Chalabi: U.S. wants secret bases in Iraq

[struggle4progress]

Source: IRNA via Egypt's ME Times

BAGHDAD, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Former Iraqi Deputy Premier Ahmad Chalabi told Iranian state-owned media Friday the United States is seeking to establish secret military bases in Iraq.

In an interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency, Chalabi, once a Washington favorite, said U.S. officials are trying to inject agreements for secret bases in Iraq as part of the long-term security contract slated to govern U.S.-Iraqi relations when the U.N. mandate there expires at the end of this year.

"Within the framework of the security pact, the United States does not wish to merely have open military bases (in Iraq), rather secret military bases (there)," he said.

He said negotiations on the deal were ongoing following the acceptance of a formal draft agreement in August but noted there were still contentious issues surrounding legal authority over U.S. military forces and the use of Iraq as a staging ground for the broader counter-terrorism effort.

Read more: http://www.metimes.com/Security/2008/09/19/chalabi_us_wants_secret_bases_in_iraq/80be/

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Chalabi, of course, should have a spotty reputation by now, since his major concern seems to be Chalabi. And as a general rule, I try not to cite IRNA as a source. But this may still give some insight into foreign political moods -- and perhaps also into a somewhat secretive process

[no_hypocrisy]

1. No shit.

[Born Free]

11. DUH... no place to go

They can't go back to Saudia Arabia (remember one of the original Osama Bin Laden demands was the troops must get out of their holy land?) The invasion of Iran isn't happening as planned so where else can they keep troops in the area?

[yourout]

2. Never would have guessed that.

:sarcasm:

[EFerrari]

3. LOL! Thank you, Captain Obvious!

[truthisfreedom]

4. The US? Involved in nefarious high-pressure negotations over secret bases? NEVER!

Not my country, no way! We're decent, law-abiding citizens here!

*sigh.*

[annabanana]

5. 'SECRET"???

You mean those 14 bases that we've been talking about for the last couple of years?

[Supersedeas]

20. the man that Pearl and Bushler bet the house on -- confidence man

[FreakinDJ]

6. I'm surprised any body listens to him any more

He provided the false intel for the Bush administration

Not too long ago they found some of his cronies building IEDs for terrorist in Bagdad

And now he throws a bone to the anti-Iraq war groups

I'll pass

[Spritz57]

7. In those immortalized words of Ed McMahon from the Karnak skits,

"You are right sir!"

[Miss Chybil]

8. I guess he's off the US payroll (dole) now.

Oh, yeah. I remember he was accused of being a spy for Iran while we were paying him. I don't think history is going to be kind to Mr. Chalabi...

[Vattel]

9. McCain was the biggest supporter

of Chalabi in Congress during the Clinton administration and early in the Iraq war. Because of his incredible foreign policy experience, he thought that Chalabi and the Iraqi national Congress were the solution to Iraq's problems. (Sarcasm)

[Miss Chybil]

10. Hmmmm... I wonder if somebody could dig up some footage on that!

It would make an incredible commercial. Although, it might be too "complicated" for most voters to figure out. Got to keep it short and sweet. "Just plain dumb!" "Thanks but no thanks."

And my all time favorite, "ENOUGH!"

[OakCliffDem]

12. We have a 100,000 man standing army in Iraq, how the FV&K is that a secret?

Am I missing something here? We pretty much own the place when it comes to military action. Why would we need to keep anything secret in Iraq. The Bush modus operandi is to kill the opposition, civilian or other wise. If Bush wanted a secret military base, he already has it.

[yurbud]

13. when even the neocons pet Iraqi is busting their chops, it's time to pull the plug

[tbyg52]

14. As if we the people had any say in the matter...

I hate Bush. I hate neocons. I hate fascists. I hate wingnuts. I hate anybody who a) will not think and b) is just out for what they can get.

[LynnTheDem]

15. Chalabi was finally able to utter a truth.

Amazing.

[Pterodactyl]

16. I wouldn't believe Chalabi if he said the sky was blue.

This report is obviously bogus.

[Dark]

17. What the hell did we pay this guy for again? Bush, if you're going to get a shill, at least get a

good one.

Jeesh. These guys are grade-f idiots.

[Darwins Doberman]

18. I think when quoting Ahmed Chalabi it's easier to simply do it like this

"{I'm making shit up}," he said.

edit: apparently putting it in brackets means it won't show up. how annoying.

[conspirator]

19. Duh. A colonial superpower needs to have its colonial fortresses in the colony nt