Posted on 09/25/2006 5:08:22 AM PDT by TexKat
WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said he would like to have U.S. military bases in his country for an extended period to prevent foreign interference in Iraq, the Washington Post said on Monday.
Talabani was asked in an interview in New York last week if U.S. bases would be welcome in Iraq's Kurdistan region.
"Yes, they are welcome," he said. "Kurdistan wants the Americans to stay. In some places Sunnis want the Americans to stay. Sunnis think the main danger is coming from Iran now. There is a change in the mind of the Sunnis. The Sunnis are for having good relations with America."
Talabani said Iraq would be in need of U.S. forces for "a long time" to prevent interference from other nations.
"I don't ask to have 100,000 American soldiers -- 10,000 soldiers and two air bases would be enough," he said. "This will be (in) the interest of the Iraqi people and of peace in the Middle East."
Talabani said Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had received strong assurances during a recent trip to Iran that Tehran would not meddle in Iraqi affairs.
Despite daily attacks and the prospects of civil war, Talabani said democracy is beginning to take root in Iraq.
"Iraq is not in chaos," he said. "I want to assure the American people that Iraqis are now enjoying democracy and human rights and are struggling to secure the country
09.25.2006, 06:00 AM
WASHINGTON (XFN-ASIA) - Iraq's president Jalal Talabani asked for long-term US military presence in Iraq, saying his country will need two permanent US air bases to deter 'foreign interference', according to an interview published in the Washington Post.
'I think we will be in need of American forces for a long time -- even two military bases to prevent foreign interference,' Talabani told the Post. 'I don't ask to have 100,000 American soldiers -- 10,000 soldiers and two air bases would be enough.'
He did not elaborate on the nature of the threat, but his remarks contained an indication he had in mind neighboring Iran.
The president, a Kurd, made clear the bases would be most welcome in Kurdistan, an autonomous region in northern Iraq that has practiced de facto self-government since the 1991 Gulf War.
But he suggested that the Sunni Arab segment of the Iraqi population would also be receptive of the idea.
'In some places Sunnis want the Americans to stay,' Talabani argued. 'Sunnis think the main danger is coming from Iran now.'
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2006/09/25/afx3041413.html
Iraq would welcome US military bases -Talabani Ping
carolyn
A couple of air bases and a couple of ground force bases equals a lot of money dumped into local economies.
A couple of air bases and a couple of ground force bases also provides an excellent staging ground for the next phase of the GWOT.
Yep.
Interestingly, one of the liberal requirements for Iraq is that there be "no permanent bases."
I've wondered why they felt compelled to insist on that. I don't recall the same fervor regarding bases in Bosnia/Kosovo.
IIRC, we were only staying there for 1 year. It's been 10 years now.
Thanks for posting this.
When the war was about to start and all my bleeding-heard, etc, friends asked my opinion I said:
1. This war is over. The problem will be divvying up the spoils.
2. We'll be in Iraq for 50 years or more, just like Germany and Japan.
This is good news.
The main reason we're in Iraq - strategically thinking - is to build a base for fighting the crazed Islamic mullahs.
It will not take one war, or one campaign, or one battle to finish this task. It will take decades of fighting and killing, till the reason for all the killing is gone.
Islam is in the middle of it's reformation, when the old, bitter, vengeful policies of the past are exposed and rejected. These will not be pleasant times.
But, the job must be done, and the US is the only nation with the will, the skill, and the compassion to do it right.
The warriors who risk their lives today will know they made a difference in the world their children enjoy, just as they make a difference today.
May the good Lord bless them and keep them, may he make his face to shine upon them, and may they find solace in his loving embrace.
Due to the influx of terrorists and weapons from Iran - and the concentration now switched to killing Iraqis more than our troops - they are getting me message.
Hopefully, republicans will maintain majority and not abandon Iraq, after such dearly paid for lives, for the barbarians to flood in behind us and take over the country - and hopefully, the rumors that Turkey is going to join with Iran to attack Kurdistan is just that. I cannot conceive of Turkey doing this - unless we pull out.
If the dems get control, they'll see no problem in attacking = as will Iran, Syria, etc.
Iraq would be much further along on the road to peace and stability now were it not for the daily encouragement from our enemy within to the terrorists to hang in there - help is coming...just keep up the bloodshed and we'll pull out and you can have the country as your new base of operations to continue your jihard against non Islamic countries...
They - our second front on the war (our enemies within) - are so blinded by hatred for our Pres. and the goal of ruling by any means that they can't see that the first heads to be lopped off will be theirs. These barbarians hate ALL Americans, not just Republicans. And they intend to subject ALL peoples and countries to Islam. You don't play footsie with the devil and not get burned.
Also, we've built some "enduring bases." Fourteen sites have been designated as such. We aren't supposed to use the word "permanent," but we all knew what "enduring" meant. ;-)
I known for some time as well!
Thanks TK for the ping.
Yes, I don't think that we need the media to inform us that this would be just what the Kurds want.
s/b I've known
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