I've been looking at this trying to figure out which base is so vital. I even read Tommy Franks' statement on the UAE. We are pretty firmly esconced in Iraq now. Which base are you talking about, and why do we need it so much that we are trading insecurity here for security there?
Rush has been talking about it for days. I don't know the name of it (but Rush mentioned it) - but according to Rush, it is vital to the WOT. Also .. I think Monsoor Ijaz might have mentioned it also.
Plus all our ships from the gulf go into the port at Dubai to restock, etc. This is a great benefit to us.