Iraq’s National Security Adviser Rejects Permanent US Base in Iraq
[Guest post by DRJ]
The United States and Iraq recently began the process of entering into long-term agreements by signing a Declaration of Principles. The next step is to flesh out the terms of the agreement, including the possibility of US bases on Iraqi soil.
Iraqi National Security Adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie wants the good without the bad:
“We need the United States in our war against terrorism, we need them to guard our border sometimes, we need them for economic support and we need them for diplomatic and political support,” Mowaffaq al-Rubaie said.
“But I say one thing, permanent forces or bases in Iraq for any foreign forces is a red line that cannot be accepted by any nationalist Iraqi,” he said, speaking to Dubai-based al Arabiya television in an interview broadcast late on Monday.”
I don’t blame him but we’ll see.
— DRJ
So, he expects our forces that will be helping Iraq to guard its borders to be based where?
LarryD (feb78b) — 12/11/2007 @ 11:58 amIt all depends on what the definition of ‘permanent’ is.
steve sturm (40e5a6) — 12/11/2007 @ 12:14 pmOkinawa, of course.
Techie (ed20d9) — 12/11/2007 @ 12:18 pmIt will be a virtual base, like our southern border fence
Tregg Wright (c1fefd) — 12/11/2007 @ 1:25 pmI always understood “permanent” to mean “until they want us to go”, i.e. the Phillipines. Would assume this is either posturing or just translation problems.
Metzger (e03adc) — 12/11/2007 @ 1:37 pmI would expect something like 25-year leases on the major bases. So the U.S presence won’t be “permanent” but it will be long-term.
Maguro (702568) — 12/11/2007 @ 2:05 pmThe Iraqi minister is simply trying to sound tough as he tailors the spin to the audience du jour. Then later he can say “see, I was a h-a-r-d bargainer, wasn’t I?” even as the 25 years plays out as expected.
ras (fc54bb) — 12/11/2007 @ 3:56 pmLook, he’s an Arab. All this means is that the cost is negotiable.
Another Drew (8018ee) — 12/11/2007 @ 5:33 pmLiving in tents (which are taken down in the morning) and eating MRE’s or goats entrails (or is that a delicacy).
davod (5bdbd3) — 12/12/2007 @ 4:57 am