Not entering the loop - per query variables

[Joseph Lukas]

I am having an issues getting through my loop for the List.

int sql_statement_set(THD *thd, List<set_var_base> *var_list){

	  List_iterator_fast<set_var_base> it(*var_list);
	  DBUG_ENTER("sql_set_variables");
	  int count = 0;
	  set_var_base *var;
	  while ((var=it++))
	  {
	    count++;
	    printf("I looped");
	  }
	  printf("The number of objects is: %d \n",count);
return 0;
}

Is my current structure of my function.  The main issue seems to be  
that I am not even entering the loop at all it seems. I just get "The  
number of objects is: 0" I used as a template the suggested function  
sql_set_variables().  Still I do not see on my test launch why I will  
not enter the loop.   The parser debug output shows it went  
successfully through the parse and yet nothing.