Media Avoids Covering Vote on Permanent Bases

Sorry if this is a repeat:

Media Avoids Covering Vote on Permanent Bases
by David Swanson http://www.opednews.com

Something is happening in Iraq that most Americans have never heard about, but many Americans think the war is being fought for: the United States is building what look like permanent military bases.

Something happened in Congress last Thursday that most Americans have not heard about. A number of Congress Members, led by Barbara Lee and Tom Allen, proposed an amendment to the latest giant spending bill for the war, an amendment forbidding the United States to establish permanent bases in Iraq.

Both Lee and Allen spoke on the floor in support of the amendment, as did Jan Schakowsky, John Conyers, Dennis Kucinich, Sheila Jackson Lee, David Price, Maxine Waters, Lynn Woolsey, Maurice Hinchey, and the militantly pro-war Jane Harman. That's a lot of speeches. Did you read about any of them anywhere? See them on TV? How about on the radio?

The amendment passed!

Did you read or hear that anywhere? You almost certainly did not, unless you search out information on the internet or subscribe to the San Francisco Chronicle.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_david_sw_060319_media_avoids_coverin.htm

What are you smoking, David? :smoke:

a couple months ago, and Pace sent back a reply as if Kerry was manufacturing a problem that didn't exist. So Kerry has them on record. Well, lying onb record, yet again.

and more Dems need to join them and speak out about it. This is a CRUCIAL step to any significant withdrawal plan.


Strategy for Success in Iraq Act (Introduced in Senate)

S 1993 IS

109th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1993
To provide for a comprehensive, new strategy for success in Iraq that includes a sustainable political solution and the redeployment of United States forces tied to specific political and military benchmarks.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 10, 2005

Snip...

SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGY.

To implement the strategy under section 3, the President must undertake aggressive diplomatic, political, military and economic measures, including actions to achieve the following:

(1) Reduce the sense of United States occupation of Iraq by--

(A) committing publicly not to establish permanent United States military bases in Iraq, or to maintain a large United States combat force on Iraq soil indefinitely;

>>>>>>>


02/08/2006

Kerry Asks Pentagon to Clarify that America Will Not Have Permanent Military Presence in Iraq

WASHINGTON – Today Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) sent a letter to General Peter Pace, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, asking him to clearly and publicly state that there will be no permanent American military bases in Iraq. Earlier this week, Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said that the United States will “not maintain any long-term bases in Iraq.” Kerry’s letter calls on General Pace to clarify and back these statements, for the good of American troops and our long-term goals in the region. Kerry has long argued that announcing that the United States will not have a permanent military presence in Iraq is key to undermining the insurgency.
Below is a copy of the letter.

February 8, 2006

General Peter Pace, USMC Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff 9999 The Pentagon Room 2E878 Washington, DC 20318-9999

Dear General Pace:

I was interested to see reports of Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt’s speech to the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London where he reportedly said the United States will “not maintain any long-term bases in Iraq. . . . Our position is when we leave we will not have any bases there.”

For some time, a number of us have argued that it is vital to the success of our mission in Iraq for the United States to make clear in public that we seek no permanent military bases in Iraq. We know from General Casey that the insurgency in Iraq has fed on the sense of occupation. A simple declaration that the United States seeks no permanent military bases in Iraq, I believe, will help undermine the claims of some home-grown insurgents who argue that the United States seeks to steal Iraq’s oil and dominate its people.

In the interest of clarity, can you state unequivocally that the United States will not maintain any permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq? If Brigadier General Kimmmit’s statement is accurate, I urge you to personally state it clearly in public. I believe that doing so would be a great service to those brave Americans serving so well in Iraq and to the goals of American policy in the region.

I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

John F. Kerry

that the amendment passed. Then I didn't see any more about it and figured what I saw on C-Span with the vote must have been my eyes and ears playing tricks on me.

It's good to see it posted here. But, very curious as to why no one wants to take credit for it. :shrug: No news in the MSM.

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