U.S. Is Planning Buildup in Gulf After Iraq Exit

[The Northerner]

MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — The Obama administration plans to bolster the American military presence in the Persian Gulf after it withdraws the remaining troops from Iraq this year, according to officials and diplomats. That repositioning could include new combat forces in Kuwait able to respond to a collapse of security in Iraq or a military confrontation with Iran.

The plans, under discussion for months, gained new urgency after President Obama’s announcement this month that the last American soldiers would be brought home from Iraq by the end of December. Ending the eight-year war was a central pledge of his presidential campaign, but American military officers and diplomats, as well as officials of several countries in the region, worry that the withdrawal could leave instability or worse in its wake.

After unsuccessfully pressing both the Obama administration and the Iraqi government to permit as many as 20,000 American troops to remain in Iraq beyond 2011, the Pentagon is now drawing up an alternative.

In addition to negotiations over maintaining a ground combat presence in Kuwait, the United States is considering sending more naval warships through international waters in the region.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/world/middleeast/united-states-plans-post-iraq-troop-increase-in-persian-gulf.html?_r=1

[Jnana]

1. The only way we should do this is if oil-producing nations pay us to do it.

[Cali_Democrat]

2. You kidding?

We're gonna pay for it by cutting Medicare and Social Security.

Count on it.

[blkmusclmachine]

4. +1000:

We're gonna pay for it by gutting Medicare and Social Security.

[Jnana]

11. Unfortunately, you are probably right.

You know something is out of kilter when we can't afford police officers to walk the US beat, but are somehow able to police the rest of the planet.

[xchrom]

3. Recommend

[tavalon]

5. Well, duh, but nice Friday night news dump.

I kept asking if we bring our troops home, who will run the bases we built there. I was met with derision. I renew my question.

[stillwaiting]

10. I would hope that most DU'ers would have realized that withdrawal from Iraq meant

a build-up of American troops elsewhere.

The MIC would demand that from our government, and our government would acquiese. It's vital for the 1%'ers economy after all.

The 99%'ers economy will continue to deteriorate, but that's not considered a problem in Washington D.C. It sometimes feels like it's considered a perk.

[tavalon]

14. Yeah, funny dat?

I wonder why they are so surprised by OWS? It's a no-brainer, when we are so soundly ignored by the Washington insiders who are busy fellating their corporate masters.

[spedtr90]

6. MN troops in Iraq will not be coming home until May 2012

They are considered to be in Iraq, they patrol roads in Iraq, but are based in Kuwait.
Stuck in Iraq on a technicality...

[court jester]

7. "The Obama administration plans to bolster the American military presence in the Persian Gulf "

Whoa

We was Un Bolstered. I was so scared. But I didn't know it.

[tavalon]

15. Terra, terra, terra!

Does that help?

Thank you for the call back to PNAC. It can't be brought up enough.

[Obamanaut]

8. With more than 700 military sites (of various size) in 30+ countries, did anyone

*really* believe all the troops would be leaving Iraq?

They never really left Japan, or Germany, for example.

[Autumn]

9. Mission Accomplished,

:patriot: On to Iran via Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. USA USA



:banghead:

[Lorien]

13. Seems so. I was wondering about that from the first announcement

I also wonder how many of our contractors will be left in Iraq.

[tavalon]

16. Contractors, advisors, whatever.....

Same as it ever was.

[AntiFascist]

12. Just another indication that....

The US Government is not just for US citizens any more. The Arab wealth is just too tempting.