Permanent Bases in Iraq or Not?

Recently, the House tried to send word to Bush that permanent bases in Iraq was not an acceptable policy but last week objections to permanent bases was quietly dropped from legislation (anything that happens on a Friday is usually intended to be buried in the news); The Los Angeles Times has the story:

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 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 Bush for his signature.

Now anyone with a brain knows that the idea of permanent bases in Iraq is not something that sits well with the local population. Because of the chaos in Iraq, it may take time to draw down the number of our troops, but the Bush Administration keeps waffling on whether we're building permanent bases or not. Think Progress points to a post by Billmon who documents the many contradicting statements; here's the first three in his post:

The United States is planning a long-term military relationship with the emerging government of Iraq, one that would grant the Pentagon access to military bases and project American influence into the heart of the unsettled region, senior Bush administration officials say.

New York Times
Pentagon Expects Long-Term Access
To Four Key Bases in Iraq
April 20, 2003

The impression that's left around the world is that we plan to occupy the country, we plan to use their bases over the long period of time, and it's flat false.

Donald Rumsfeld
Press Conference
April 21, 2003

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
14 `enduring bases' set in Iraq
March 23, 2004

It is stunning that about 41% of Americans still think Bush is honest and trustworthy.