did more to ensure the
long-term future of IADS than the system's
proponents ever could have. End Summary.
NORTHERN VIKING 2007
--------------------
¶2. (U) In the U.S.-Iceland Joint Understanding
signed in October 2006, both countries pledged
to hold at least one bilateral
and/or multilateral exercise annually. NORTHERN
VIKING 2007 (NV07), the first such exercise, was
conducted on August 14-15 at Keflavik Airport,
using facilities located on the former site of
U.S. Naval Air Station Keflavik (NASKEF). NV07
consisted of two non-integrated events running
simultaneously: an air defense exercise and an
anti-terror exercise. The purpose of this
multinational training event was to exercise the
air defense, anti-terror, and command and
control capabilities of NATO forces deploying to
Iceland. Participation included three USAF F-
15C fighters and two USAF KC-135 refueling
aircraft, two Norwegian F-16 fighters and one
Norwegian P-3 aircraft, two NATO AWACS aircraft,
the Danish Frigate "Triton" with an embarked
search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopter), SAR
helicopter assets from the Icelandic Coast
Guard, special police forces from Iceland and
special forces personnel from Norway, Denmark,
Sweden and Latvia. Representatives from the UK,
NATO CAOC-1, NATO CAOC-3, and the Norwegian
Joint AOC observed the exercise. Additionally,
USAFE Commander General Hobbins and Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Hall
SIPDIS
(lead USG negotiator in defense talks with
Iceland in 2006) came to observe the event.
¶3. (SBU) Participants' and planners' comments
to Post indicate that NV07 met its objectives
completely, with exceptional weather allowing
for maximal training opportunities for the
participating aircrews. The Government of
Iceland also provided outstanding logistical
support for the exercise, including jet fuel for
U.S. aircraft, messing and berthing for all
participants, and smaller perks such as internet
access and rental car transportation. Press
coverage of NV07 was widespread and
overwhelmingly favorable, though the Prime
Minister's Foreign Affairs Advisor commented to
Ambassador that he was disappointed with the
Icelandic press corps' very evident low level of
knowledge of defense issues.
PM, FM ask for help in selling IADS
-----------------------------------
¶4. (C) In the week leading up to NV07, new
Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Gisladottir had been
a study in ambivalence, first indicating that
she would be on leave during the exercise, then
relenting and stating she would attend the
exercise's media events. In the end, she chose
to meet with COMUSAFE and Ambassador on the
first morning of NV07, and forgoing the public
events. (Comment: Perhaps a concession to the
pacifist wing of her party, which would be
unsettled to see their party chair among
uniforms and fighter jets. End comment.) In
her meeting with General Hobbins, the FM, while
appreciative of U.S. participation in the
exercise and U.S.-Iceland cooperation on air
policing at NATO, pressed for Gen. Hobbins'
views on the long-term future of the Iceland Air
Defense System (IADS). (Note: The USG ceased
funding for IADS on August 15, 2007. The MFA-
controlled Iceland Radar Agency now bears
responsibility for operating the system, which
was built with NATO and U.S. funds. End note.)
¶5. (C) Gisladottir made clear her concern that
after two weeks of skeptical, poorly-informed
press articles on IADS, the public perception
was of an obsolete, overpriced system that the
U.S. no longer wanted. NATO Military Committee
and North Atlantic Council decisions that IADS
is necessary for Icelandic and Alliance air
defense were helpful, she noted, but what are
the real benefits of keeping the system
operating? COMUSAFE observed that IADS is
necessary to give NATO a complete airspace
picture; it also improves Icelandic SAR
capability, and adds stability to the transit of
commercial air traffic.
¶6. (C) Prime Minister Geir Haarde sounded
similar notes in meeting with COMUSAFE and ASD
Hall later that day, while at the same time
expressing greater confidence that IADS would
form an integral part of Iceland's defense
policy and relationship with NATO. Haarde
pressed for the U.S. to work with Iceland to
hold the NORTHERN VIKING exercise annually,
though taking on board General Hobbins' point
that the exercise does not necessarily need to
include an air force component in every
iteration. Haarde agreed that the exercise was
a useful demonstration of IADS-AWACS
integration, and also applauded the NAC approval
of an air policing plan for Iceland. He said
the government planned to continue talks on
defense and security agreements with neighbors,
and pointed to the recent MOU with Norway (which
he happily noted was an active NV07
participant). Next on the agenda in this regard
are Canada and the UK.
¶7. (C) Noting that it was nearly a year since
the NASKEF closure, Haarde commented that no one
could have foreseen how well things have turned
out. Progress in developing portions of the
base into student housing and a university-level
education and research center is impressive.
ASD Hall agreed that the transition had gone
very well and complimented the Prime Minister on
his government's management of the issue.
Looking beyond Iceland's borders, PM Haarde
asked COMUSAFE what he thought of recent
increases in Russian air activity such as the
August bomber sorties near Guam and activity in
the North Atlantic earlier this year. General
Hobbins noted that there is a strong political
component to the Russians' moves in this regard.
The Russians come back
----------------------
¶8. (C) PM Haarde's question took on new meaning
several days later, as six Russian strategic
bomber aircraft participating in long range
operations on August 17 entered the Military Air
Defense Identification Zone (MADIZ) surrounding
Iceland. The Icelandic Government was in
contact with counterpart units in Norway and the
UK throughout the incident and was able to track
the aircraft through IADS. Beginning at 0200
GMT, the first (two Tu-160 Blackjacks) and
second sorties (two Tu-95 Bears) both passed
through the MADIZ to the east of Iceland, while
the third sortie (also of two Bears)
circumnavigated Iceland, at one point coming
within 9 nautical miles of Keflavik. While the
incident was occurring, MFA and Radar Agency
representatives asked Post's Assistant to the
Defense Attache (A/DATT) to come to the IADS
Command and Reporting Center, where A/DATT
observed the third sortie's flight as well as
its intercept by British and Norwegian
fighters. A near-gleeful Radar Agency
representative turned to A/DATT at one point and
said, "See how important this system is?"
¶9. (C) Both cynical and serious observers have
made similar points in recent days, as the
consensus has developed that Russian President
Putin's announcement of resumed strategic bomber
flights could not have come at a better time for
a government looking to justify spending at
least $12.5 million a year to operate IADS ,
plus significant annual expenditures for
military exercises. While downplaying the
significance of the Russian flights by saying
they would have no impact on Russian-Icelandic
relations, FM Gisladottir did take the
opportunity to note to the press that IADS had
been necessary to track the planes in order to
ensure civil aviation safety over Iceland.
Comment
-------
¶10. (C) NV07 was of key importance to
demonstrate that the U.S. takes the commitments
we made in 2006 seriously: we and the rest of
NATO are ready and able to defend Iceland
without permanently basing forces here.
However, the exercise also cast further light
on the Foreign Minister's struggle to balance
her party's standoffish position on military
matters with the obligations of her new job
which includes managing defense issues.
¶11. (C) While Russian air activity may have
been a godsend for those wishing to ensure IADS'
future, Post also expects an uptick in "we told
you so" comments from those who believed the
NASKEF closure jeopardized Iceland's security.
In this event, swift coordination with NATO
counterparts in Norway and the UK ensured that
the Icelandic government was never in the dark,
and make a strong case for NATO's ability to
respond expeditiously on Iceland's behalf. We
will continue to urge Iceland to build its
information and intelligence-sharing networks
within NATO in order to ensure NATO retains this
capability.
van Voorst