Kerry wants public statement there will be no bases in Iraq

[Mass]

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Kerry_wants_public_statement_there_will_0208.html

Kerry wants public statement there will be no bases in Iraq

RAW STORY
Published: February 8, 2006

Print This | Email This

Senator John Kerry (D-MA) today sent a letter to General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, asking him to publicly and unequivocally state that there will be no permanent American military bases in Iraq.

What follows is a copy of that letter.
#

February 8, 2006
Advertisement

General Peter Pace, USMC Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff 9999 The Pentagon Room 2E878

Washington, DC 20318-9999

Dear General Pace:

I was interested to see reports of Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt's speech to the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London where he reportedly said the United States will not maintain any long-term bases in Iraq. . . . Our position is when we leave we will not have any bases there.

For some time, a number of us have argued that it is vital to the success of our mission in Iraq for the United States to make clear in public that we seek no permanent military bases in Iraq. We know from General Casey that the insurgency in Iraq has fed on the sense of occupation. A simple declaration that the United States seeks no permanent military bases in Iraq, I believe, will help undermine the claims of some home-grown insurgents who argue that the United States seeks to steal Iraq's oil and dominate its people.

In the interest of clarity, can you state unequivocally that the United States will not maintain any permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq? If Brigadier General Kimmmit’s statement is accurate, I urge you to personally state it clearly in public. I believe that doing so would be a great service to those brave Americans serving so well in Iraq and to the goals of American policy in the region.

I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

John F. Kerry

[_dynamicdems]

1. Awesome! This is absolutely awesome.

We all look forward to his reply, as well!

[ProSense]

2. Excellent! n/t

[blm]

3. That would have been his first move as President - Glad he's sticking it

out there.

Please post in GD and at kos. This was always part of Kerry's withdrawal plan - a VERY IMPORTANT PART.

EDIT: I put it up in GD. I don't post at kos.

[TayTay]

4. Excellent. This is a very important part of dealing with Iraq

and letting the Iraqi people know that the US has no plans for a permanent presence in their country. I'm very happy to see this letter. I dearly hope that other Dems follow up.

[Island Blue]

5. I hope General Pace replies.

I have no doubt that it's been */Cheney's plan all along to establish permanent bases in Iraq. It will be interesting to see what the General says. I'm glad JK wrote this letter.