Finally, some good news!
http://washtimes.com/upi/20060621-045752-4579r.htmThe House of Representatives has passed a bill barring the U.S. military from establishing permanent bases in Iraq.
The 2007 Defense Authorization Act, approved by the House Wednesday, includes language sponsored by Democratic war critic Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, banning the United States from negotiating for permanent bases with the government of Iraq. Language to that effect was included in both versions of the Senate and House emergency war supplemental but was stripped out during conference earlier this month.
On Tuesday, Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, introduced an amendment deleting the permanent basing language. It was defeated by a vote of 50-376.
John Isaacs, the president of the liberal Council for a Livable World, said Wednesday the vote shows the Republican-dominated House -- while rejecting a firm withdrawal date from Iraq -- is also against an open-ended occupation.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman C.W. Bill Young, R-Fla., spoke against the King amendment, saying it played into al-Qaida's propaganda that the United States is trying to establish a permanent foothold in the Middle East.
"If we strike this prohibition from this bill that was well thought out, what we are saying to the Iraqi people and what I am satisfied the propaganda machine of al Qaida in Iraq are going to do is use this and say: see there, we told you so. The Americans plan to occupy us for the rest of our lives," Young said.
U.S. military officials told United Press Iinternational the plan for Iraq's bases has been to collapse U.S. forces back from occupying more than 60 bases to 10 primary bases, which are ultimately intended to be turned over to Iraq's 10 divisions.
