About the 'planning' for the 'creation'...

[stillcool]

of military bases. What's wrong with these?

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/occupation/report/10bases.htm
War and Occupation in Iraq
Chapter 10
Long-Term Bases and the New Embassy Compound
“I have never, that I can recall, heard the subject of a permanent base in Iraq discussed in any meeting.”
– US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld <1>

The Base Facilities
Though Pentagon budgets have made it impossible to determine precisely the sums devoted to Iraq base construction, considerably more than a billion dollars has been spent on these special bases. <5> In the 2006 supplemental budget, $348 million was allocated for further construction. <6>

The key facilities are:

* al-Balad , also known as Camp Anaconda, 68 miles north of Baghdad; all Coalition air activity in Iraq is coordinated at this base
* al-Talil , 14 miles southwest of Nasiriya, in the south
* al-Asad , about 120 miles west of Baghdad , near the Euphrates town of Khan al-Baghdadi
* al-Qayyara , about 50 miles southeast of Mosul , in the north. <7>
* Camp Victory/Camp Liberty , a complex near the Baghdad International Airport , where the US military command has its headquarters.
--------------------------

These key US bases are enormous. Al-Balad/Anaconda is spread over fifteen square miles <10> while al-Asad and al-Talil bases total nearly twenty square miles each. <11> Even in the vicinity of Baghdad , the US base complex Victory/Liberty is so big that it accommodates a 140 mile triathlon course. <12> A large number of US service personnel are stationed at these facilities, as well as private construction crews and other contract workers. For military personnel alone, al-Balad/Anaconda counts 20,000, <13> al-Asad 17,000 <14> and Victory/Liberty 14,000. <15> Construction and contract crews number thousands more.

At the center of these bases are large and sophisticated military airfields, with double runways of 10-12,000 feet, that can accommodate many aircraft, including fighters, drones, helicopters and large transport planes. <16> Al-Balad hosts a total of 250 such aircraft, including 120 helicopters and numerous Predator drones, parked on vast fields of concrete aprons and runways. <17> Newly-budgeted construction at the base includes a parking ramp for the air force's huge C-5A Galaxy cargo plane, as well as upgraded lighting for round-the-clock operations. Balad's air traffic is said to be among the world's busiest, with 24/7 operations, comparable to Chicago 's O'Hare Airport. <18> Al-Asad base airfield is also installing new lighting as well as a sophisticated air traffic control system. <19>

The bases are largely self-sufficient in terms of utilities, including power, phone systems, heating/cooling and hospital facilities. <20> While clean water, electricity or quality medical care are in short supply in the country, the bases are islands of fully-functioning amenities – a long and expensive way from military tents or temporary huts set up hurriedly in the countryside. Ironically, the base projects proceed swiftly towards completion, while construction projects for Iraqis' benefit such as water treatment plants, electricity generating stations, and health care facilities have been plagued by delays, shortfalls and failures.

Highly fortified perimeters protect the bases from their outside environment, and the Pentagon is further upgrading the perimeter security systems. At al-Talil, contractors are building a $22 million double perimeter security fence with high-tech gate controls, guard towers and a moat-like protective ditch, while at al-Balad perimeter fences are being upgraded and the no-man's land widened. <21>

The bases have reinforced concrete buildings, hardened protective bunkers, and elaborate electronic systems that are rarely, if ever, installed in temporary facilities. The bases also have extensive concrete barracks for troops and large internal road systems. And they have major logistics centers, enabling them to provide food, fuel, ammunition and other supplies to troops stationed in their sector of the country.

The bases provide elaborate amenities to bring a US life style to the troops. In addition to four mess halls and a big sports facility, Balad boasts two huge “post exchange” department stores and several fast food restaurants including a 24-hour Burger King, a Pizza Hut, a Starbucks knockoff called “Green Beans,” and Baskin Robbins ice cream outlets as well as a miniature golf course. <22> Al-Asad has a football field, a Hertz Rent-a-Car office, an internet café, an indoor swimming pool, a movie theater showing the latest releases and even an automobile dealership. It also has a Burger King, a Pizza Hut and other fast food stores. <23> Victory/Liberty likewise has fast-food outlets, an elaborate gymnasium/sports facility, and Iraq 's largest “post exchange” department store. <24> Troops at these bases are provided with air-conditioning, satellite internet access, cable television and international phone service.
--------------------
Due to the opaque Pentagon budgets and the vague “supplemental” budgets, the full cost of each base and the grand total of the long-term facilities may never be known. <26> Base construction is spread among many budgets and includes un-costed work by military construction crews as well as contracts with big engineering firms like Halliburton's KBR subsidiary. Al-Balad base is said to have cost at least $230 million in “emergency funds” through December of 2005 and at least $50 million more since then. <27> Al-Talil is currently budgeted for $110 million in new spending, <28> while al-Asad is spending $46 million in improvements like perimeter security, lighting and air traffic control upgrades. <29>

The swimming pool at Balad air base, as seen through the window of a Black Hawk helicopter, 44 miles north of Baghdad, Iraq, on Aug. 25, 2005.
Extended presence of U.S. in Iraq looms large
$1 billion for construction of American military bases and no public plans
Updated: 9:11 a.m. ET March 21, 2006
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq - The concrete goes on forever, vanishing into the noonday glare, 2 million cubic feet of it, a mile-long slab that's now the home of up to 120 U.S. helicopters, a "heli-park" as good as any back in the States.
At another giant base, al-Asad in Iraq's western desert, the 17,000 troops and workers come and go in a kind of bustling American town, with a Burger King, Pizza Hut and a car dealership, stop signs, traffic regulations and young bikers clogging the roads.
At a third hub down south, Tallil, they're planning a new mess hall, one that will seat 6,000 hungry airmen and soldiers for chow
Are the Americans here to stay? Air Force mechanic Josh Remy is sure of it as he looks around Balad.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11072377 /

and then there is the embassy
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/occupation/bases/2007/0724rises.htm
...and as far as future troop reduction goes....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2893770

[Vilis Veritas]

1. Nothing wrong if you are planning...

on being in a country for a LONG time.

2012 is conservative...next century is my bet.

[stillcool]

3. I don't get it...

I've read several posts since bush's little chat last night, that refer to these 'plans'. Although...maybe that is the idea..reconstruct Iraq without the Iraqi's..one base at a time.

[Vilis Veritas]

2. It is kind of hard to rebuild a country when you

are busy building swimming pools and beauty shops.

A fucking swimming pool...Kids are dying in the streets and Betray-US is composing his bullshit report whilst basking in the sun...