Expanding Bases Put Focus on U.S. in Iraq - I think we'll be here forever

[NoAmericanTaliban]

Mar 21, 11:48 AM (ET)

By CHARLES J. HANLEY

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AP) - The concrete goes on forever, vanishing into the noonday glare, 2 million cubic feet of it, a mile-long slab that's now the home of up to 120 U.S. helicopters, a "heli-park" as good as any back in the States. At another giant base, al-Asad in Iraq's western desert, the 17,000 troops and workers come and go in a kind of bustling American town, with a Burger King, Pizza Hut and a car dealership, stop signs, traffic regulations and young bikers clogging the roads.

At a third hub down south, Tallil, they're planning a new mess hall, one that will seat 6,000 hungry airmen and soldiers for chow.

Are the Americans here to stay? Air Force mechanic Josh Remy is sure of it as he looks around Balad.

"I think we'll be here forever," the 19-year-old airman from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., told a visitor to his base.........

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20060321/D8GG2SQG2.html

Looks like we are there to stay...

[chaumont58]

1. Those bases have to be there

If the US were to pull out all together, the military, or someone, would kill what will pass for democracy in Iraq. Bush opened a can of worms, or maybe it would be better to describe his actions as a foul toothpaste that nothing will ever be able to get back into the tube.

[Warren Stupidity]

8. What?

Those bases do not have to be there. We have no right to invade some other country and set up huge permanent military bases. We have no moral obligation to stay and fix things up, any more than a thief who breaks into your house has a moral obligation to stay and fix the door. Our obligation is first and foremost to end our illegal occupation of their country.

Even if one accepts your 'we broke we have to stay and fix it' argument, which I do not, how many more years of making no progress fixing it are we going to have to endure before you will concede that our presence is preventing Iraq from fixing itself?

[DLnyc]

9. Sounds good, BUT: US has refused to say we'd leave if asked to.

In fact, IIRC, the first 'government' was held up until US got Sistani to drop a requirement that the US would leave when and if asked to. "We have to stay to protect Iraq" has always been a selling point for the continuing occupation. But it is rarely mentioned that "We insist on staying even if a democratically elected popular government in Iraq insists we leave." (Either now or in the future.)

In fact, at this point I believe the vast majority of Iraqis (except in the Kurdish Northwest) would rather we leave and let them take their chances surving any problems between the locals.

[madrchsod]

2. we are sucking up millions of cubic yards of cement

and creating a huge shortage and price hike for the average iraqi to rebuild their houses and shops. this is causing even more haterd for our soldiers in iraq.

after the murder of the iraqi family by the us troops several days ago i`d say the us troops have no friends at all left in iraq...i guess they better build a really big wall because they will never be able to go outside of it.

[leftchick]

3. it was their original intent

<snip>

In the counterinsurgency fight, Balad's central location enables strike aircraft to reach targets in minutes. And in the broader context of reinforcing the U.S. presence in the oil-rich Mideast, Iraq bases are preferable to aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf, said a longtime defense analyst.

"Carriers don't have the punch," said Gordon Adams of Washington's George Washington University. "There's a huge advantage to land-based infrastructure. At the level of strategy it makes total sense to have Iraq bases."

A U.S. congressional study cited another, less discussed use for possible Iraq bases: to install anti-ballistic defenses in case Iran fires missiles.

American bases next door could either deter or provoke Iran, noted Paul D. Hughes, a key planner in the early U.S. occupation of Iraq.

Overall, however, this retired Army colonel says American troops are unwanted in the Middle East. With long-term bases in Iraq, "We'd be inviting trouble," Hughes said.

"It's a stupid idea and clearly politically unacceptable," Zinni, a former Central Command chief, said in a Washington interview. "It would damage our image in the region, where people would decide that this" - seizing bases - "was our original intent."

[juajen]

4. Why has it taken so long for this story to come out?

I kept hearing stories through the grapevine about permanent bases, but no official story that I can remember. This is incredible; I mean, the silence from our democrats about these bases. They knew these bases were being built. Since being kicked out of Saudi Arabia, we had to have a new stronghold, and Iraq was perfect. Only one or two problems and you know what they were. I'm almost to the point where I don't trust anyone.

[NoAmericanTaliban]

5. If you haven't already - kick this story so that it goes to greatest

& more folks will find out about it. I am surprised I haven't gotten more comments, maybe the time of day?

[cliss]

7. Oh, the Dems knew about it all right.

Several years ago, there was a bill which was very quietly passed through Congress. It was a bill to fund these 14 bases. I believe it was approved unanimously - not a single objection.

Those Dems know about it......

It just never reached the papers, that's all.

[saigon68]

15. Limpmann, Biden and other Dinos voted for it

[Teaser]

6. We will not be there forever

several million shia won't countenance that.

[arewenotdemo]

10. agreed

[knight_of_the_star]

11. 100,000 Britons didn't countenance Roman occupation

Yet Rome stayed for 300 more years after said revolt. Who says the current government would not be afraid of hiring mercs and creating a foreign legion neither of whom would have no qualms against killing would-be Iraqi patriots?

[Teaser]

14. please

the pressures on an elected government are so much more than the pressures that will register on an imperial government. The casualties inflicted by a shi'ah revolt are something no government could survive.

[knight_of_the_star]

16. Which democratic government?

You're implying that we still have a functioning democracy here.

[NYC]

12. Car dealerships?

...a kind of bustling American town, with a Burger King, Pizza Hut and a car dealership, stop signs, traffic regulations and young bikers clogging the roads...

I really don't undertand that.

[Chulanowa]

13. Yeah...

It seems rather strange, yeah? All they're lacking is a Mickey Mouse macy's parade blimp.