Discussion w/ republican arguing in favor of permanent bases in Iraq.

[crim son]

He's using our bases in Japan as an example saying that, in theory, China could attack Japan and such an attack is infinitely less likely with our bases there, because then they would be attacking the U.S. as well. Putting aside the question of whether or not China is likely to attack, does this argument work with Iraq? I'm so ignorant. Who would we be protecting Iraq from? He says we have bases in all the countries we've fought and won wars in, and a permanent base in Iraq is a non-issue. What say you?

Also, anybody have statistics on crime rates by military personnel in the U.S. against civilians vs. military personnel stationed outside the U.S. against native civilians?

I do not like it when the republican makes a point. I do not like it, Sam I Am. Help me.

[ColbertWatcher]

1. Bases in Saudi Arabia turned bin Laden against us. n/t

[treestar]

2. Japan consents to the bases

They want us there, to help them protect themselves. Like the NATO bases in Germany. Everyone agrees.

Iraq does not want us there.

[izquierdista]

3. Crime rates by military personnel

Infinitely higher. See, if you had ZERO personnel stationed outside the U.S., you would have to multiply by infinity to get a non-zero number.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Japan has no military

It was part of the treaty that ended WWII. So you can argue our bases are necessary to protect the Japanese.

[JackBeck]

5. This is exactly what PNAC wants in order to wage further wars in the Middle East.

This person you're having a discussion with I can almost guarantee was in agreement with the 2000 Bush, who was against "nation building".

[rwheeler31]

6. Why do ugly people depend on the military to make them rich?

[Jack Rabbit]

7. We -- that is, the neocons in our name -- would be protecting Iraq from the Iraqis

They might get some silly idea the oil under their sand belongs to them, real people, and not to some artificial persons in Houston, Texas. They might even take the idea of sovereignty or democracy seriously, and that the neocons definitely could not tolerate.

[spag68]

8. I'm not positive

but I don't think we have bases in Mexico, France , Spain , or England. How about Grenada, that was reagans big war. The oil people probably don't want the Iraqi oil to hit the markets anyway. Also, bring up the fact that there are criminals building those bases, 11 dead so far in the showers.

[screembloodymurder]

9. It doesn't matter what you or I think or who becomes President.

The bases will stay.

[crim son]

10. Tlhat I do reluctantly concede.

McCain wasn't wrong when he said that americans couldn't care less about there being a permanent presence in Iraq as long as there are no more american casualties. Nobody will stop it from happening.