Rice Dismisses Talk of U.S. Bases in Iraq

[cal04]

Secretary of State Condoleezza Riceon Tuesday brushed aside suggestions that the United States wants an indefinite troop presence and permanent military bases in Iraq. "The presence in Iraq is for a very clear purpose, and that's to enable Iraqis to be able to govern themselves and to create security forces that can help them do that," Rice told the House Appropriations Committee's foreign operations panel.

"I don't think that anybody believes that we really want to be there longer than we have to," the chief U.S. diplomat added. However, Rice did not say when all U.S. forces would return home and did not directly answer Rep. Steven Rothman, D-N.J., when he asked, "Will the bases be permanent or not?"

"I would think that people would tell you, we're not seeking permanent bases really pretty much anywhere in the world these days. We are, in fact, in the process of removing base structure from a lot of places," Rice replied. "I can't foresee the future of whether or not there will be some need for American forces for some period of time," she added. "But I can tell you that our discussions with the Iraqis are about getting them capable to defend, not just against their internal insurgency and internal enemies, but also to be able to be a responsible and defensible state within the region."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060404/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq

[BeyondGeography]

1. Oh, so we're disarming then, Condi?

No bases anywhere in the world? What a utopian idea for a country that accounts for 5% of the world's population and 50% of its military spending.

[mdmc]

2. we will be there forever

thanks to the dems and the GOP... Go Neo-con corporate moderates!

[rodeodance]

3. so billion of $$ going into these bases just to be left there?

[Skink]

4. I wonder if a Nuclear Iran could hit those bases?

[leftchick]

7. no nuclear needed

they can hit them with the missiles they now have. This is insanity.

[november3rd]

23. Yo, Skink!

Don't you realize, we have to have bases so the Iranians can nuke them over there, otherwise they would try to nuke us over here?

[mdmc]

5. we will be there forever

in 2008 President Clinton / McCain / whatever will stay the course...

[Make7]

19. Forever is a long time.

The oil in the Middle-East will not last forever - I'm sure that once the region is not a viable source for energy anymore, the United States will have little to no interest in sticking around.

- Make7

[mdmc]

40. forever

or until the oil is dried up. Or until the USA is willing to suffer another vietnam defeat.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

13. they wish / in their dreams !!-- permanent oil pumping ain't gonna happen*

*The presence of U.S. mercenaries and troops can't go on indefinitely -
...but continued sabotage of oil looting efforts is likely to remain constant and "permanent"-

Bungling Halliburton carpetbaggers can barely prime the pumps much less get them up to capacity-
How much oil-field sabotage occurs each and EVERY day that we don't hear about?

The American people will not allow American Troops to continue to die on a daily basis
--oil or no oil !

Everyone knows that the goal of the Iraqi resistance (in_sergeants) is obviously to interfere with everything!
-all outside companies included-
---permanently ---
.

Let's wait and see if my guess is right.
People here at home are going to put their foot down soon-
especially after the invasion of Iran-

4/4/06

[mdmc]

18. forever or iran , whichever comes first

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

30. chicken or the egg

[mdmc]

41. we will be there forever

or until the oil runs out. Or until the American people are willing to take another vietnam loss.

[av8tor05]

38. I agree.

I know this is hard to believe but we still have soldiers based in Germany! They have been there since WWII. Bring them home now! Same with Italy, and Spain, and the far east. We still have troops in Bosnia and Clinton said they would be home by Christmas. Oh yeah and Korea. What is going on here? :^P

[mdmc]

42. welocme to DU. no one wants to lose a war. I don't think it is winable.

[av8tor05]

45. Thank you for the warm welcome.

[tanyev]

6. Everyone knows you're terrible at imagining and foreseeing, Condi.

Tell me again why I should care what she believes?

[saigon68]

8. A pawn who is EVIL a complete Puppet of the NEOCONS

A shell with no soul whatsoever.

[theobscure]

9. have we ever left anywhere we've ever bootprinted? n/t

[NYC]

14. Good question. Does anyone have an answer?

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[BrotherBuzz]

47. Panama 1999

Although we still use the airbases for refueling purposes. Rumor is we've moved and set up the black operations at Paraguay's Mariscal Estigarribia air base. Business as usual, only closer to potential/future South American wars that looms on the horizon.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=HAL20051124&articleId=1322

[NYC]

48. Thanks.

At least we left.

[Make7]

22. Perhaps Somalia and Lebanon.

Depends on what you mean by "bootprinted".

- Make7

[theobscure]

46. I don't think we were in Somalia long enough to leave a ...

boot print. Lebanon may be an example. Ironically, it may also arguably be the only example of a time when it was or would have been detrimental to leave.

[Jacobin]

10. This woman would lie about the time of day for sport

This is flat out perjury

[leftofcool]

11. Condo-lies-a strikes again..........

if the bitch's mouth is moving she is lying.

left of cool

[0007]

15. When her teeth twitches watch out!

[cliss]

12. OK.....trying to read very carefully between the lines....

I've noticed that Little Miss Liar will sandwich the truth in-between the lies. You've just got to look very carefully.

Question: When will the troops be coming home?

Answer = "I don't think that anybody believes that we really want to be there longer than we have to".

Interpretation: I'm not sure about this. This is probably a twisted answer. We'll be there as long as we need to: it could be forever.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Question: Will the bases be permanent or not?

Answer = I would think that people would tell you, we're not seeking permanent bases really pretty much anywhere in the world these days. We are, in fact, in the process of removing base structure from a lot of places.

Interpretation: where? Where are we dismantling bases? The only ones I know of are: Iceland. We're pulling out of that country. Uzbekistan: I believe we were evicted from that country. Saudi Arabia: we pulled out because we had to. Germany: I believe we're completely pulling out of that country.

But as far as "dismantling" them, they're not being dismantled. They're still standing. Lies, lies and more lies.

[Bridget Burke]

43. I noticed her twisted language...

I know quite a few bright folks for whom English is not their first language. For them, understanding is easier than speaking--similar to my limited Spanish skills (but better).

However, some English makes their head hurt. They keep trying to make sense--but what they are reading or hearing does NOT make sense. (Sort of like Cantinflas. I try to catch classic Mexican movies on TV. It took a while to understand that he specialized in double-talk. At least, he was being funny.)

[Kenergy]

16. She's LYING n/t

[Inland]

17. "Eventually, our sun will turn into a red giant

and hot gases will envelope and destroy the earth itself. At that point, there will be no bases in Iraq. So I can't possibly answer your question."

[Demeter]

20. Condi-Liar, pants on fire!

Seems like we got BushCo's attention: they know we are onto their nefarious plots, hence the denials.

[truthisfreedom]

21. are her lips moving? she's lying.

seems simple enough.

[VegasWolf]

24. Rice says that we have to be there to protect OUR oil. nt

[Media_Lies_Daily]

25. Liar.

[DLnyc]

26. On page 39 of "Iraqi Index"

A (pdf) compilation of facts and figures as well as polling data compiled by the Brookings institute, which can be accessed from this link:

http://www.brookings.edu/iraqindex

You will find the results of a Jan 31 2006 poll by World Public Opinion.org Poll in which Iraqis were asked:

"Do you think the U.S. government plans to have permanent military bases in Iraq or to remove all its military once Iraq is stabilized?"

Number responding 'plans to have permanent':
Overall 80%
Kurds 67%
Shia 79%
Sunni 92%

I recommend this report for people who want to know what realities are in Iraq.

I would also suggest that Kindasleazy have someone literate in her well-organized, professional NSA staff see if he or she could spend half an hour looking through the report. I realize the staff is very busy cooking up new wars and spying on political opponents, but it is healthy to take a few minutes now and then and check out reality.

[struggle4progress]

33. Comparing Americans and Iraqis

[DLnyc]

35. Interesting

My hunch is that Iraqis have a better understanding of what's going on in Iraq than Americans do, though. It seems weird that they both think the US doesn't really care what an Iraqi government says, but disagree on what the long-term plans are. I guess Americans think Iraqis are too dumb to know whether they need us or not.

[pinniped]

27. They are so fucking busted already.

These bases also have special forces areas separate from the rest of the base. Also, there are huge post offices being built.

That general dodo abizaid whatever the hell is name is was very evasive when asked directly about these permanent bases. That says it all. These people are fucking liars to the end.

How nice of the assholes in the wh, using our tax money to build the Iraqis these billion dollar bases. I guess they never had bases before. They just camped their soldiers in sands of the desert.

[Roland99]

28. Lying. Piece. Of. SHIT!

[WhiteTara]

29. Look! Her lips are moving! She's Lying! n/t

[Canuck55]

31. She loves the straw man....

"I don't think that anybody believes that we really want to be there longer than we have to,"
====================================

Depends on whose definition of 'have to'. Have to as in: 'Iraqi's have a somewhat peaceful society of self-governance' or have to as in: 'Crude has levelled off at $120.00/barrel and Chevron just christened the Condoleeza II'.

[otohara]

32. The Next President

or the next, next will be deciding this issue. So why even bother asking this lying bitch?

[ConcernedCanuk]

34. Simple logical argument - just ask Japan and Germany

.
.
.

and 100 other nations that the USA "helped"

how many bases were closed, abandoned or handed over to the countries they built bases in?

heck, they even have bases in Canada

USA don't leave

period

[Zorra]

36. Condi, honey, you are the biggest sell-out since Benedict

Arnold. You sell out not only every American - but you particularly shame every black person that has struggled against enormous adversity for recognition as a human being deserving of the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, and Susan B. Anthony would be ashamed of how you have sold out their values in your quest for wealth and power.

Come into the light, it's not too late. Expose your republican totalitarianist "comrades" for what they are - anti-democracy fascists. You know you are lying to keep your wealth and place of power.

Is it all worth it, Condoleeza?

Is it worth your soul?

It's not too late. You and your PNAC fascist pals are going down in the very near future. They used you, because you are an intelligent black woman.

It's over, Condi. Avoid your Nuremberg trial.

Be a real American.

Turn them in and be a heroine.

We'll forgive you, unconditonally.

[Solly Mack]

37. Another case of how a word is defined by the Bush Regime

Someone says permanent


You hear: forever(or forever in that you'll die eventually and the bases will still be there)


BUT

The Bush Regime means: If at any point in the future, even if that future is 200 years from now, the bases are no longer inhabited by US soldiers, then the bases are not permanent

Same thing they do with the words/phrases - torture, transparency, spreading democracy, clean air etc.

[underpants]

39. Exactly-they live off of assumptions

You assume one thing and Rove does his childish hehehe "That's not what we MEANT" trick.

We caught they say it has already been reported on or dealth with and there is no need to cover that again.

[Supersedeas]

44. not really pretty much anywhere???? her degree comes from where?