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| Iraq |
| US forces may be based in Iraq's Kurdistan region |
| 2008-07-23 |
| US forces could be stationed permanently in Kurdistan as part of a long-term security agreement, top Kurdish political sources revealed to Gulf News. The Iraqi government and head of northern Iraq's regional Kurdish administration, Massoud Barzani, along with the leadership of US forces in Iraq have started to suggest that American forces be permanently based in Kurdistan. These ideas are welcomed by Democratic US Presidential candidate Barack Obama who believes the survival of US combat forces in Kurdistan does not pose any real danger to the lives of US troops and therefore it would be appropriate to redeploy US troops there in the future, added the sources. Iraqi and US negotiations continued in Baghdad to conclude a memorandum of understanding to sign this agreement, which will allow the US military to stay permanently in Kurdistan, and Iraqi and US negotiators agreed to focus these negotiations on the issue of determining a timetable for the agreement. There are currently no military airports or airbase installation in any of the three provinces in Kurdistan and these may need to be established. It may take two to three years to clear US forces from Iraqi cities. Protection "A permanent US military presence in the Kurdistan region is welcome and is necessary to defend Iraq from internal and external risks and is important to protect the region, but this presence must be within an Iraqi-Kurd-American agreement," Jabar Al Yawir, spokesman for the Protection Forces of the Kurdistan Region, told Gulf News. "Permanent US forces remain in the Al Hurria Air Base in the province of Kirkuk and the Al Gizlani Air Base in Mosul, close to the Kurdistan Region, but this will not be a solution because such a permanent presence in those cities is fuelling the armed resistance. I therefore believe that the relocation of US forces inside the region is the solution," Emad Al Hamadani, an Iraqi army officer told Gulf News. While US and Kurdish sources denied any intention of building a US air base near the town of Halabja in the governorate of Sulaymaniya, near Iran, some independent Kurdish sources said if the US decides to establish a permanent presence in the Kurdistan Region they will certainly be closer to the Iraqi-Iranian border. "Kurdish leaders are among the most prominent US allies in Iraq and the region, and with this permanent US presence not one neighbouring country would dare to threaten the sovereignty of the region and its federal experience, and the Kurdish population will not to take up arms against the presence if this happens, because much of them are have a message of thanks and gratitude for the Americans," Abdul Razzaq Al Saadi, a strategic analyst told Gulf News. |
| Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC |
| #7 ION WAFF.com > CHAVEZ OFFERS RUSSIA MILITARY BASES IN VENEZUELA, as part of major arms deal. WAFF Poster opines/predicts that GAZPROM will come and invest in Venezuela and hence will need protection [from America?]; + that one day Amer may even buy fuel from a Venzuela-based GAZPROM ENERFAC??? Also from WAFF > THE INDO-CHINESE WAR AT SEA [Naval competition, espec vv SUBS]. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-07-23 21:10 |
| #6 Unlikely, I agree. Thus unlikely we can be a permanent friend. The Kurds are cursed with bad geography. I'd move. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-07-23 20:29 |
| #5 You're thinking Latakia here. But very, very, very unlikely sadly. |
| Posted by: .5MT 2008-07-23 19:51 |
| #4 And our supply line is? If the Kurds want us to be a permanent friend, they need a port on the Med. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-07-23 16:08 |
| #3 I been talling you guys, the Kurds want and need us there on a permanent basis. One Stryker brigade, one support brigade (including Army aviation units), an SF unit, and an airfield with USAF and UAVs would be enough. And the Kurds themselves have been good allies. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-07-23 15:30 |
| #2 Nice to see not everyone in DC is a moron. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2008-07-23 13:02 |
| #1 Well it's nice to see that they aren't all ingrates. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-07-23 11:47 |