Iraqis Condemn American Demands For Nearly 60 Military Bases

Washington Post:

High-level negotiations over the future role of the U.S. military in Iraq have turned into an increasingly acrimonious public debate, with Iraqi politicians denouncing what they say are U.S. demands to maintain nearly 60 bases in their country indefinitely.

Top Iraqi officials are calling for a radical reduction of the U.S. military's role here after the U.N. mandate authorizing its presence expires at the end of this year. Encouraged by recent Iraqi military successes, government officials have said that the United States should agree to confine American troops to military bases unless the Iraqis ask for their assistance, with some saying Iraq might be better off without them.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[dmacgregor]

Iraq is slightly larger than California. I wonder how Californians would feel if Bush announced plans to build 60 U.S. Military bases in California?

[wsblake]

First they don't throw flowers like they promised. Then they don't pay for the war with their own oil revenue like thay said they would. Then they get all testy about our troops occupying their country. These people are just never satisfied ,are they?

[JoeBlough]

Once the Iraqi people realize they are but children defying the grown ups, this situation can turn to the more important task of winning against Iran. The US is deermined to "win" everything it sees, hears or touches.

[trollsbwild]

Someone help me out. If they do not want us there, is this an illegal occupation? If so, aren't Bush and Cheney going to face charges for war crimes?

[sophistwatch]

Actually the occupation is illegal because the invasion was illegal.

The Senate Phase II report states that Bush and Cheney knowingly used false intel to lead us into a preemptive war. Invading a sovereign nation without just cause is the war crime. This is the reason the war and the occupation are illegal.

The chief prosecutor of the Nuremberg trials had some valid observations on this subject.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0825-06.htm

Whether or not they will face any charges for war crimes is up to the Congress and the DOJ.

[Mercedes]

Sorry, Bush, but you underestimated the Iraqi people. They do NOT live in the backward Dark Ages and you CANNOT steal their OIL from under them without a fight.

Your war is the biggest Illegal, Immoral and Indecent war in HISTORY.

[vippy]

And where is our congress on this or senate. They just let Bush get away with everything.
Once you enable you are just as guilty. I am sick and tired of blaming Bush when it is our spineless congress. Fire them all.

[Mercedes]

Except for Rep. Kucinich and Sen Wexler, the rest of Congress, and Barack Obama and John McCain are doing business as usual.

I think they figure that we have enough to worry about, what with the Illegal war in Iraq, the economy, and OIL prices.

I've even heard that if the Dems go after Cheney and Bush, then the Repubs will turn Cheney and Bush into martyrs and say that the Dems are playing the "revenge" game because of the Repubs going after Bill Clinton; then the Repubs can try to convince people to keep the Repubs in the majority, so the "big bad mean Democrats" can't go after "poor little Bush and Cheney".

[fact finder]

vippy; I have been saying this for as long as I have been commenting on this site. Good luck on most people listening to the truth.

[JoeBlough]

Apparently, Dems don't know about the all important "winning".

[awcbuddy8]

Yet people with that kind of mentallity feel that a fascist dictator is better for their country than a democracy.

[Mercedes]

awcbuddy8:

Who ever said that Iraqis want to live in a democracy? Iraq has always been ruled by tribal or religious groups.

Why doesn't Bush leave? He DID say that when the Iraqis (not his puppet, al-Maliki) want him to withdraw the US troops, he would.

Well, the majority rules, and the majority wants our troops OUT.

We should at least respect the Iraqis enough to let them choose their type of government. You should know that the only reason Bush won't leave is because he wants them to approve the Iraq Hydrocarbon Law, which will mainly give the OIL companies (Exxon-Mobil, Chevron, BP, Shell, etc) the rights to 80% of the untapped Iraqi OIL--more than $30 TRILLION in potential profits, while the Iraqis will "share" the 20% of the OIL that is being processed now.

This war has, is, and always will be about the damn OIL and the love of MONEY. Forget about human lives....

[ThermoChemist]

"Yet people with that kind of mentality feel that a fascist dictator is better for their country than a democracy."

++++++++++

[a] You do realize that you are "somewhat" implicating your hero Bushie (and the mentality of the 28%-ers) in your statement, don't you...?

"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator."
– Bush , Dec. 2000

[b] I'm sure you've seen such comparisons before (Bush, the fascist wannabe?). The lists are too long to mention her; but a few items include:

1.) Powerful and Continuing Nationalism: Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia.
Family Security Matters — the right-wing front group, claims ‘multiculturalism’ threatens U.S.
New Majority Leader: Iraq War “May Be The Greatest Gift That We Give” Our Grandchildren

2.) Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights.
We are now a torturing police state: Bush signing into law that will get rid of habeas corpus, allow hearsay evidence, etc.
Bush Offers Himself Amnesty for Human Rights Crimes
Bush threatens to veto $442b defense bill if Congress investigates detainee abuses.
U.S. oks evidence gained through torture

3.) Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause.
SB 24, Ohio law to muzzle "liberals"
Fox radio hosts suggests putting liberal commentators and activists in concentration camps.

http://www.bushwatch.com/fascism.htm
http://www.oldamericancentury.org/14pts.htm

[MJD615]

Hello...McCain???? Are you listening? They don't want us there. Wake up!!!

[jsinclair]

We don't need a colony in Iraq, antagonizing people throughout the region with our 60 (SIXTY!) military bases there. Iraqis don't want it and neither do most Americans.

Is it too much to hope that GWB could just DO NOTHING, cause no NEW problems, until the new administration begins?

Just six months! Please!~

[olivia]

Didn't Bush say that the U.S. would leave Iraq when the Iraqi government asked us to?

[Saganslegacy]

Like he aid he'd fire anybody involved in the Plame case.

Dry drunk.

[ThermoChemist]

Yes, Bush DID say that...!

[a] Nov. 2006 - Bush ALSO said after the 2006 elections that he would work WITH the Senate Democrats
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/09/election.main/index.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/10/AR2006111001022.html

...and then made recess apointments during Congress's Dec. break and again during Congress's Easter break: Bush Defies Democrats With 3 Appointments -- http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/04/washington/04cnd-bush.html?ei=5088&en=65e936c4e9a1bd7d&ex=1333339200&adxnnl=1&partner=rss

[b] July 2007 - Bush said "The Scooter Libby decision was, I thought, a fair and balanced decision". THEN Bush spared Libby from a 2 1/2-year prison term in the CIA leak case by commuting his 30 month sentence.

[c] Jun. 2005 - Bush ALSO said "As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down." He THEN implements the escalation (umm, I mean surge) which puts even MORE troops into Iraq. All the while, he touts all the success at the training of Iraqi troops and their cooperation/assistance in various campaigns.

[d] Jun. 2004 - Bush replied "yes" when asked "Do you stand by your pledge to fire anyone found to have leaked Plame's name?". A year later, the "Yes" became conditional -- "I would like this to end as quickly as possible so we know the facts, and IF someone committed a CRIME, they will no longer work in my administration." NO ONE in the administration was ever FIRED...!

[Tranquility08]

This is by far and away the biggest issue with regards to Iraq and the future of American involvement there. Why is the MSM not touching this issue? And why frankly are the candidates not saying something about this?

[sophistwatch]

"Absent the agreements or the extension of the U.N. mandate, U.S. troops would have no legal basis to remain in Iraq".

They have no legal basis to be there now.

[drauz]

let me guess, this negotiation might extend past Election Day.
alternatively, Bush could invade again in order to make it safe for his brilliant policies.

[spiderbucket]

We cannot let this happen. Get out of the Middle East altogether and let Israel deal with their own issues.