Bush envisions U.S. presence in Iraq like S.Korea

[JODO 2]

Bush envisions U.S. presence in Iraq like S.Korea By Steve Holland

51 minutes ago

President George W. Bush would like to see a lengthy U.S. troop presence in Iraq like the one in South Korea to provide stability but not in a frontline combat role, the White House said on Wednesday.

The United States has had thousands of U.S. troops in South Korea to guard against a North Korean invasion for 50 years.

Democrats in control of the U.S. Congress have been pressing Bush to agree to a timetable for pulling troops from Iraq, an idea firmly opposed by the president.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Bush would like to see a U.S. role in Iraq ultimately similar to that in South Korea in which "you get to a point in the future where you want it to be a purely support model."

"The Korean model is one in which the United States provides a security presence, but you've had the development of a successful democracy in South Korea over a period of years, and, therefore, the United States is there as a force of stability," Snow told reporters.

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record) of Nevada said in a statement he believes it is time for Bush to "recognize the reality on the ground in Iraq," that U.S. troops are mired in an Iraqi civil war and a change in course is urgently needed.

"Democrats know that Americans demand realistic plans, not more White House rhetoric, rosy predictions and best-case scenarios. Our troops and the American people deserve better," Reid said.

Iraq's neighbors have raised concerns about the possibility of the United States maintaining permanent bases in Iraq, and some U.S. lawmakers have said they think the Iraqi insurgency may have been fueled by perceptions the United States wants a permanent presence in the country.

Washington has consistently denied wanting permanent bases in Iraq.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070530/pl_nm/...yyGP.PRPFRX6GMA

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Hmmm... Its a fair bet that the war been sold in those terms at the outset - that noone would have voted for it.

[mawilson 2,133]

President George W. Bush would like to see a lengthy U.S. troop presence in Iraq like the one in South Korea to provide stability but not in a frontline combat role, the White House said on Wednesday.

Makes sense. We need a permanent military base in the region.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Prolly because their Cold-war "ally" Pakistan would not allow a permanent base after 1969 (maybe as a response to Johnson embargoing all arms sales to South Asia--lifted by Nixon--after 1965 war).

[mawilson 2,133]

Hmmm... Its a fair bet that the war been sold in those terms at the outset - that noone would have voted for it.

I don't know. What do you think would have happened if they had been honest from the getgo

and just told the public that we need to:

• depose Saddam
  
• secure the world's second biggest known oil reserves
  
• maintain a robust military presence in the Middle East in order to guarantee our continued access to oil
  

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Does he envision the splitting of Iraq into North and South too? More importantly, have we identified an Iraqi maniac with a crazy hair-do yet that can act as the dictator of North Iraq? And are they going to have nukes soon also?

Edited May 30, 2007 by ET-US2004

[JODO 2]

Does he envision the splitting of Iraq into North and South too? More importantly, have we identified an Iraqi maniac with a crazy hair-do yet that can act as the dictator of North Iraq? And are they going to have nukes soon also?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Hmmm... Its a fair bet that the war been sold in those terms at the outset - that noone would have voted for it.

I don't know. What do you think would have happened if they had been honest from the getgo

and just told the public that we need to:

• depose Saddam
  
• secure the world's second biggest known oil reserves
  
• maintain a robust military presence in the Middle East in order to guarantee our continued access to oil
  

Obviously they felt they had sufficient cause to sell it in other terms.

Does he envision the splitting of Iraq into North and South too? More importantly, have we identified an Iraqi maniac with a crazy hair-do yet that can act as the dictator of North Iraq? And are they going to have nukes soon also?

Meanwhile the US has told Turkey not to unilaterally attack Kurdistan - following terrorist attacks on Turkish territory and people.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Does he envision the splitting of Iraq into North and South too? More importantly, have we identified an Iraqi maniac with a crazy hair-do yet that can act as the dictator of North Iraq? And are they going to have nukes soon also?

Meanwhile the US has told Turkey not to unilaterally attack Kurdistan - following terrorist attacks on Turkish territory and people.

Business as usual: Do as I say, not as I do.