Abizaid says U.S. may want to keep bases in Iraq

[fedupinBushcountry]

The United States may want to keep a long-term military presence in Iraq to bolster moderates against extremists in the region and protect the flow of oil, the Army general overseeing U.S. military operations in Iraq said on Tuesday.

"Clearly our long-term vision for a military presence in the region requires a robust counter-terrorist capability," Abizaid said. "No doubt there is a need for some presence in the region over time primarily to help people help themselves through this period of extremists versus moderates."

Abizaid also said the United States and its allies have a vital interest in the oil-rich region.

"Ultimately it comes down to the free flow of goods and resources on which the prosperity of our own nation and everybody else in the world depend," he said.

http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=...

Can't wait to see what JK has to say about this.

[wisteria]

1. How about that, this was probably the only plan they had figured out. n/t

[karynnj]

2. Wow! Didn't he ask this about 4 times in one of the hearings

with Dr Rice saying No and looking at him with annoyance.

[ProSense]

3. Yes, but

Cantbelieverher Lies.

[TayTay]

4. Here it is

Sen. Kerry has that wonderful prosecutorial style of questioning. I love when he doe sthis. I absollutely adore the cutoff at the end. (Yeah, Condi, you're blowing smoke up my arse. I can see that. No need to explain.)

KERRY: Thank you, Madam Secretary.

The other day, General Kimmitt, Mark Kimmitt, gave a speech in London to the Institute of Strategic Studies, wherein he reportedly said the United States will not maintain any long-term bases in Iraq.

KERRY: Our position is, when we leave, we won't leave any bases there.

I wrote to General Pace to follow up on this, and General Pace wrote me back and said: "At present, the Department of Defense has no plans for the permanent basing of U.S. forces in Iraq."

This has long been an issue of contention.

So, you know, General Casey has said, "The sense of American occupation is part of what feeds the insurgency."

The administration, however, has never formally said, "We're not going to have permanent bases."

So I would ask you today: Is it, in fact, the policy of this administration not to have permanent basing in Iraq?

RICE: I think General Pace has spoken to that, Senator, and he speaks for the administration.

Senator, our job now is to use our forces to help the Iraqis gain control of their own security environment, to train their forces to protect our people who need to go out in the field to be a presence outside of Baghdad.

That is the purpose of our forces.

As the president said, we don't want to be there one day longer than we need to be.

KERRY: I understand that, and we all want that transition. I'm just trying to figure out what the long term is, because I don't think the administration has actually said that before with clarity.

So if you're affirming today what the generals have said as the policy, that's a step forward.

RICE: Well, Senator, I think General Pace has spoken to this.

I don't want to, in this forum, try and prejudge everything that might happen all the way into the future. The policy of this administration is to, as quickly as possible, turn over responsibility for security to the Iraqis and, as the president said, we will be very pleased the day when American forces can come home. KERRY: So the conclusion for what you've just said is that the civilian leadership, which is how we lead the military in the United States, has a different position from the uniformed leadership -- which is you're reserving the right to make that decision in the future?

RICE: Senator, I said I'm not going to try to speak to something that is that far into the future.

KERRY: I heard what you said. I understand.

RICE: We are...

KERRY: No, I understand.

RICE: Yes. Sorry.

KERRY: I got your answer.

Methinks the military got the memo and is now on board with the permanent bases ideer. Sigh!

[fedupinBushcountry]

5. My husband's take on this story

It says it all, we went to war for oil, and if we want to keep our hands on it, we have to keep up residence. The truth comes out in this story.