Secret Plan: US To Stay in Iraq for Years

BAGHDAD – The Bush administration wants to use 50 military bases in Iraq for an indefinite period of time. Washington also wants to continue to control Iraqi airspace in the future. American military must be able to continue to conduct military operations in Iraq undisturbed and without approval from Iraq.

The U.S. and Iraqi governments are presently secretly negotiating a treaty that will make all this possible. The agreement should be signed by the end of July. This is reported by the British newspaper The Independent on Thursday on the basis of anonymous sources who are knowledgeable of the negotiations.

According to the newspaper, President Bush wants to sign the agreement for a permanent military presence in Iraq before the end of next month. The treaty can thwart Barack Obama’s plans to withdraw the American forces, numbering 141,000, within 16 months after his election.

Washington has always denied that it wants to have permanent bases in Iraq. Both countries have been talking since last year about a “strategic alliance.” The fact that the U.S. wanted to retain such a dominant presence in Iraq for so many years, was not yet known. According to the treaty, American military must also be given immunity for acts committed in Iraq.

The British newspaper reports that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is opposed to the American demands. He would, however, be fearful for the future of his government should he lose support by the Americans. Al-Maliki is trying to postpone the signing of the treaty, but American Vice-President Dick Cheney is said to be exerting great pressure to push it through.

American Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, is said to have been extensively involved in the negotiations in recent weeks.