Revealed: Secret plan to keep Iraq under US control

[Brundle_Fly]

A secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad would perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November.

The terms of the impending deal, details of which have been leaked to The Independent, are likely to have an explosive political effect in Iraq. Iraqi officials fear that the accord, under which US troops would occupy permanent bases, conduct military operations, arrest Iraqis and enjoy immunity from Iraqi law, will destabilise Iraq's position in the Middle East and lay the basis for unending conflict in their country.

But the accord also threatens to provoke a political crisis in the US. President Bush wants to push it through by the end of next month so he can declare a military victory and claim his 2003 invasion has been vindicated. But by perpetuating the US presence in Iraq, the long-term settlement would undercut pledges by the Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama, to withdraw US troops if he is elected president in November.

The timing of the agreement would also boost the Republican candidate, John McCain, who has claimed the United States is on the verge of victory in Iraq – a victory that he says Mr Obama would throw away by a premature military withdrawal.

more...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/revealed-secret-plan-to-keep-iraq-under-us-control-840512.html

[The Diest]

1. How can they be doing this without Congress having a say? nt

[Skink]

2. We didn't build that Embassy for nothing

[Double T]

3. Revealed? I thought THIS was already common knowledge.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12319798/

[varelse]

4. It's probably too late to impeach them

and that is a shame, because it looks like that is the only thing that might have blocked this evil and underhanded move. Looks like McCain could get his 100 years of war...

[mike_c]

5. um-- we've been talking and reading about the permanent garrisons in Iraq...

...for five years here and elsewhere. This is not anything new-- it's just being phased into the public comfort zone, no doubt according to plan. This is imperial America. It was explicitly described in the PNAC. Anyone who didn't know this was the agenda from day one was simply not paying attention.

[Lasher]

7. That's true.

The New York Times
April 20, 2003
A NATION AT WAR: STRATEGIC SHIFT; PENTAGON EXPECTS LONG-TERM ACCESS TO KEY IRAQ BASES

The United States is planning a long-term military relationship with the emerging government of Iraq, one that would grant the Pentagon access to military bases and project American influence into the heart of the unsettled region, senior Bush administration officials say.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9502E0D8123AF933A15757C0A9659C8B63

But it wasn't actually a strategic shift. As you pointed out, this was laid out by PNAC for all to see. And as I've been saying literally for years now, the neocons have (and always have had) a deliberate intention that we will never leave Iraq.

But there is a new development worthy of note. Cheney is right now trying to get us entered into a binding agreement that will perpetuate his pet war forever. That's not a surprise. He and Junior will be working until January to ensure none of their wonderful blessings upon us can ever be changed. But it is interesting to see something about this specific agreement. I wonder how they think they'll be able to get this through, or bypass, Congress.

Edit: And check this out - New agreement lets US strike any country from inside Iraq Well. What a surprise. This was also laid out by PNAC, that the permanent bases in Iraq would be used as a platform to launch invasions against other nations in the region. Iran and/or Syria appear to be next.

[Zodiak]

6. Uh huh.....and we cannot back out of this bullshit deal why?

I'm sorry, but if there is anything that Shrub has taught us is that whatever a previous President does can be undone by the next President just as easily.

Bush can negotiate with his little puppet friends all he wants; it doesn't mean shit, and will be unpopular both here and in Iraq. It wouldn't be worth the paper it is scribbled on.

Laws passed by puppet governments under occupation can also be argued to be null and void, as well. Gun to their heads and all of that.

[eridani]

8. Another comment from the Gulf News

http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Iraq/10218150.html

A proposed Iraqi-American security agreement will include permanent American bases in the country, and the right for the United States to strike, from within Iraqi territory, any country it considers a threat to its national security, Gulf News has learned.

Senior Iraqi military sources have told Gulf News that the long-term controversial agreement is likely to include three major items.

Under the agreement, Iraqi security institutions such as Defence, Interior and National Security ministries, as well as armament contracts, will be under American supervision for ten years.

The agreement is also likely to give American forces permanent military bases in the country, as well as the right to move against any country considered to be a threat against world stability or acting against Iraqi or American interests.