Why is America building 12 permanent military bases in Iraq?

Maybe it has to do something with the fact that Iraq is located in one of the most strategically valuable areas in the world, and the fact that it also happens to be one of the most unstable areas of the world. Just like after WWII we build bases in Germany, to be close to Russia and central to Europe.

Now we are central to all of Africa, Asia, Middle East and Europe. Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and so on are all a short flight. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

no one has given a military answer to this question, all are looking to this as political, when military should have NOTHING to do with politics since politics bogs everything down, and holds back the power of the military.

The reason for the 12 bases is to hold stability in Iraq when we "leave" Iraq, pulling out most of the soldiers. The bases would provide operational capabilities in the region, more direct military access to Iran, Jordan, Syria, and the other countries in the area. The volatilty of the region requires attention, perhaps even threat to keep under control.

On top of that the US has always built permanant bases on lands that it conquers, consider Japan, the Philipines, Germany, Cuba. All of these saw military action with the US and guess what? each has permanant military bases on their land.

While the politics may have something to do with Haliburton, the reason is that the bases are needed, but the contract could go to another company, it is just that Chenny and Bush and other politicians are corrupt and gave the contract to Haliburton, if someone else was in power the contract probably would have been written out to someone else with approximatly the same amount of bases being built. It is the military that decides where the bases should go but the politicians who decide where the contract goes.

I agree with PPanos. It's a strategically important area, and when we withdraw they could help prevent civil war.

It's not like we're taking over their country. It's a military base. And if you were an Iraqi official trying to keep order, you would be damned glad you had US forces in close contact.

I have to agree somewhat with cavcarl. The bases that we use were already there and as for new bases the Govt is aiding the Iraqis in constructing bases for the Iraqi military and police.

I was just going to say Halliburton and the like and then doh! Richard is first out of the gate with the exact answer, apply the economic model of corporate greed to getting a politican elected to office, and then to the victor goes the spoils, and US Tax dollars.

WAKE UP AMERICA.

But no they wont they wont go vote at the primary for people who would change things, they will go for george allen, yes, or mitt romney yes, and of course not john mccain no, the karl rove machine is already killing john mccain, who is paying karl rove to run their campain in 2008.

Picture says a 1000 words, karl rove looks like one of those scary german men who did expiriements in the 30s. I am not saying we are anything like that, except of course when we take people aWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND DONT GET A WARRANT CAUSE GEORGE BUSH HAS THE NSA SPYING ON AMERICANS OH OHH OHHH.

But seriously, the supreme court said in 1866 it is in times of war that they the supreme court must act to ensure civil liberities are safeguarded.

Anyone, samuel alito, anyone anyone, comment on that subject, anyone. Anyone, samuel alito, anyone, anyone hear his views on presidential powers, anything of substance, richard you? anyone, I know richard and me are going to need to start our own political party and rock this country back to where its supposed to be.

i'm seen a number of your solutions -- and also you've were given some factors in there. even if, your factors would make a good deal more beneficial experience in case you used punctuation, corrected spelling & were given rid of the cursing. on your question, some Muslims were horrified, really some were. probably a lot less in the middle East then in the U.S.. What grow to be scary to me is a Muslim chum I talked to that nighttime grow to be drastically a lot less horrified than i grow to be or maximum all and sundry I knew grow to be. he's a liberal, human rights helping, high-quality guy. i did not assume the verbal replace we had.

As a staging area for the rest of ww3. There are plenty of others on our list but we will get to them next!

Haliburton needs the money. Obviously much more than we the people of the United States need it.

Because we are going to be there for a long time. Just look at Korea if you are thinking we will leave anytime soon.

In short, they're not. Those bases were existing Iraqi bases.

It's our newest aircraft carrier called the "USS IRAQ" right in the middle of our oil fields! OOH-RAH!