Clinton, Obama & Permanent Bases in Iraq?

[Laurab]

I'm trying to get some of my friends and family to vote tomorrow, and I wanted to be clear on the topic of permanent bases in Iraq. I went to Obama's site, and his statement is very clear - NO Permanent Bases in Iraq.

I then went to Hillary Clinton's site, and could find nothing at all about permanent bases in Iraq.

While I'm an Obama supporter, there are a couple of members of my family who are planning to vote for Hillary tomorrow. Does anyone know her views about permanent bases in Iraq? Thanks.

[no name no slogan]

1. Good question

She did hire Mark Penn, whose PR firm prepped Erik Prince, Blackwater's CEO, before he lied to-- er, "briefed"-- Congress.

:popcorn:

[MADem]

2. You would be surprised at what constitutes a "non permanent base"

So don't be so SECURE in Obama's assertion.

I served at a 'non-permanent base' fifteen years ago that is still open, and another that operated for over a quarter of a century.

You can gin up some awfully permanent-feeling edifices that are prefab construction, and have flexible arrangements with your host country.

It's just a phrase. Don't get wrapped up in it.

[Laurab]

4. No, I wouldn't be "surprised" .

Apparently you don't have an answer to my question?

[MADem]

8. What I am trying to tell you, and what you're ignoring in hopes of getting a GOTCHA, is that the

"permanence" of a facility has absolutely NOTHING to do with the SIZE or the SCOPE of the mission performed at said facility.

One type of facility is not "better" than the other. You seem to think that PERMANENT is "worse than" non-permananent. That is untrue.

That is the answer that I had for you, but you'd rather focus on something that makes no damned difference in the big scheme of things. All non-permanent means is that infrastructure investment is less, that assigned personnel live in converted conex boxes and portable housing units instead of poured concrete barracks. OR, the facilities that people live and work in are "owned" by the host government, and simply "rented" by the US--figure out how that works--we build it, give it to the hosts, and then pay rent to use it. Voila--NON-PERMANENT.

It has nothing to do with how many people are assigned to the facility, OR how long the facility is open.

NON PERMANENT bases are the wave of the future--they enable us to get in, get out, and move/turn on a dime.

Anyone serving on the SASC has a good understanding of these issues.

[Tektonik]

3. While Obama does clearly state he plans for there to be no perm. bases in Iraq,

he does plan to secure Iraq's borders from outside forces (particularly Iran and Syria).

He plans to defend our embassies.

He plans to step back into Iraq if he deems Al Qaeda to be building a base in Iraq (which would be fantastical considering Al Qaeda as an organization does not exist).

So whereas Obama states that we will not have a permanent base in Iraq, we will still be involved with Iraq for a long time.

[Laurab]

5. I read both their plans, thank you.

I just wanted an answer to my one simple question.

[ErnestoG]

6. Hillary's eyes are now on permanent bases in Iran.

Just watch.

[Laurab]

7. I don't doubt that, but I need something factual.

So far it appears to me she plans on having permanent bases - that could help me to dissuade them.

[ErnestoG]

15. Kyle Lieberman, which she supports, has the same stink as IWR.

More war drums increasing based on little, or false, intel. Just watch.

[helderheid]

9. Obama is the only one of the two I got a clear answer about that. Obama! NO permanent bases.

[awaysidetraveler]

10. HRC is a vote for reduced troops and permanent bases, which equals the worst of both worlds.

In many ways, it would be better to increase troop levels.

[awaysidetraveler]

11. HRC has no timeline for leaving Iraq listed in her foreign policy plan, and in the debates

though she's stated that she opposes "permanent bases" in Iraq. This is her plan.

START PHASED WITHDRAWAL WITHIN 60 DAYS OF TAKING OFFICE, WITH THE GOAL TO HAVE MOST TROOPS OUT BY THE END OF 2013
Leave a residual force in Iraq to fight terrorist groups, deter Iranian aggression, protect the Kurds and possibly support the Iraqi military.

"Trying to withdraw is not something you snap your fingers and tell people, do it tomorrow. It has to be done in a thoughtful, orderly, careful way that defends our troops on these routes they're going to have to take to get men and equipment out of Iraq."

— In an interview with The New York Times, March 15, 2007

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/14/washington/15clintontext.html

So if you're okay with continuing this war until 2013--at least--and leaving "a residual force in Iraq",
then you're okay with HRC's Iraq policy.

Does that answer your question about permanent bases?

(P.S. Sorry if I come across strong on this issue, I'm writing from Istanbul)

[Laurab]

12. As I said, I'm voting for Obama .

I'm not okay with a lot of HRC's policies. A couple of family members are ok, or don't think there's much difference.

I think I'll forward this thread to them - your post especially might sway them.

[awaysidetraveler]

13. Hey thanks, I appreciate that.

[Laurab]

14. Thank YOU! n/t

[jillan]

16. It was easy to find her position onthem - just google - but here

Senator Clinton has consistently opposed the creation of permanent bases in Iraq. In 2006, Congress placed a restriction on the use of any funds to establish bases in Iraq. Last week, Senator Clinton wrote President Bush to advise him that this agreement must not commit the United States to permanent bases in Iraq, and must include a commitment to the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq. Today she called for him to agree to get Congressional approval before completing the agreement.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=4580



Now that we know the facts, can we stop trying to spread lies?

[Laurab]

18. If I was trying to spread lies, I wouldn't have asked the question.

You seem to have answered it, but so have a couple of other people - it looks to me that there are some conflicting positions here. I'm not sure which is fact.

[CorpGovActivist]

17. Good questions K&R n/t