DU, what do you make of this?

[cynatnite]

Dated Sep. 25, 2006

Iraqi president asks for long-term US military presence in Iraq

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, in an interview, asked for a long-term US military presence in Iraq, saying his country will need two permanent US air bases to deter "foreign interference."

"I think we will be in need of American forces for a long time -- even two military bases to prevent foreign interference," Talabani told The Washington Post.

"I don't ask to have 100,000 American soldiers -- 10,000 soldiers and two air bases would be enough."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060925/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqmilitarybases_060925071051

Dated Sep. 27, 2006

House Passes Ban on Permanent Iraq Bases

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.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-bases27sep27,1,1853723.story

[no_hypocrisy]

1. * is one helluva ventriloquist . . .

[twilight_sailing]

7. "Congress is on the verge"

True or not, there is more to passing a law than the House.

[babylonsister]

8. LOL! nt

[twilight_sailing]

12. Beg pardon? nt

[babylonsister]

14. Not a response to you, but welcome to DU. nt

[twilight_sailing]

15. Thank you! n/t

[LSparkle]

2. Talabani is a Kurd -- he still remembers Halabja and wants protection

What if Turkey decides to attack the Kurdish north? He's got more than just "Iraqi" security on his mind.

[MrCoffee]

3. it's howdy doody time!

[sutz12]

4. Back in the 70's we had a question about Nixon...

Would you buy a used war from this man?

Six months ago he wanted us out. Now he wants us there forever. :shrug:

[Dhalgren]

5. Talabani is a Kurd. There are no US troops stationed in

Kurdistan. Of course Talabani wants US troops in Iraq to keep a lid on the Sunnis and Shi-ites and keep both of those groups away from Kurdistan...

[AIJ Alom]

6. you know I was thinking the same thing. Why pray tell doesn't anyone in

the media look into this...scrutinize please !!!
My personal opinion:


We are going to "stay the course, as long as it takes" (perhaps 50 years) at which time we will hand over our temporary bases to the Iraqis. (The world according to Bush cap on of course!)

[sinkingfeeling]

9. Guess he's learned from the Chimp that what 'his' people want doesn't

matter!

[file83]

10. I make of it that the American Taxpayer is getting ripped off and

the theives are our Congress men and women that were highered by the Corporate Military Contractors to do the job.

[movonne]

11. I bet the Iraqi people love this one...long term bases...I think I read

on here that 80% of the Iraqi people want us out now...

[Homer Wells]

13. All of this STAY THE COURSE talk

may just well do a backflip if we can just get our government away from the Nutzis who are running things at present.
We've got to really scramble and get that nefarious group the hell out of OUR government, and at least attempt to get some sanity and Reality back into our world.
:scared:
:kick: