US Military to Build Four Giant Bases in Iraq (Redeployment)

[chlamor]

US military to build four giant new bases in Iraq

Michael Howard in Baghdad
Monday May 23, 2005
The Guardian

US military commanders are planning to pull back their troops from Iraq's towns and cities and redeploy them in four giant bases in a strategy they say is a prelude to eventual withdrawal.

The plan, details of which emerged at the weekend, also foresees a transfer to Iraqi command of more than 100 bases that have been occupied by US-led multinational forces since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

<snip>

A senior US official in Baghdad said yesterday: "It has always been a main plank of our exit strategy to withdraw from the urban areas as and when Iraqi forces are trained up and able to take the strain. It is much better for all concerned that Iraqis police themselves."

Under the plan, for which the official said there was no "hard-and-fast" deadline, US troops would gradually concentrate inside four heavily fortified air bases, from where they would provide "logistical support and quick reaction capability where necessary to Iraqis". The bases would be situated in the north, south, west and centre of the country.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1489979,00.html

[gratuitous]

1. Riiiight, we're building huge military bases as a prelude to withdrawal

Do they think we're fucking retarded?

[Vincardog]

4. They know their friends at FAUX news will never call them on it.

You know that the Corporate controlled Propaganda echo chamber only resonates with the FASCIST agenda.

You know that your Congress critter will continue to vote for the "Must Pass" off budget funding for the Imperial War of Aggression and Passing unconstitutional parts like the REALID crap.


WE HAVE TO ELECT TRUE PROGRESSIVES in 06 and impeach the Chimp and his whole cabal in 07 or we are DOOMED.

[Zhade]

14. However, the Iraqi people WILL call them on it, until we are driven out.

I remind myself of that fact often - it's comforting to know the rest of the world isn't as abysmally stupid as most Americans are these days.

[pokercat999]

13. Remember Khe Sanh?

[MidwestTransplant]

2. This was originally reported about a year ago IIRC

Can't do it until the Iraqis are able to patrol things on their own. That's why it hasn't been done yet.

[Jacobin]

3. Building bigger bunkers

More 'green zones'

No one is safe.

Its all about 'force protection', i.e. they won't stop shooting and blowing up the troops because the war is just getting started good.

[MADem]

15. Impenetrable Death Stars

...in the fertile crescent.

Fortress mentality, never works. Never has, never will. We have been down this road, we have the tattered tee shirts, why in the name of all that is sensible are we doing it yet AGAIN???

I guess if ya didn't do Vietnam, like the current administration, you have no appreciation for these nuances????

[Warren Stupidity]

5. "in the north, south, west and centre " - wait a second

that's right where all of them WMDs are! :wtf:

[MADem]

16. With the exception of the one keeping an eye on Syria

The remainder are all butting up against Iran. Accident?

[stellanoir]

6. I thought we were building 14 permanent bases

silly me. The Iraqis will offer up even more flowers and chocolates, I'm sure.

[cliss]

7. check out this wording,"It has always

been a mail plank of our exit strategy to withdraw from...."

NOT TRUE. The war planners including Rumsfailed never thought there would be a problem with American troops in Iraq. It never occurred to them that US troops with their pale white faces would be a never-ending eyesore to the Iraqis.

It's only in the past year that they've talked about substituting US troops for Iraqi troops. I believe William Kristol started rambling about this a while back. This was certainly never mentioned before.

It was only when they had a bucket of ice water called FAILURE splashed in their faces that they decided on Plan B.

The whole idea of having Iraqis "police themselves" is a ludicrous idea, born of desperation and an absolute unwillingness to give up on that precious, Black Gold.

It won't work, fellas. RumsFailed, email me and I'll tell you why not.

[Us vs Them]

8. This is a relatively naive question, but

won't pulling US troops out of densely populated urban areas and into specific bases provide an even better (more specialised) target for insurgent attacks?

[wakeme2008]

11. Bingo that is very true

mortar attacks will increase.

[MADem]

17. Ahhhh, but it is OUT with the tents and wooden huts, IN with the

...concrete bunkers!!!! Will we use one of those fabulous German firms descended from the Hitler bunker building era???

Run, hide!!! Whatta war!

[Nevernose]

9. And how many are we shutting down here?

800 either eliminated or downsized?

[bpilgrim]

10. "quick reaction capability" = TOO FUCKING LATE

in a guerrilla war once you hear the explosions the insurgents are long gone!

how much more BLOOD and TREASURE will we pour onto the sands of the desert?

http://news.globalfreepress.com/flash/">Bring'em HOME!

:cry:

peace

[2Design]

12. is this in addition to the 16 bases they already have n/t

[Massacure]

19. I thought it was 14 that were already under construction.

The article indicates that nearly 100 will be turned over though. That's a lot of bases. :shrug:

[hatrack]

18. You see, if they're deep within the confines of a giant, fortified base .

. . . the'll be just that much closer to the scene of the action when their military services are needed on the front lines!

Yes, that makes perfect sense! :eyes:

[Moderator]

20. kick to combine

[hvn_nbr_2]

21. US military to build four giant new bases in Iraq

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1490063,00.html

US military commanders are planning to pull back their troops from Iraq's towns and cities and redeploy them in four giant bases in a strategy they say is a prelude to eventual withdrawal.
...
However, the decision to in vest in the bases, which will require the construction of more permanent structures such as blast-proof barracks and offices, is seen by some as a sign that the US expects to keep a permanent presence in Iraq.

Building giant bases in order to withdraw. Makes sense to me. :sarcasm:

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[whistle]

23. They already have 14 so four more makes 18....

...withdrawal will be to the bases.

[aquart]

24. Withdrawal?

Suuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrre.

[Erika]

25. More redistribution of American income to corporatists

Bush takes our taxes and redistributes them globally to his buddy donors in the defense industry. Our money spent in Iraq does not profit the American economy.

[Daphne08]

26. They are closing bases here, throwing people out of work,

taking money away from Americans at the same time they are building MORE bases in Iraq?

If this is indeed true, then this should be in every American newspaper and magazine!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

27. Remember when Rummy made the statement in early 2002 that...

...the military would be adopting a forward-deployment strategy and closing bases in the U. S. that would no longer be needed? That should have been a clear signal to anyone paying attention that the US planned to move troops into combat zones and keep them there.

Why is this a major surprise to anyone?

[anitar1]

29. Don't hold your breath! n/t

[The Traveler]

28. We will retreat into bases

surrendering more control of the ground to the insurgents. We are in what Col. Hackworth termed a "Phase III Insurgency" ... the struggle is now for control of territory and urban centers. We will retreat into invulnerable strongholds ... because we cannot secure the ground.

The strategy is to attrit the insurgents, estimated at about 20,000 in number. But, as one analyst recently noted, for every insurgent we kill the insurgents have thus far found a replacement. This year of bloodshed has purchased no reduction in that estimate. The theory in operation is if we kill enough of 'em, they will stop coming. This is both naieve and ignores the essential arithmetic of the situation ... we could be vastly outnumbered. Torture, rape, and rules of engagement which produce large numbers of civilian casualties are almost guaranteed to create our worst nightmare ... a general rising of the Iraqi people.

Our troops are in a locked room. There is gasoline all over the floor. Our political leadership insists on throwing matches. Eventually, there will be a fire.

[ngGale]

30. We are never leaving...

n/t

[slamthecrank]

31. uhm, DUH

I think this should have been obvious when the G-speak was "we're closing down certain bases in the U.S."... I mean, there won't be any loss of military jobs in a time when the government is BEGGING people to join up. There will only be a redistribution of troops to hotspots and 'places of interest'. The same reason we still have a base in Germany.

[Triana]

32. So they shut them down here to build them in Iraq... Nice

A**holes! :mad:

The united states of iraq, eh?

[bennywhale]

33. EMPIRE, EMPIRE EMPIRE

[converted_democrat]

34. I've heard rumors from several different people..............

that we are going to colonize Iraq. It appears that it's true.

[Zeebo]

35. The Neo Con's plan is well known, take control and position

ourselves in the region to control the most important thing in our society, OIL. Oh, and don't give but mere lip service to serious research into alternative energies and conservation that could potentially solve this problem for future generations.

[Supersedeas]

36. More Koolaid for the Buchanan/Isolationist Wing of the Oil Party

[sjdnb]

37. Preparing for the Fall of Bagdad?

Sounds like they are prepping for a quick exit to me.

A report in yesterday's Washington Post said the new bases would be constructed around existing airfields to ensure supply lines and troop mobility.

The new buildings would be constructed to withstand direct mortar fire.

" We sensed the end was near when plaster began falling off the ceiling of the broadcasting studio at Saigon Radio."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/aboutbbcnews/hi/news_update/newsid_3853000/3853853.stm