14 `enduring bases' set in Iraq

From the ashes of abandoned Iraqi army bases, U.S. military engineers are overseeing the building of an enhanced system of American bases designed to last for years.

Last year, as troops poured over the Kuwait border to invade Iraq (news - web sites), the U.S. military set up at least 120 forward operating bases. Then came hundreds of expeditionary and temporary bases that were to last between six months and a year for tactical operations while providing soldiers with such comforts as e-mail and Internet access.

Though I disagree, that is the One reason we went in, you say that like it's a bad thing. Even IF it was the One thing, why is that bad? To quote some article:

There is a lot of American Life in a barrel of the black stuff.
Contrary to a popular misconception, less than half of every barrel of oil we use in the United States is turned into gasoline. The majority becomes the key ingredient in thousands of products Americans use everyday. Here are just a few:
Antihistamines, Antiseptics, Artificial hearts, Aspirin, Bandages, Cameras, Candles, CD players, Clothing, Computers, Dentures, Deodorant, Diapers, Digital Clocks, Fertilizers, Food preservatives, Food storage bags, Glue, Golf Balls, House paint, Insecticides, Lipstick, Medical equipment, Pacemakers, Pantyhose, Perfumes, Photo film, Safety glass, Shampoo, Shaving cream, Contact Lenses, Surgical equipment, Syringes, Telephones, Toothpaste, Vitamins.

To keep people, as well as the worlds economy, let alone the US economy, alive, working and not starving, yes, sometimes there damn right Has to be the risk of blood spilt for oil.

As I said: it was ONE reason, not THE ONE reason.
There were several.

I think it's great that Iraq's oil will be back on the market, and decisions about it's exploitation in the hands of non-psychotic Iraqis instead of used by Saddam to extort money from corrupt Europeans to oppress Iraqis and support terror and oppose the US to the detriment of Iraq.

Glad to see you're posting. How close are you to the Green Zone?

About 15 miles or so. I'm closer to Baghdad Airport.

I try to pop in to FR when time allows. FReepers are the best.

:-)

I think we went to Afghanistan to clean up the Islamic militants that we armed and trained a few years ago and were so ungrateful as to turn on us.

The law of unintended consequences. I can recall some knowledgeable acquaintences in the early 80's reporting that the Afghan resistance included some pretty scary people. At the time, it was enough that they were prepared to die fighting the Russians. With 20/20 hindsight, we possibly dropped the ball after the Soviet withdrawal in not trying to more actively manage the transition. No guarantee that would have made a difference, of course.

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