northern exposure

We appear to be staging a not especially friendly takeover of the Icelandic economy:

Brown's comments came after it emerged that the chancellor, Alistair Darling, was to send a team to Iceland to help solve the stricken economy's financial problems.

The Icelandic PM, Geir Haarde, announced that move after talks with Darling. He also urged his country to not panic after a third bank toppled today, and he asked the public to hold back from drawing large amounts of money in attempt to salvage their savings.

The last time we intervened on this scale was in 1940: Operation Fork.

Just before five o'clock in the morning, Fearless, loaded with around 400 marines, set out for the harbour. A small crowd had assembled, including several policemen still waiting for the customs boat. The British consul had received advance notice of the invasion and was waiting with his associates to assist the troops when they arrived. Uncomfortable with the crowd, Consul Shepherd turned to the Icelandic police. "Would you mind ... getting the crowd to stand back a bit, so that the soldiers can get off the destroyer?" he asked. "Certainly," came the reply.

…Down at the harbour, some of the locals protested the arrival of the British. One Icelander snatched a rifle from a marine and stuffed a cigarette in it. He then threw it back to the marine and told him to be careful with it.

Nordic honour was restored during the cod wars.

Reports indicate that our team of crack accountants is meeting with less resistance this time. But now that we have Iceland, apparently staving off the local government’s attempts to sell it to the Russians, what are we going to do with it?

From the invasion of Iraq to the annexation of Iceland. What a strange five years it's been.

Comments

[Chris Williams]

Bennett's 'Mum's gone to Iceland' is now rather more poignant that it used to be.

http://www.lyrics007.com/Bennet%20Lyrics/Mum's%20Gone%20To%20Iceland%20Lyrics.html

[Fellow Traveller]

If you take over a country, do you become liable for all its debts?

[ejh]

If you take over 51% of a country, are you obliged to bid for the remaining 49%?