Iraq war bill deletes US military base prohibition

[journalist3072]

Iraq war bill deletes US military base prohibition

By Richard Cowan
Fri Jun 9, 4:59 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Republicans killed a provision in an Iraq war funding bill that would have put the United States on record against the permanent basing of U.S. military facilities in that country, a lawmaker and congressional aides said on Friday.

The $94.5 billion emergency spending bill, which includes $65.8 billion to continue waging wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is expected to be approved by Congress next week and sent to President George W. Bush for signing into law.

As originally passed by the House of Representatives, the Pentagon would have been prohibited from spending any of the funds for entering into a military basing rights agreement with Iraq.

A similar amendment passed by the Senate said the Pentagon could not use the next round of war funding to "establish permanent United States military bases in Iraq, or to exercise United States control over the oil infrastructure or oil resources of Iraq."

Read entire article here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060609/pl_nm/security_congress_funding_dc

Congratulations, everyone! We are on our way to making Iraq the 51st state!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Wasn't that one of the main reasons for the invasion in the first place?

A permanent presence in Iraq, to keep an eye on the oil and be sure Halliburton had something to rebuild?

Not that I'm cynical or anything.

[journalist3072]

2. Ding, ding! We have a winner.

Sadly, you are absolutely correct. So I guess Cindy Sheehan now has her answer. She knows what "noble" cause her Casey died for.