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New agreement lets US strike any country from inside Iraq (Postwar Iraq takes shape)
Gulf News ^ | June 03, 2008, | Basil Adas

Posted on 06/04/2008 6:34:32 AM PDT by tlb

Baghdad: A proposed Iraqi-American security agreement will include permanent American bases in the country, and the right for the United States to strike, from within Iraqi territory, any country it considers a threat to its national security, Gulf News has learned.

Senior Iraqi military sources have told Gulf News that the long-term controversial agreement is likely to include three major items.

Under the agreement, Iraqi security institutions such as Defence, Interior and National Security ministries, as well as armament contracts, will be under American supervision for ten years.

The agreement is also likely to give American forces permanent military bases in the country, as well as the right to move against any country considered to be a threat against world stability or acting against Iraqi or American interests.

The military source added, "According to this agreement, the American forces will keep permanent military bases on Iraqi territory, and these will include Al Asad Military base in the Baghdadi area close to the Syrian border, Balad military base in northern Baghdad close to Iran, Habbaniyah base close to the town of Fallujah and the Ali Bin Abi Talib military base in the southern province of Nasiriyah close to the Iranian border."

The sources confirmed that the American army is in the process of completing the building of the military facilities and runways for the permanent bases.

He added that the American air bases in Kirkuk and Mosul will be kept for no longer than three years. However, he said there were efforts by the Americans to include the Kirkuk base in the list of permanent bases.

The sources also said that a British brigade was expected to remain at the international airport in Basra for ten years as long as the American troops stayed in the permanent bases in Iraq.

Iraqi analysts said that the second item of the controversial agreement which permits American forces on Iraqi territories to launch military attacks against any country it considers a threat is addressed primarily to Iran and Syria.

Iran has raised serious concerns in the past few days over the Iraqi-American security agreement and followed it with issuing religious fatwas and called for demonstrations, mainly by the powerful Shiite leader Moqtada Al Sadr movement, who is close to Iran, against the agreement.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: iran; iraq; kuwait; saudiarabia; syria
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Sounds right.
1 posted on 06/04/2008 6:34:32 AM PDT by tlb
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To: tlb
Holy Shiite!
2 posted on 06/04/2008 6:36:40 AM PDT by McGruff (Et tu, McClellan.)
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To: tlb

The mullahs will love this.


3 posted on 06/04/2008 6:37:22 AM PDT by shove_it (and have a nice day)
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To: tlb

This is news? This is part of what the war was all about. President Bush has given the next president the tools he needs to fight AQ et al.


4 posted on 06/04/2008 6:39:11 AM PDT by Former Proud Canadian (How do I change my screen name after Harper's election?)
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To: tlb

The ways in which this ‘war’ is becoming a complete success are too numerous to count, or fully appreciate.


5 posted on 06/04/2008 6:40:40 AM PDT by laotzu
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To: Former Proud Canadian
This is news? This is part of what the war was all about.

Exactly. It's a GLOBAL War on Terror... it's not just about Iraq.

6 posted on 06/04/2008 6:40:52 AM PDT by rhombus
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To: tlb

What makes you think the Iraqis will go for it? Wasn’t there something on Drudge yesterday about how they’re uncomfortable with long term US troop presence?


7 posted on 06/04/2008 6:41:41 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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To: tlb

Nothing really new here, but it does make it clear that our efforts in Iraq are not following the Vietnam model at all. Our efforts are following the model of Germany — defeat the fascists, set up long-term military bases, prepare to act against the big threat to the east.


8 posted on 06/04/2008 6:41:48 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Et si omnes ego non)
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To: tlb

Next stop: Iran.

- John


9 posted on 06/04/2008 6:42:47 AM PDT by Fishrrman
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To: Former Proud Canadian
This is news?

Only to the extent that winning a major conflict, securing liberty for oppressed millions, and stabbing at the heart of our enemies is.

Otherwise; you are correct. Not much to see here.

10 posted on 06/04/2008 6:43:32 AM PDT by laotzu
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To: Former Proud Canadian
This is news? This is part of what the war was all about.

Well it's news that it's now a reality.

From the article: The military source added, "According to this agreement, the American forces will keep permanent military bases on Iraqi territory, and these will include Al Asad Military base in the Baghdadi area close to the Syrian border, Balad military base in northern Baghdad close to Iran, Habbaniyah base close to the town of Fallujah and the Ali Bin Abi Talib military base in the southern province of Nasiriyah close to the Iranian border."

11 posted on 06/04/2008 6:45:24 AM PDT by ETL
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To: tlb

What a great time for Barack Hussein Obama to visit Iraq.


12 posted on 06/04/2008 6:48:05 AM PDT by ETL
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To: tlb

Reported in the news (OMG!) so they can poke the muzzies in the eye and incite controvery. Maybe we’ll get a few angry diaper-heads to declare (another) jihad...

thanks lame-stream media.

How is this big news? We better HOPE we have people in th government smart enough to have contingency plans in place for many scary scenarios.


13 posted on 06/04/2008 6:48:27 AM PDT by Mr. K (Some days even my lucky rocketship underpants don't help)
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To: tlb

Plus interior lines of communications.

The American planners understood this from the start even if the “anti-war” idiots didn’t.


14 posted on 06/04/2008 6:48:41 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: Non-Sequitur

I suspect this won’t be like Germany or Japan. Beverages and other distractions will be provided on base...


15 posted on 06/04/2008 6:50:34 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Non-Sequitur

Yep, exactly - multiple signs from Iraqis that they’ll guard their sovereignty jealously. As they should, even if we disagree on details.

I give any bases five years tops, before a newly secure Iraqui government, whether dictatorship or democracy boots them with widesprerad international support. Sooner if the US strike Iran from them and the resulting images of dead and suffering are played worldwide oin cable and free channels.


16 posted on 06/04/2008 6:51:31 AM PDT by Androcles (All your typos are belong to us)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
I suspect this won’t be like Germany or Japan. Beverages and other distractions will be provided on base...

I don't think that booze and hookers were their concern.

17 posted on 06/04/2008 6:52:21 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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To: tlb

A Status of Forces agreement with Iraq, with US bases, was one of the most important reasons for the Iraq war. And the conclusion of this agreement will be one of the most important elements of George W. Bush’s legacy.

It will mean the equivalent of one or two aircraft carrier groups on permanent station in the middle of the most troublesome region in the world. It will prevent much of the most threatening nuclear proliferation, and places us on the doorstep of Iran.

Hopefully, it will become the headquarters of AFRICOM, and secure the flow of oil through the Persian Gulf.

In time, Iraq should become an economic and military powerhouse, and may become a founding state in a Middle East Common Market, whose membership will include those states willing to become fully democratic and transparent. Which most of them will become, when they realize the economic advantages.


18 posted on 06/04/2008 6:56:49 AM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy
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To: tlb
On other sites I've recently found myself sparring with anti-Iraq-war lefties who maintain that one of the outcomes of the war is that "Iran has come out stronger as a result". I think I've heard liberal politicians try to make this claim also. This news single-handedly shatters that argument. A military presence next door to the mullahs is the stick, and the democracy forming in Iraq is the carrot for the people of Iran, and Tehran cannot possibly be pleased.

This is why the Iranians felt the need to send weapons and fighters to Iraq, to prevent what has now happened from happening.

The military strike force in the belly of the beast makes us safer at home too, because it changes the landscape and timing of consequences for any would-be perpetrator of an attack against America.

We have now shown our willingness to exact consequences on those who would do us harm, erased the reason we were attacked to begin with by displaying a willingness to stand and shed blood without fleeing, now this. The Iraq war will be the gift that keeps on giving.

19 posted on 06/04/2008 6:57:02 AM PDT by wayoverontheright
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To: rhombus
This is what I believe the Iraq war was all about in the first place. The strategic location of Iraq makes it perfect for bringing US military forces into striking distance of our primary objective, Iran.

Secondly, I was thinking...and would like some feedback please. Why is it that islam is taking the fight up with the west now? Granted, it's been escalating for the past 30 years, but more recently in the past 10 years. Why now? Well, let's think about the role of oil and the "fear" of increased world demand and a lack of oil to supply that demand. Many say oil is running out. If that's so, then islam is close to running out of money. No oil revenue, no money to fund islam. So time to act is now before the oil revenue dries up. I suspect that the radical islamic movement is fighting a race against time. They've got a window of opportunity of about 50-100 years to win this war before the oil money is gone for good.

20 posted on 06/04/2008 6:57:19 AM PDT by Paco
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