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The Bush Administration: Against Permanent Bases in Iraq Before It Was For Them
Oh, for the halcyon days when the Bush administration saw fit to deny that it sought a permanent U.S. military presence in Iraq. Let's take a look at what senior administration officials said way back when, shall we?
President George W. Bush, April 13, 2004:
"As a proud and independent people, Iraqis do not support an indefinite occupation and neither does America."
then-U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, August 14, 2005:
"We do not seek permanent military bases in Iraq. Our goal is to help Iraq stand on its own feet, to be able to look after its own security, and to do what we can to help achieve that goal."
Condoleezza Rice, April 4, 2006, quoted by Agence France-Presse (Via Nexis):
Rice would not say when all U.S. forces would return home and did not directly answer Rep. Steven Rothman, a Democrat, when he asked, "Will the bases be permanent or not?""I would think that people would tell you, `We're not seeking permanent bases really pretty much anywhere in the world these days.' We are, in fact, in the process of removing base structure from a lot of places," Rice replied.
Tony Snow, June 15, 2006:
Q Would you like to reaffirm what you said earlier today, that the U.S. wants no permanent bases in Iraq?MR. SNOW: Well, I think -- let me -- because -- can you define what a permanent base is?
Q No, I can't.
MR. SNOW: Well, then how can I get a question --
Q Except into infinity -- no, no, no, you're dancing around already.
MR. SNOW: No, I'm not dancing around. I'm actually trying to get a specific question answered.
Q Okay, say flatly, does the United States want bases in Iraq?
MR. SNOW: It has bases in Iraq, and the United States will have bases -- look, the United States, Secretary Rice has said -- well, number one, it's premature to talk about how long they're going to be there. Number two, Ambassador Khalilzad has said we have no desire for permanent bases. Number three, when it comes to a permanent base, that is not the call of the United States. As you know, Iraq has a sovereign government. So the issue of --
Q It's about as sovereign as the President being able to go into Iraq and not even tell the President.
MR. SNOW: Okay, well, obviously, Helen, you're preaching and not asking. Let's go to you.
Comments (7)
brian wrote on November 26, 2007 1:06 PM:Whatever they are up to, they are lying about it. Does anyone have a counterexample to disprove this assertion ?
Of course they want permanent bases. The American majority have no problem with this. Permanent bases there shall be.
The tricky phrases and phony 'peace' conferences being held now are election-year skullduggery. Distractions to gull the rubes. Hokum.
AC wrote on November 26, 2007 1:07 PM:"we have no DESIRE for permanent bases"
(...but if we need them well, gee, i guess sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!)
slick, tony.
1) literacy is more than just being able to "read good" -- it's also the ability to recognise the greasy, weasly, euphemistic speech employed by people trying to convince you of something.
2) we as a society benefit from the direct challenges to and parsing of statements of public figures.
i don't want my full time job to be sorting through all the bs. many thanks to tpms and helen thomases of the wider journalistic world for their efforts in keeping a close skeptical eye on the shell-game of language.
conniptionfit wrote on November 26, 2007 1:15 PM:I'd say that, given that the US has been building the largest, most expensive Embassy in Iraq, evah, protestations that we have no interest in a permanent presence in Iraq has always been just so much BS.
v. popvli wrote on November 26, 2007 1:39 PM:"The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him."
- G.W. Bush, 9/13/01
"I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority."
- G.W. Bush, 3/13/02
"I am truly not that concerned about him."
Scott L wrote on November 26, 2007 3:09 PM:- G.W. Bush, repsonding to a question about bin Laden's whereabouts,
3/13/02 (The New American, 4/8/02)
File it next to "No nation building".
Tsumbra wrote on November 26, 2007 3:46 PM:"The Odium from Beyond"
Utopia wrote on November 26, 2007 10:57 PM:www.ilovepoetry.com/viewpoem.asp?id=93943
The Day the Earth Stood Still - well, sorta?
Whatever happened to "stand down when they stand up"? As I always say, talk is cheap. And Bush sure knows how to talk a good game while doing just the opposite.
U