We're Only "Renting" The Bases
by Steve Soto
"We will not allow Iraq to become a platform for harming the security of Iran and neighbours."
--Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki yesterday in Iran
Christina over at Firedoglake tells us how the administration plans to double-talk the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between us and the Iraqis: the Bush Administration doesn't need congressional approval for any long-term committment because we are only renting the bases from the Iraqis. See, these are really Iraqi bases; we are there as their guests, even though American taxpayers paid American disaster capitalist GOP contractors to build these bases, and just hand them all over to the Iraqis, who must have wanted them, right?
Along with the inevitable air strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities before the end of Bush's term from our carriers and regional air bases (some within Iraq - are these "rented" as well?), this new dodge from the administration has ramifications. I would love to hear Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki explain to Iranian president Ahmadinejad why the American air and special forces were allowed to mount attacks into Iran from allegedly Iraqi bases "rented" by the attackers, some very close to southern Iran. Would that not render any attack by American forces into Iran from these allegedly Iraqi bases an act of war by the United States and Iraq towards Iran? Does the prime minister have the political capital within his own Shiite community to pull that one off?
Lastly, there were 183 votes against the Lee Amendment in Congress to require the Bush Administration to submit any SOFA to the Senate for treaty ratification. Of these 183, 176 were Kool-Aid drinking GOP members who are so willing to support this irresponsible foreign policy that they readily toss away congressional prerogatives in foreign policy. Will it really be that hard for the DCCC to label these knuckle-draggers this fall as cheerleaders for permanent bases and an unchecked $12 billion/month war machine?
Can't you just see the post-attack $8/gallon gas prices now? I'm sure the GOP wants to run on that this November as an example of their wise management of our foreign and energy policies these last eight years.