(US) Officials discuss ‘detailed’ plans for permanent bases (in Iraq)

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/03/officials-acknowledge-detailed-plans-for-permanent-bases/

Officials discuss ‘detailed’ plans for permanent bases.

“For the first time, the Bush administration is beginning publicly to discuss basing American troops in Iraq for years, even decades to come, a subject so fraught with political landmines that officials are tiptoeing around the inevitable questions about what the United States’ long-term mission would be there.”

Administration officials and top military leaders declined to talk on the record about their long-term plans in Iraq. But when speaking on a not-for-attribution basis, they describe a fairly detailed concept. It calls for maintaining three or four major bases in the country, all well outside of the crowded urban areas where casualties have soared. They would include the base at Al Asad in Anbar Province, Balad Air Base about 50 miles north of Baghdad, and Tallil Air Base in the south.

Never mind, as Bill Scher notes, that the Iraq spending bill that President Bush just signed includes the following provision:

SEC. 3301. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this or any other Act shall be obligated or expended by the United States Government for a purpose as follows:

(1) To establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq.

(2) To exercise United States control over any oil resource of Iraq.

[Kagemusha]

1. Uh is that the whole story? Is there a waiver for SEC. 3301?

Signing statements perhaps?....

[babylonsister]

2. Not that I could tell, perhaps because they're only in the preliminary

'talking' stages. But if that's their intention, who's going to stop them?