05/17/05

A year ago, President Bush boldly said: 'Iraqis do not support an indefinite occupation and neither does America.' Yet Congress is posed to finalize the president's $82 billion request for the Iraq war that includes a half-billion dollars for permanent military bases and another half-billion for building the world's largest embassy. Despite the president's assurances, the United States is preparing for a lengthy stay in Iraq. Open-ended deployment in Iraq is bad news for the brave soldiers fighting the war and their families at home. And adding permanent facilities will actually decrease their security as they present a powerful recruiting tool for insurgent groups. As the U.S. presence has escalated, so too has insurgent recruitment. ... The overwhelming common element between the 43 insurgent groups is resentment about the U.S. military presence...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/224055_iraqbases.html

from Seattle Post Intelligencer, by Erik Leaver -- Hat Tip to Tom Paine


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp