We are building 14 military bases in Iraq

[cidliz2004]

Since when do you need 14 military bases in Iraq for a short therm occupation? (and the world's largest embassy - as another poster pointed out)

Why are we not talking about that??????????

[meti57b]

1. not to mention,haliburton is probably building, we're just paying the bill

[rumguy]

2. Chicago Trib. article

"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, 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. "

http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2004/040323-enduring-bases.htm

[Ms. Clio]

17. THANKS! I've been trying to find that link for months! n/t

[gumby]

3. Money down a rat hole /

[Nashyra]

4. I have told many people aboput that

and they are dumbfounded. Keep the info coming and start knocking on doors. We are knocking on doors allday Sat and Sun and if no one is there we are leaving literature with a phone contact. We are sending out literature that starts out with "We are your neighbors...."

[benddem]

5. and you are just learning that now?

this is one of the biggest pieces of crap about this whole thing. This was intended to give us our foothold in the ME.

[cidliz2004]

7. That is exactly right

Why do people even ask why Bush went into Iraq???? Perfectly obivious, because it was the easiest ME Country to topple so that we could establish our military in the ME and remove any remnants of it from Saudi.

We make the Saudis happy, we take revenge on Sadam, We establish a new military stronghold in the ME, we protect our oil supply, we enrich Halliburton and other countries like that and last but not least we bring freedom to the Iraqi people.

It makes me SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW FUCKING STUPID ARE ALMOST 1/2 OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Heath.Hunnicutt]

10. everything right but you got one thing wrong

You said we brought Iraq freedom "last but not least."

Actually, we brought anarchy to Iraq.

Maybe the current U.S. strategy sees anarchy as better than freedom, but Iraqis I have heard in interviews say it will take them 10-15 years to recover from our "help."

[cidliz2004]

15. "Last but not least.." was sarcasm

I have known about the 14 military bases for a long time. I have been waiting for the much needed discussion about this to come up in the campaign. Why hasn't it?

[Ms. Clio]

18. I've little to add to your analysis, except

The foothold (or attempted stranglehold)is also part of the strategy to not just protect the U.S. oil supply, but to deny oil to potential rivals, such as China.

Very glad you raised this question, it needs to be shouted from the rooftops.

(typo edit)

[movonne]

6. I would think it would be a little hard to build 14 bases and embassy..

being that we can't even get anything re-built for the Iraq without it being blown up....I would think 14 military bases and a embassy would make them a little testie...

[Democrat 4 Ever]

8. IF only it were 14 new schools, or hospitals, or new roads,

or health care, or pay down the deficit, or pay the military, or fund colleges and technical schools - HERE IN THE US. The Iraq is sitting on one of the world's richest oil reserves and we are building their country for them. Guess it is a good thing the founding fathers didn't sit around and wait for King George to kick in the Bank of England to get us started.

[gordianot]

9. Done very quietly

It will never be on the news channels and would be surprised if they are given official names.

[SoCalDemocrat]

11. raise this issue

This issue is worth raising over and over again. People need to learn the REAL reasons why we are in Iraq; namely for military expansion in the region.

If Republicans back that policy, fine, let them vote for Bush. We need to inform voters and let them decide. I have plenty of Republican friends who know damn well why we're in Iraq and they back the NeoCON position.

[gordianot]

12. Neo Cons

In time they will be end of any pretense to democracy in America. Republics have a very spotty track record especially when they acquire wealth and power.

[Bandit]

13. Thus No Exit Strategy

There is no exit strategy and there never was one. We plan on being in Iraq for the next millennium or more.

[madfloridian]

14. We are not going to leave Iraq. How are they paying for it?

There is not a plan to leave as we never intended to leave. It is the start of our taking over of the middle east.

Ask yourself where they are getting the money for Iraq? From our treasury? From Social Security and Medicare?

Why aren't our Democrats yelling to the skies: "How are we paying for Iraq?"

I asked a friend that question, and he is a Bush supporter. He was stumped, he had no answer. He started to think.

Ask the right questions.

[gohawks]

16. No plan for peace?? Of course, peace would ruin everything...

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bongo Prophet]

20. But Osama wanted US out of Saudi Arabia...

So W had to do it, since he's OBL's PNAC bitch.
:evilgrin:

You are right of course, and is in the PNAC bluprint. Right out in the open.
So they build and destroy and profit from both. Sweet deal for them.
Horror for the rest of us in the world.

[LynnTheDem]

21. It's SOP for bushlerCartel

They float outrageous things, let Americans scream while bushCartel hotly deny all...then a few months later when other scandals erupt, they slip out the truth and Americans no longer care.

Halliburton; remember even the rightwingnuts screaming in anger when it was rumored Hallie got no-bid contracts? bush denied it all...then it turned out Hallie DID have no-bid contracts; 2 of them. Then a 3rd contract leaked out. And bush said hey, it's only contracts to fight fires, that's all...

And of course that wasn't true at all, but no one cares any longer.

Then came the outrage when Halliburton was found to be overcharging the US by millions. bushCartel denied...then a few weeks later Hallie is found guilty by the GAO of overcharging the US by millions. But by then, Americans no longer cared.

Halliburton has so far been found guilty three times of overcharging us, and there's more investigations still on-going.

When permanent military bases was first leaked to the public over a year ago, Americans were outraged. bushCartel vehemently denied any such plans for bases.

When Robert Fisk and Seymour Hersh wrote articles saying in fact the bases were being built, bushCartel smeared them as "lying partisan hacks".

Now it's taken for granted that the US is building 14 permanent military bases in Iraq and the US public no longer cares.

Last spring, bushCartel sent Wolfowitz out to say the invasion of Iraq was to "spread democracy". Americans either laughed at such an insane stupid remark...or were totaly outraged.

Now it's common bullshite to spout "we invaded Iraq to spread democracy".

That's how bushCartel do it.

That's how Hitler did it, too.

Float a preposterous piece of shit, let the people express outrage while you hotly deny the bullshite...then carry on with the bullshite. By the time the public realizes the bullshite is for fact, they will no longer care.

[Guava Jelly]

22. Since when do you need 14 military bases in Iraq

Since Bushler cut a deal with the saudis to remove our bases from thier soil pre iraq invasion
I am beginning to believe that is what bush wanted that the whole time.

[gordianot]

23. Bush family ties

60 years ago this family verged on being the American Bundt in business dealings if not political support. Half a century later they use the same tried and true tactics without the exact same Nazi racial, ethnic rhetoric. The way they court some religious elements comes close. So called "liberals" and in time "Democrats" are becoming scapegoats.

Iraq is almost B*sh's Poland, at least the Russian's and much of Europe learned from history and did not fall for the ruse in dividing the spoils this time.

The parallels are too many to discuss here.