Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Wall Street Journal (wsj.com)
January 24, 2008 WASHINGTON (AFP)--The United States has no interest in setting up permanent bases in Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday.
Gates tried to dismiss concerns among critics that a planned U.S. military accord with Iraq would tie the hands of future U.S. presidents regarding the mandate of U.S. troops in Iraq, and create permanent U.S. bases there.
"I think it is pretty clear that such an agreement would not talk about force levels. We have no interest in permanent bases," he told reporters.
Gates said discussions have just barely started on the on the still-to-be-negotiated Status of Forces Agreement.
January 24, 2008 WASHINGTON (AFP)--The United States has no interest in setting up permanent bases in Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday.
Gates tried to dismiss concerns among critics that a planned U.S. military accord with Iraq would tie the hands of future U.S. presidents regarding the mandate of U.S. troops in Iraq, and create permanent U.S. bases there.
"I think it is pretty clear that such an agreement would not talk about force levels. We have no interest in permanent bases," he told reporters.
Gates said discussions have just barely started on the on the still-to-be-negotiated Status of Forces Agreement.