From: Ad 

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=20917

Ah well at least reality is starting to permeate the strata of ideology.

" US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday the United States is
looking to a long-term military presence in Iraq under a mutually agreed
arrangement similar to that it has long had with South Korea.

Gates told reporters here that plans still call for an assessment of the US
"surge" strategy in September, but he was looking beyond that to
the type of military presence the United States will have in Iraq over the
long term.

"What I'm thinking in terms of is a mutual agreement where some force
of Americans -- mutually agreed with mutually agreed missions -- is present
for a protracted period of time," he said.

Gates, who was visiting the US Pacific Command here on the way to security
talks in Singapore, pointed to South Korea, contrasting it to Vietnam
"where we just left lock, stock and barrel.""


yeah I can see the Iraqi public buying into that. BTW that was sarcasm.

Basically "We are going to invade your country, reduce it to anarchy
& then......you'll be happy to see us stay.....because you'll be so
weakened that you'll not be able to be fully sovereign for decades....&
you neighbors will take advantage..."


An interesting message for Iraqi pols in favor to try & sell to their
voters (assuming democracy persists).

At least they're finally getting to the "desert bases &
borders" approach:

"President George W. Bush also has alluded to the strategy shift in
talking about a "Plan B-H," that would incorporate
recommendations from a commission head by former secretary of state James
Baker and former representative Lee Hamilton.

The Baker-Hamilton Commission proposed a phased reduction in US forces but
leaving a small force to protect Iraq's borders and fight Al-Qaeda."

Oh about 4 years late but........

Adam

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