The true reason for the war.
PoliticsDiscuss The true reason for the war. in the Debate and Discussion forums; 14 `enduring bases' set in Iraq
Tue Mar 23, 9:40 AM ET Add Top Stories - Chicago Tribune to My Yahoo!
By Christine Spolar Tribune foreign correspondent
From the ashes ...
14 `enduring bases' set in Iraq
Tue Mar 23, 9:40 AM ET Add Top Stories - Chicago Tribune to My Yahoo!
By Christine Spolar Tribune foreign correspondent
From the ashes of abandoned Iraqi army bases, U.S. military engineers are overseeing the building of an enhanced system of American bases designed to last for years.
• Chicago Tribune home page
• Subscribe to the Tribune
• Search the Tribune
• More Chicago news
AFP
Slideshow: Iraq
Latest headlines:
· Nine Police Trainees Gunned Down in Iraq
AP - 3 minutes ago
· Poland Says It Doesn't Regret Iraq War
AP - 39 minutes ago
· Defense Department number two called for Iraq attack in 2001
AFP - 40 minutes ago
Special Coverage
Last year, as troops poured over the Kuwait border to invade Iraq (news - web sites), the U.S. military set up at least 120 forward operating bases. Then came hundreds of expeditionary and temporary bases that were to last between six months and a year for tactical operations while providing soldiers with such comforts as e-mail and Internet access.
Now U.S. engineers are focusing on constructing 14 "enduring bases," long-term encampments for the thousands of American troops expected to serve in Iraq for at least two years. The bases also would be key outposts for Bush administration policy advisers.
As the U.S. scales back its military presence in Saudi Arabia, Iraq provides an option for an administration eager to maintain a robust military presence in the Middle East and intent on a muscular approach to seeding democracy in the region. The number of U.S. military personnel in Iraq, between 105,000 and 110,000, is expected to remain unchanged through 2006, according to military planners.
"Is this a swap for the Saudi bases?" asked Army Brig. Gen. Robert Pollman, chief engineer for base construction in Iraq. "I don't know. ... When we talk about enduring bases here, we're talking about the present operation, not in terms of America's global strategic base. But this makes sense. It makes a lot of logical sense."
Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy chief of operations for the coalition in Iraq, said the military engineers are trying to prepare for any eventuality.
"This is a blueprint for how we could operate in the Middle East," Kimmitt said. "[But] the engineering vision is well ahead of the policy vision. What the engineers are saying now is: Let's not be behind the policy decision. Let's make this place ready so we can address policy options."
To that end, the U.S. plans to operate from former Iraqi bases in Baghdad, Mosul, Taji, Balad, Kirkuk and in areas near Nasiriyah, near Tikrit, near Fallujah and between Irbil and Kirkuk.
There also are plans to renovate and enhance airfields in Baghdad and Mosul, and rebuild 70 miles of road on the main route for U.S. troops headed north.
Dollar figures have not been released. The Defense Department plans to build the bases under its own contracts separate from the State Department and its Embassy in Baghdad.
Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the head of coalition forces in Iraq, recently outlined a plan that would slice the current Coalition Provisional Authority into pieces after sovereignty is returned to Iraqis at the end of June.
The U.S. Embassy would absorb some coalition workers as Embassy personnel; the Defense Department would take others. Its workers would direct most of the major contracts connected to the $18 billion allocated for Iraq reconstruction, military planners said.
The Program Management Office, the agency that has been doling out the cash, will remain under the Defense Department.
"It was a significant win," one military planner said. "In terms of controlling the money, Defense is in control."
We'll see how temporary they are. You don't spend $18 billion for temporary residences.
Bismarck once said "Fools say they like to learn from their experiences, but I prefer to learn from the experience of others."
"Move that one of your pieces, which is in the worst plight, unless you can satisfy yourself that you can derive immediate advantage by an attack." -Adolph Anderssen
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Bismarck once said "Fools say they like to learn from their experiences, but I prefer to learn from the experience of others."
"Move that one of your pieces, which is in the worst plight, unless you can satisfy yourself that you can derive immediate advantage by an attack." -Adolph Anderssen
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
The city will be encircled with bases, and a single base will be within the main city.
That's what the plan is, and has been for a month or two(I posted about it some time ago on another forum).
Overall it's a strategic move that allows them to control Baghdad's influx of people, not to mention allow for strategic activities within the Middle East outside of the already present areas.
Simply put, America's increasing their presence within the Middle East, setting up bases that will be able to endure great deals of attacks, and have multiple launch points for attacks.
When I usually play those nifty old video games where you have strategic activities like that I usually build up defenses in a circle(defensive wall), with a central point(main intelligence spot), and then strike out when I'm completely entrenched and able to handle sparing men for the attack.
(\ /)
(O.o)
(> <)
This is Bunny. Copy Bunny into your signature to help him on his way to world domination
ON THE AFGHAN BORDER - Using bulldozers to slice bunkers and a helicopter landing pad out of a mountainside, U.S. special operations forces dug in Tuesday on a peak overlooking Pakistan — fortifying the area for the intensifying battle against al-Qaida and Taliban forces.
Special operations forces — who include Green Berets, Navy SEALs, and CIA (news - web sites) operatives — are playing a secretive but leading role in the battle against al-Qaida and Taliban suspects believed to be hiding out in the mountains of Pakistan's tribal areas.
Remote posts like this one near the Afghan city of Orgun, scratched out of a mountainside to house a small contingent of U.S. forces and a larger Afghan militia unit, serve as forward launch pads for the fight.
An Associated Press writer on Tuesday became the first to report from the special operations' observation post since the start of Operation Mountain Storm, a 2-week-old American offensive designed to capture Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) and his top lieutenants.
Village elders in this hamlet of 45 families in Paktika province said the Americans arrived 18 days ago with Afghan militia.
The camp is home to 60 Americans, working with 200 Afghan militia, the Afghan militiamen say. The Westerners wear T-shirts and sunglasses, and most sport beards and mustaches, with pistols strapped to their legs. Rank and file U.S. soldiers must remain in uniform and are banned from growing beards, but special operations forces are not subject to the same regulations.
Villagers see the Americans out building their base and patrolling, at times with allied Afghan militia — helping close the border against what villagers say are frequent incursions by al-Qaida and Taliban.
The U.S. military says its forces also are sharing information with Pakistani troops across the border — intelligence typically coming everywhere from satellites to intercepted radio calls.
On Tuesday, the Americans were erecting 100 yards of wire fence along the border beside their base. They also dug holes, which will become bunkers, to live in while their Afghan allies put up tents.
Workers used construction equipment to level a helipad.
Americans around the camp refused to speak to AP. Relaying their request through Afghan militiamen, they eventually asked the reporter to leave, saying no journalists were allowed in the area.
The U.S. military as a matter of policy does not comment on special operations. But asked about buildup along the Afghan-Pakistan border in the area, U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty said: "We do have some positions that are constantly changing. We are constantly rearranging."
On the Pakistan side, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has said about a dozen U.S. "technical experts" are in his country. Some are located across the border from the special operations post in Miran Shah, Pakistani intelligence officials told AP.
Last week, a Pakistani army spokesman, Gen. Shaukat Sultan, said a dozen or so U.S. intelligence agents were in the country "assisting Pakistan in technical intelligence and surveillance." The CIA declined to comment.
Afghan villagers near the new post said they welcomed the U.S. crackdown, saying they have come under a growing cross-border rocket barrage from Pakistan.
"So many rockets. We are living in fear of rockets," said shopkeeper Shawar Khan in Sisandi, a village near the U.S. encampment.
Both sides of the border around Miran Shah have come under repeated rocket attacks by militants hoping to hit U.S. or Afghan military posts. Authorities blame al-Qaida fugitives and allied Pakistan tribesmen. Taliban fighters are believed to be hiding in the mountains as well.
No uniformed American forces have been seen in recent days along one of the front lines in the U.S. campaign against terror suspects based in Pakistan's North and South Waziristan, locals say.
Across the border and about 45 miles to the south, in South Waziristan, Pakistan's military has arrested scores in its toughest and bloodiest operation against terror suspects in the tribal areas since Musharraf allied with the United States against terror in 2001.
These mountains in Afghanistan (news - web sites) are a hot spot as well.
On March 5, U.S. special operations forces killed nine suspected insurgents near this stretch of border when a group of 30 to 40 men appeared to try to flank a U.S.-Afghan position here, the U.S. military said.
Village leaders say Taliban and al-Qaida attackers cross the border at will. Asked for proof, they laughed, as if there could be no doubt.
"Everyone can come easily into Afghanistan. Everyone can go easily into Pakistan," said Mohammed Khan, another shopkeeper in Sisandi. "There are no Afghan checkpoints."
"For 2 1/2 years, they are coming and attacking" from Waziristan, said Shawar Khan. "That's why in this area, there are no schools, there's no health clinics, there's no development. Everyone is afraid to come to our area."
Since the Americans' arrival, villagers have stayed inside after dark, saying the U.S. security outweighed the inconvenience of the curfew.
The U.S. and Afghan forces have closed this part of the border, at least, to any attacks, Mohammed Khan said.
"Right now, from this area, it's impossible that anyone can come," the villager said. "But it's a huge border."
____
Associated Press writer Munir Ahmad contributed to this report from Islamabad, Pakistan.
--------------------
More proof that they're attempting to reinforce the military might of the American army within the Middle Eastern area.
(\ /)
(O.o)
(> <)
This is Bunny. Copy Bunny into your signature to help him on his way to world domination
More Information
Linear Mode
Latest Threads
