Bush Admin Bullying Iraq Into Extending US Occupation INDEFINITELY!
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Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,200
JUAN GONZALEZ: Following outcry by Iraqi lawmakers, the Bush administration is now offering limited concessions in its demands for a long-term “status of forces” agreement between Iraq and the United States.
The deal sought by the Bush administration, details of which were leaked to the press, were seen as a way of extending the US occupation of Iraq indefinitely. The demands included maintaining fifty-eight permanent military bases in Iraq, immunity for American troops and contractors, a free hand to conduct military operations without Iraqi approval, and control of Iraqi airspace. According to the London Independent, the US is now lowering the number of bases it wants from fifty-eight to “the low dozens” and says it is willing to compromise on legal immunity for foreign contractors.
The negotiations are being held before the UN mandate authorizing the US occupation expires at the end of the year. The Independent of London reported last week the US is leveraging tens of billions of dollars in seized Iraqi assets to push through its demands.
AMY GOODMAN: British journalist Patrick Cockburn broke this story last week. He is the Middle East correspondent for the London Independent and has reported from Iraq for many years now. He is the author of several books, including The Occupation: War and Resistance in Iraq. His latest is called Muqtada: Muqtada al-Sadr, the Shia Revival and the Struggle for Iraq. Patrick Cockburn joins us now from Washington, D.C.
Welcome to this country, Patrick.
PATRICK COCKBURN: Thank you very much.
AMY GOODMAN: Can you lay out for us exactly what the deal is and how you uncovered it?
PATRICK COCKBURN: Well, this is an extraordinary, important development in Iraq. It really will determine whether Iraq is an independent country or not. Or will it be a client state of the US?
As you reported, the US negotiators were demanding initially fifty-eight bases. They’re not calling them permanent bases, though that’s exactly what they are. The bases might have, let’s say, an Iraqi soldier outside and a single strand of barbed wire, in which case the Iraqis will supposedly be in charge of their defense, so it won’t be an American base. But everybody knows that it is.
Then there’s the question of immunity for American soldiers and Iraqi contractors, i.e. they won’t come under Iraqi law. And the US will also control airspace and have various other rights.
Now, although Ryan Crocker and President Bush are saying Iraq under this new agreement will once again be a sovereign nation, most of the rights we associate with a sovereign nation will be in the possession of the US.
Iraq Correspondent Patrick Cockburn on the US-Iraqi Clash Over the Status of US Troops
This is unreal, one can see clearly what this administration is ALL about. Hold back BILLIONS of $$$ in order to get what we want 50+ military bases and immunity for American soldiers etc.
Why don't we just make IRAQ our 51st State at least that way the Iraqi's might have a few more rights.
Peace
*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
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for the least they could possibly do
Check out DemocracyNow.org where you can watch/listen/read and you'll have an idea. Click the link.
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
This may help:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080613/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq
...
"His (Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Malaki) comments, made during a visit to Amman, Jordan, echo those of other leading Iraqi politicians, who have complained that U.S. proposals would give the Americans too much power over political, economic and military affairs and infringe on Iraqi sovereignty."
...
Nothing says Democracy like domsetic soverignty in the hands of a foriegn power on the other side of the planet.
Hail, Hail!!!
That's an interesting article, but it doesn't exactly say what the title of this thread does. I don't see any "bullying" there.
for the least they could possibly do
Stop by:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14678777351&ref=mf
The bullying comes in where the Bush Administration is holding those seized Iraqi assets in order to force the Iraqi government to accept what the Bush Admin wants.
That to me is a form of bullying. Would you want some other country taking your assets and then tells you can't get them back unless you accept whatever we offer you???
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
I get where you're coming from, but I don't buy Democracy Now's spin on it without a grain of salt. Just like it would be silly to buy Fox New's spin on it without a grain of salt.
for the least they could possibly do
Well that was Democracy Now, however here in Washington DC 3 of our local stations including WPFW reported this story with not much difference than how DN did. DN just asked questions and they were answered, you may not like it but that's all that was done.
Our radio stations is where I first heard about this story.
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
Oh, I don't know. I'm just saying I'm a little wary of all sources that are meant to be partisan.
for the least they could possibly do