House Passes Ban on Permanent Iraq Bases

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON — Congress is on the verge of barring the construction of permanent bases for U.S. forces in Iraq, a move aimed at quelling concerns in the Arab world that American forces will remain in the war-torn country indefinitely.

The ban, which was inserted into the annual defense spending bill, won House approval Tuesday night when the chamber overwhelmingly approved the mammoth defense appropriations bill, 394-22.

The Senate is expected to vote on the $448-billion defense spending bill this week.

Pentagon and State Department officials have insisted that the U.S. military is not building permanent American bases in Iraq and that all facilities under construction will be handed over to the Iraqi government.

But the massive American bases in Iraq have long fueled speculation that the United States plans to maintain a military presence there, as it does in other parts of the Arab world.

more:http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-bases27sep27,1,1122264.story?coll=la-headlines-politics

[Syrinx]

1. now all we need is an executive that follows the law

And a judiciary that will interpret it correctly.

[Javaman]

14. Yeah, just those two things...watch I'm holding my breath...nt

[bluestateguy]

2. Guess who gets to define what the definition of "permanent" is

You got it.

[Eugene]

3. That may not prevent very long term temporary bases.

Unless Congress puts in a timetable, any eventual
handover to Iraqi forces may be a long time coming.

[driver8]

4. Someone will have to define "permanent" for little lord pissy pants.

I'm sure he has no idea what that word means.

[Stephanie]

5. HIllary Clinton favors these, btw

Read her Senate site - she favors maintaining permanent bases with "quick strike" capabilities. We're never leaving Iraq. That was the whole idea, create a base of operations for our domino game.

[CarbonDate]

6. Well, we all understand what "permanent" means.

It means forever. So if we leave in 200 years, or the world ends some day, then those bases will go away and didn't last forever. Ergo, not permanent.

Sound and fury, signifying nothing. We all know how this will play out.

[Demit]

7. They'll just be "for the duration". It's the war that will be permanent.

[ConcernedCanuk]

8. 80% of Iraqis won't believe the ban -

.
.
.

/snip/

Iraqis are also suspicious. According to a recent poll, 80% believe the US intends to retain a permanent presence in Iraq, regardless of whether the Iraqi government asked the US to leave.

/snip/

Recreating small town America

The scale of the bases and the range of facilities offered to service personnel are impressive.

Some 25,000 US military and civilian personnel are stationed at the Balad base, which boasts its own neighbourhoods and airline.

At about 7km by 5km (four-and-a-half miles by three miles), the al-Asad base is so big two bus routes are needed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4834032.stm

Unless the PNACers lose their grip on the War-Machine

They ain't leaving Iraq

[saigon68]

15. They will leave this way

I can't wait to see it.

[Eagle_Eye]

9. Good for Them!

It is a bad message to send to the Iraqi people and the rest of the world that the United States intends to occupy a country "permanently".

[NOLADEM]

10. Bullshit publicity stunt...Could stay for 500 years and not break this law

[Lerkfish]

11. "Bush's Palace" is a permanent installation at the cost of billions

there is no way having congress put a ban on "permanency" is going to matter to the middle east when they can see the palace with their own eyes.
The palace is concrete (literally), the words of american politicians is less sturdy than wet toilet paper.

[0007]

12. .....and the Iraqis wonder why they don't have enough electricity

and good water.

....and we wonder why the world hates us!

[ConcernedCanuk]

16. Gee. didn't they have lots of electricity,water AND Gas under Saddam?

.
.
.

AND

I never heard of Saddam blowing kids and women to shit by the tens of thousands , ,

Just an uninformed Canuk asking silly questions , ,

[peaches2003]

17. It's so big

the astronauts can spot it while in space. What a disgrace; no wonder everybody hates our arrogance.

[Wretched Refuse]

13. You know is Temporary just like

Gitmo is temporary.