Uncle Sam wants Finland!

[Happy Times]

• NATO Wants More Finnish Participation
  Published 03.04.2006
  NATO wants Finland to become more involved with its operations and decision-making processes. The military alliance announced that it will present a proposal in 2008 which will seek to give both Finland and Sweden more say in the missions they take part in.
  This would not mean becoming members in NATO. Both countries are frequent participants in NATO-led peacekeeping operations, and have revamped their military arsenals to be NATO-compatible.
  
  The suggestion for closer co-operation was made by the United States. The Finnish government has promised to consider the proposal once it has been received.
  
  NATO is also trying to improve co-operation with Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

• http://www.yle.fi/news/id31512.html

• Seems that US was tired of the tip toeing of Finland and Sweden on the membership issue, so theyl throw us in with Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.