US and UK forces establish 'enduring bases' in Iraq

It would appear that every anti-war campaigner has been proven right regarding US and UK intentions to remain in Iraq for the forseeable future. Many of us have argued that Bush and Blair have no intention of pulling out of the region and actually plan to establish permanent military bases there.

And from today's Independent on Sunday comes this:

The Pentagon has revealed that coalition forces are spending millions of dollars establishing at least six "enduring" bases in Iraq - raising the prospect that US and UK forces could be involved in a long-term deployment in the country. It said it assumed British troops would operate one of the bases.

Having been forced by bin Laden to withdraw from Saudi Arabia the logic of empire always implied that the US would seek an alternative base in the Middle East from which to threaten anyone who challenges US interests.

Joseph Gerson, a historian of American military bases, said: "The Bush administration's intention is to have a long-term military presence in the region ... For a number of years the US has sought to use a number of means to make sure it dominates in the Middle East ... The Bush administration sees Iraq as an unsinkable aircraft carrier for its troops and bases for years to come."

It just goes to show the sheer amount of barefaced lies that Bush and Blair have tried to fob us off with ever since they illegally invaded Iraq.

They have no intention of withdrawing, and the greatest joke they pull is this: The American and British governments say they remain in Iraq at the invitation of the interim Iraqi government, and would leave if asked to do so.

I think the stark reality is that Bush would request the replacement of any Iraqi Prime Minister who dared ask them to leave. Just as he is currently asking for the replacement of Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

Related Articles:

Karen Kwiatkowski on C-Spans Q and A.

Tags: US, UK, Iraq, Iraq War, Enduring Bases,