What about the 14 "enduring bases" the murdered contractors were building?

[Stephanie]

When I see rumors being floated by Novak today that the U.S. will pull out of Iraq after the election, I wonder about these 14 "enduring bases." But I haven't been able to find much information on this. Has the Bush administration been honest about the buiilding of these bases in Iraq, or is this something else they are dissembling about?

Tell the Truth, Mr. Bush. What is the purpose of building the 14 American military bases in Iraq, if our goal is too create a democracy in Iraq and then leave?

The first excerpt is from Paul Krugman's column. Can anyone enlighten me? Where did Krugman get the info about the 14 bases? I have not seen it anywhere before now.

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But if the chance to install a pro-American government has been lost, what's the alternative? Scaling back American aims. This means accepting the fact that an Iraqi leader, to have legitimacy, must be able to deliver an end to America's military presence. Unless America wants this war to go on forever, it will have to abandon the 14 "enduring bases" the Bush administration has been building.

http://www.iht.com/articles/539854.htm

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Many U.S. contractors have been drawn to Iraq by opportunities to make at least twice as much as they can at home — and often more — tax free. Private firms pay up to $12,000 a month. for jobs in construction, civil engineering and maintenance.

Hensley, Armstrong and Bigley all worked as civil engineers for Gulf Supplies and Commercial Services Co., a construction company based in the United Arab Emirates. They were helping to renovate a military base north of Baghdad.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002042758_iraq22.html

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[mmonk]

1. Great post

[cthrumatrix]

2. the "liberal media" can't discuss this fact...DU talks about DAILY

[Stephanie]

4. Has DU talked about the 14 enduring bases?

I haven't seen that discussion and I'd like to know more.

[merh]

7. There were several posts about the 14 bases, back in June

and July - one of the sites for a base is located on or very near to the ruins of the City of Babylon - archeologists all over the world were very upset that the ruins were being damaged by the "rebuilding" efforts of the US. BBC articles and other international news sources have discussed the 14 bases.

[Stephanie]

9. Thanks, I will look for those articles

But really, if I haven't heard about it, internet news junkie that I am, then how many average voters know about this?

[merh]

11. Sorry can't get you the links to the DU threads, but there were

some U.S. articles on it. Google the ruins of babylon - you will find articles that discuss the stir that construction at one of the 14 base sites caused. I think it was the base housing the Poles.

[no name no slogan]

8. It has been mentioned here before

IIRC there were some posts about it a couple of weeks ago. You may have to do a search to find them.

Still, nobody should have any illusions about the US's long-term plans for the region. You don't build bases like that if you only plan to be there another 1-2 years...

[Stephanie]

10. Well, WE know that the neo-cons plan to use Iraq as a base of operations

in their plan for ME conquest, but does anyone else know? These bases are such concrete evidence of what's in store that I think it should be front page news. The building of these bases directly belies Bush's promises.

[peacetalksforall]

3. The greater sequence has already been stated by them....

They are going to redeploy troops - details not made available - the hint is that they are bringing them home. Nice ring to the words, right? But what is the truth.

Then we have also known that they are building bases in Iraq and there was a time when they were all lovey-dovey with the country of Georgia and relationships have improved with Turkey (they must have paid them enough, finally.)

There PLAN (PNAC and ancillary think tanks and foundations) is to protect Israel and rule the resources of the Middle East.

All adds up.

[Stephanie]

5. So when will Bush Tell the TRUTH about that?

Are the neo-cons still in charge? Where are these 14 bases? Are the bases being built by Halliburton? Is the base-building using up the resources that might have gone to repair infrastructure we destroyed? Just asking.

[kid a]

6. novak lies daily

[Supersedeas]

12. A great election year question to pose to both candidates.

[Stephanie]

13. I'd really like to know -

Could George Bush please tell the TRUTH about these bases? Are they worth those poor civilian engineers' heads?

[troubleinwinter]

14. Here are some stories

http://www.rense.com/general53/dde.htm
http://reason.com/links/links032904.shtml
http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2004/040323-enduring-bases.htm

[Stephanie]

15. Thank you! Excerpt:

Chicago Tribune March 23, 2004
14 `enduring bases' set in Iraq
Long-term military presence planned

By Christine Spolar

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.

"Is this a swap for the Saudi bases?" asked Army Brig. Gen. Robert Pollman, chief engineer for base construction in Iraq. "I don't know. ... When we talk about enduring bases here, we're talking about the present operation, not in terms of America's global strategic base. But this makes sense. It makes a lot of logical sense." <more>

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

[Stephanie]

17. Another excerpt:

March 29, 2004

Empire State
America's "enduring bases" in Iraq
Jeff Taylor

<snip>

The thing to do, then, is find a way to build great big, long runways so you can fly in all your supplies. This is cheaper in the long run and will not anger the locals; provided you can secure the approaches to your runways, it's safer too. Plus it also allows you to take all those National Guardsmen who are running your truck convoys non-stop and send them home before they quit and opt not to re-up.

So from the Pentagon's point of view, building enduring bases in Iraq makes so much sense that it is not even going to wait for some civilian authority to order it.

"The engineering vision is well ahead of the policy vision," Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy chief of operations for the coalition in Iraq recently explained. "What the engineers are saying now is: Let's not be behind the policy decision. Let's make this place ready so we can address policy options."

In other words, the civilian policy makers will be presented with a fait accompli. They can opt to keep the bases that the Pentagon has already spent money to build, and put up with the iffy security conditions and bad PR. Or station U.S. troops somewhere outside Iraq where it will be more costly and more difficult to rush them in if they re needed. Oh, and the new spiffy U.S. bases in Iraq will fall into the hands of who knows what if you leave.

It is a classic choice. Enduring even.

http://reason.com/links/links032904.shtml

[DURHAM D]

16. Sey Hersh - his new book.

In the interviews he has been giving to promote his new book he talks about one base in particular on which we have spent one billion dollars. He says it will never be occupied.

[Stephanie]

18. I wonder who got the contract

Hmmmm - let me think about that...

[LibertyorDeath]

19. kick