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Operation Iraqi
Freedom Exposed
Bush Negotiates Permanent Presence in Iraq
By Marjorie Cohn
12/03/07 "ICH"
-- -- The revelation that Bush will sign an agreement for a
permanent U.S. military presence in Iraq before his term is up
confirms the real reason he invaded Iraq and changed its regime.
It was never about weapons of mass destruction. It was never
about ties between Saddam and al Qaeda. And it was never about
bringing democracy to the Iraqi people. These claims were lies
to cover up the real motive for Operation Iraqi Freedom: to
create a permanent American presence in Iraq. With Bush's
November 26, 2007 announcement that the United States and Iraq
were negotiating a permanent "security relationship," his lies
have been exposed.
Bush declared, Iraqi leaders "understand that their success will
require U.S. political, economic, and security engagement that
extends beyond my presidency." His outline for the permanent
U.S.-Iraqi "Economic" relationship is "to encourage the flow of
foreign investments to Iraq." Two senior Iraqi officials told
the Associated Press that Bush is negotiating preferential
treatment for U.S. investments.
This isn't the first time Bush has tried to turn Iraq into an
investment haven for U.S. oil companies. He used to tout the
"Iraqi oil law," which would transfer control of three-quarters
of Iraq's oil to foreign companies, as the benchmark for Iraqi
progress. But in the face of opposition by the Iraqi oil unions,
the parliament has refused to pass that law.
All along, Bush has been building mega-bases In Iraq. Camp
Anaconda, which sits on 15 square miles of Iraqi soil, has a
pool, gym, theater, beauty salon, school and six apartment
buildings. Our $600 million American embassy in the Green Zone
just opened. The largest embassy in the world, it is a
self-contained city with no need for Iraqi electricity, food or
water.
Although Bush has negotiated terms to keep U.S. troops in Iraq
in perpetuity, the majority of American people oppose a
permanent American occupation of Iraq.
So do many Iraqis. University of Michigan Juan Cole's blog,
"Informed Comment," cited an Al-Hayat report in Arabic that the
Sadr Movement and the Sunni Iraqi Accord Front rejected the
"memorandum of understanding" between the United States and Iraq
that Bush and Nuri al-Maliki signed. These groups say this
agreement would be illegal unless agreed to by the legislature,
and they complain about the absence of any timetable for the
withdrawal of U.S. troops.
No wonder Iraqis oppose the U.S. occupation. The organization
Just Foreign Policy has estimated that 1,118,846 Iraqis have
been killed since Operation Iraqi Freedom began. Australian born
journalist John Pilger wrote, "The scale of death caused by the
British and U.S. governments may well have surpassed that of the
Rwanda genocide, making it the biggest single act of mass murder
of the late 20th century and the 21st century."
Yet Congress refuses to reign in the President. When Bush
announced that violence is down in Baghdad so he can withdraw
5,000 troops, the Democratic candidates cheered, diverting their
criticism to the lack of political progress in Iraq. But with so
many Iraqis dead, there are fewer to kill.
We the people have to keep the pressure on. As we demand the
United States withdraw completely from Iraq, we must also forbid
Bush to attack Iran. Our voices must be heard - by Congress, by
the media, and throughout the world.
Marjorie Cohn is president of the National Lawyers Guild and
a professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, where she teaches
criminal law and procedure, evidence, and international human
rights law. She lectures throughout the world on human rights
and US foreign policy. Please visit her website
http://www.marjoriecohn.com/
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