Iraq's leader wants long-term US presence

[ECH1969]

IRAQI President Jalal Talabani has called for a long-term US military presence in Iraq, saying his country will need two permanent US air bases to deter "foreign interference."

"I think we will be in need of American forces for a long time -- even two military bases to prevent foreign interference,'' Mr Talabani said in an interview with The Washington Post.

The President indicated the bases would most welcome in Kurdistan, an autonomous region in northern Iraq that has practiced de facto self-government since the 1991 Gulf War.

But he suggested that the Sunni Arab segment of the Iraqi population would also welcome a long-term US military presence in Iraq. "In some places Sunnis want the Americans to stay," he said. "Sunnis think the main danger is coming from Iran now."

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20472407-1702,00.html

[wtmusic]

1. "Hey, your voice sounds like Dick Cheney's...."

[Erika]

2. Corporate globalists now in power. n/t

[LouisianaLiberal]

3. Riverbend had this to say in August, 2003

about Talabani, Allawi and Chalabi:

The Puppet: Ahmad Al-Chalabi
This guy is a real peach. He is the head of the Iraqi National Congress and heavily backed by the Pentagon. He was a banker who embezzled millions from the Petra Bank in Jordan. My favorite part of his life story is how he escaped from Jordan in the trunk of a car… a modern-day Cleopatra, if you will. When asked if he thinks the war on Iraq was justified, even if WMD aren’t found, he immediately (and rather huffily) replies, “Of course- *I* wouldn’t be sitting here in Iraq if it weren’t for the war…” As if he’s God’s gift to humanity. He’s actually America’s gift to the Iraqi people- the crowning glory of the war, chaos and occupation: the looter of all looters.

The Puppet: Iyad Allawi
A former Iraqi intelligence officer, and former Ba’ath member, who was sent to London on a scholarship from the former Ba’athist government. Rumor has it that when the scholarship ran out, he denounced his Ba’ath membership and formed the Iraqi National Accord. He has been living in London ever since 1971.

The Puppet: Jalal Talabani
Head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). The PUK controls the southeastern part of the autonomous Kurdish area in the north. Scintillating rumor on the street: before he became a ‘leader’, he had a nightclub in Turkey where he was running an illegitimate… umm… we’ll call it an ‘escort service’. The truth is that he is the rival of Massoud Berazani, the other leader in the autonomous Kurdish region and their rivalry would often lead to bloodshed between their supporters. His famous quote: “Politics is a whore”.

I just started reading Riverbend's blog from Iraq - it seems essential to understand what's really going on there.


http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/2003_08_01_riverbendblog_archive.html

[nealmhughes]

4. I'm shocked! Absolutely floored! Who would have imagined that?

Why it is like gambling going on at Rick's Cafe in Casablanca in 1939!

[bullimiami]

5. of course the people of iraq want us gone but their 'chosen' leader

wants the opposite which is exactly what his US bosses want. thats democracy for you. bush style.

[FloridaPat]

6. Good little puppet.

[acmavm]

7. The guy knows that he has the life expectancy of a fruit fly if we leave.

Him and the rest of the collaborators.

[sabra]

8. Iraq would welcome US military bases -Talabani

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N25241533.htm

Iraq would welcome US military bases -Talabani

WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said he would like to have U.S. military bases in his country for an extended period to prevent foreign interference in Iraq, the Washington Post said on Monday.

Talabani was asked in an interview in New York last week if U.S. bases would be welcome in Iraq's Kurdistan region.

"Yes, they are welcome," he said. "Kurdistan wants the Americans to stay. In some places Sunnis want the Americans to stay. Sunnis think the main danger is coming from Iran now. There is a change in the mind of the Sunnis. The Sunnis are for having good relations with America."

Talabani said Iraq would be in need of U.S. forces for "a long time" to prevent interference from other nations.

"I don't ask to have 100,000 American soldiers -- 10,000 soldiers and two air bases would be enough," he said. "This will be (in) the interest of the Iraqi people and of peace in the Middle East."

[Chipper Chat]

9. Yes, and those 10,000 US soldiers and two air bases

will be targets forever. Car bombs, snipers, food poisoning will continue to bleed our nation's youth. Of course Hellibuton will get no-bid contracts, and that makes it worthwhile dontcha know.