U.S. building huge military airfield in Iraq
By UPI
10/19/06 "Washington
Times" -- -- Following hints U.S. troops
may remain in Iraq for years, the United States is reportedly
building a massive military base at Arbil, in Kurdish northern
Iraq.
Zaman, quoting a news article published on the Firat news agency
Web site, which is known to have close connections to the
Kurdish Workers' Party, or PKK, reported on Oct. 15 that the
base -- along with a smaller facility -- is part of the
Pentagon's larger strategic involvement in the Middle East.
According to the Firat report, U.S. officials -- in agreement
with the regional Kurdish administration in northern Iraq --
have begun to construct a military airport in Arbil, while a
smaller military airfield will be established in Suleymaniyah.
Companies close to the Turkish army are providing technical
material for the bases, with container loads of building
supplies being transported into northern Iraq through the Habur
border gate crossing.
Operations currently carried out from the U.S. military base and
airfield at Incirlik, in southern Turkey, will reportedly be
transferred to the Arbil base upon its completion.
Copyright 2006 United Press International
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