14 `enduring bases' set in Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/chitribts/20040323/ts_chicagotrib/14enduringbasessetiniraq&cid=2027&ncid=1473

From the ashes of abandoned Iraqi army bases, U.S. military engineers are overseeing the building of an enhanced system of American bases designed to last for years.


Last year, as troops poured over the Kuwait border to invade Iraq (news - web sites), the U.S. military set up at least 120 forward operating bases. Then came hundreds of expeditionary and temporary bases that were to last between six months and a year for tactical operations while providing soldiers with such comforts as e-mail and Internet access.


Now U.S. engineers are focusing on constructing 14 "enduring bases," long-term encampments for the thousands of American troops expected to serve in Iraq for at least two years. The bases also would be key outposts for Bush administration policy advisers.


As the U.S. scales back its military presence in Saudi Arabia, Iraq provides an option for an administration eager to maintain a robust military presence in the Middle East and intent on a muscular approach to seeding democracy in the region. The number of U.S. military personnel in Iraq, between 105,000 and 110,000, is expected to remain unchanged through 2006, according to military planners.

more

[eablair3]

1. this was always the plan

to have military bases on the ground in Iraq for the long term was always the goal. With the military might and the central location in Iraq, it allows the U.S. to control and have a huge say in the whole region.

PNAC.

This was always what was intended. The strife in Iraq only gives them a pretext to keep the troops there for the long-term and to have permanent military bases.

[LeftHander]

2. Mechanized, oil dependant military

Our military is highly mechanized and without cheap avaialble oil for many decades to come the US would be on equal footing with the rest of the world. Take away the Jets, helecopters, ships and what have got left. Man for man with small arms.

Iraq is key to the U.S. maintaing global military domination. I loath the GOP and the industrial war machine. They are will ultimately be the end of us all.

[coltman]

4. interesting post but....

i wonder were one could find the figures on how much American oil went into the winning of WW 2.Any ideas?

[cosmicdot]

6. What exactly would that demonstrate?

[coltman]

9. It would show...

how much of our reserves went for the freedom they enjoy in Europe now.I don't know of any other country that supplied the oil to fight this first mechanized war I think we supplied it all.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. According to this site

six out of seven billion barrels used by the Allies came from the USA.

http://www.galtglobalreview.com/business/politics_of_oil.html

That's about 20% of current proven reserves in the USA; or 780 days US production at current rates; or 300 days US consumption.

http://production.investis.com/bp/ia/stat/#

I would point out that the US didn't enter the Second World War to defend Europe; it did it to defend itself against the Japanese.

[daleo]

15. How does supplying oil during WWII

Give the U.S. the right to invade Iraq and take their oil 60 years later?

[whatelseisnew]

3. "As the U.S. scales back its military presence in Saudi Arabia.."??????

Who is this presstitute?

W* pulled out of SA already , caving in to AlQueda Demands!

[GOPisEvil]

5. And which company BUILDS those bases?

That's right, our friends at Kellogg, Brown and Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton, Inc.

:puke:

[jpgray]

7. Operation 'Enduring Hatred', commence! (nt)

[Magleetis]

8. Another brilliant idea

from our ethnocentric government. Our involvement in Iraq will fail miserably. I really used to like this country.

[leftchick]

11. more likely...... "enduring targets"

:eyes:

[swinney]

12. Bases in Iraqstein

This is why Wolfowitz, Bolton etc were so hot to trot to Iraq.

One reason--Protect Israel and oil was distant second.

Look at Bush foreign policy team JEWS JEWS JEWS. Nuff said.

[shadu]

13. Sad but true. A fact is a fact.

[DBoon]

14. Now there....

You could have said the same thing about the peace movement in the '60s: Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, etc.

If any ethnic group dominates the * admin, it is blue blood WASPs. The handful of ex-Stalinists in PNAC don't change that.

[cspiguy]

17. Kerry is part Jewish. Better Shut The F(&* up!

n/t

[jpak]

16. Why does a free I-raq need 14 "enduring" US bases???

Why does a "free" I-raq need a $3 billion dollar CIA established and operated secret police force???

Why do the Chimp and Poodle control all of I-raq's oil revenue???

Is it because I-raq is not really free???

Is it because I-raq is nothing more than a petrocolony of the US and UK???

[Barrett808]

18. I always suspected they would pump Iraqi oil directly into the military

Thereby circumventing the market entirely. Of course, if the Iraqis don't go along with the plan...

[Jacobin]

19. Gotta refine it first

[Barrett808]

20. No problemo -- get Halliburton to build refineries on the new bases

The only problem is defending the pipelines...unless the bases are built right on the oil fields.

[number6]

21. Iraq liberated...

.. from its oil (Operation Iraq-ee Liberation) OIL