House to Vote on Lee Bill to Ban Permanent Bases in Iraq
(Washington, DC) – House leadership announced late Monday night that legislation introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) to prevent permanent military bases in Iraq and bar U.S. control over Iraqi oil resources will come up for a vote on the House floor on Wednesday.
“There is a lot of disagreement about Iraq, but there is widespread agreement on both sides of the aisle that U.S. occupation should not be permanent, and that is a good place to start,” Lee said.
Lee’s bill, H.R. 2929, declares that it is the policy of the United States not to establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq and not to exercise United States control of the oil resources of Iraq and prohibits the use of funds for these purposes.
The Bush administration has refused to make a clear statement of policy on the question of permanent bases and has even contradicted itself over who would make the decision. In October, 2006, in response to a question at a press conference as to whether the he intended to maintain permanent bases, said “Any decisions about permanency in Iraq will be made by the Iraqi government.” But in February, 2007, when Defense Secretary Gates was asked in testimony before the Senate who would make the decision, he answered, “We will make that decision, sir.”
“The perception that the United States plans a permanent military presence in Iraq strengthens the insurgency and fuels the violence against our troops. The Bush administration's recent comments that they envision a military presence extending more than 50 years – the 'Korea model' – have only made matters worse,” said Lee.
“A clear statement of policy, as experts including the Iraq Study Group have recommended, that the U.S. does not intend a long-term or permanent military presence in Iraq would help take the targets off our troops backs and support our goals of handing over responsibility for security and public safety to Iraqi forces,” Lee said.
Lee, who first introduced legislation to bar permanent bases in June, 2005, has led efforts to attach base related amendments to spending and authorization bills. The House passed Lee’s amendment barring permanent bases to the FY06 Iraq supplemental, but it was stripped out of the bill in conference committee. Subsequently, Congress passed amendments to the FY07 Defense Authorization bill, Defense Appropriations bill and Iraq supplemental, all of which became law. This year the House has passed similar amendments for the Fy08 Defense Authorization bill and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.
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HR 2929, No Permanent U.S. Military Bases in Iraq
Co-sponsors to date : 76
HR 2929
HR 2929 declares that it is the policy of the United States not to establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq and not to exercise United States control of the oil resources of Iraq and prohibits the use of funds for these purposes.
The Bush Administration Refuses to Rule Out Permanent Bases in Iraq
While members of the Bush administration have, at various times made statements against the idea of permanent bases, the White House has refused to issue a clear statement of policy disavowing permanent bases and the President refused to rule out the possibility of such bases when asked directly if he would do so at a press conference on October 25th, 2006.
The Administration Has Contradicted Itself on Who Will Decide on Permanent Bases, the U.S. or Iraq
On October 25, 2006, in response to a question at a press conference as to whether the United States wanted to maintain permanent military bases in Iraq, the President stated, “Any decisions on permanency in Iraq will be made by the Iraqi government.”
On February 6, 2007, in response to the question: “Is that still our policy, that we're going to be there [Iraq] as long as the [Iraqi] government asks us to be there? ... Is our presence left up to the Iraqis or do we make the decision?” Secretary Gates said, “We will make that decision, sir.”
The Perception of Permanent Bases Fuels Violence Against U.S. Troops
According to a poll released by the Program on International Policy Attitudes in September, 2006, not only does the overwhelming majority of Iraqis want the U.S. to leave, but that the overwhelming majority believes that the U.S. plans to keep permanent bases in Iraq, and that belief is highly correlated with support for attacks on U.S. forces.
The poll found that almost 80 percent of Iraqis believe the US military is “provoking more conflict than it is preventing” and 71 percent want US forces to leave in the next year.
Nearly 80 percent of Iraqis believe that the US intends to maintain permanent military bases in Iraq, and six in 10 approve of attacks on U.S. forces, an increase from January, when less than half approved of such attacks. According to the poll, “If the US were to commit to withdraw, more than half of those who approve of attacks on US troops say that their support for attacks would diminish.”
How Many Bases Are There?
According to a memo written by then-Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld in November, 2006, U.S. forces have reduced from 110 bases in Iraq to 55, and the plan is to reduce to 10-15 by April, 2007, and five by July, 2007.
The Iraq Study Group (ISG):
Iraq Study Group (ISG) RECOMMENDATION 22: The President should state that the United States does not seek permanent military bases in Iraq. If the Iraqi government were to request a temporary base or bases, then the U.S. government could consider that request as it would in the case of any other government.
Congressional Action on Permanent Bases
Congress passed and the President signed into law three pieces of legislation containing prohibition on the establishment of permanent military bases in Iraq using funds available for fiscal year 2007: H.R. 5631, the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill; Public Law 109–289, signed on September 29, 2006, H.R. 5122, the Defense Authorization Bill; Public Law 109–364, signed on October 17, 2006. and the FY07 Supplemental Appropriations bill (PL 110-28)
The House also had a recorded vote on permanent bases, an amendment offered by Rep. Steve King (R-IA) to remove permanent bases language from the FY07 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill. The amendment was defeated 376-50 (H.Amdt. 1059 to H.R. 5631, June, 20th, 2006, roll call no. 296 )
“If we strike this prohibition from this bill that was well thought out, what we are saying to the Iraqi people and what I am satisfied the propaganda machine of al Qaeda in Iraq are going to do is use this and say: see there, we told you so. The Americans plan to occupy us for the rest of our lives.” Then-Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Representative Bill Young (R-FL), speaking in opposition to the King amendment.
For the Record:
“As a proud and independent people, Iraqis do not support an indefinite occupation and neither does America.” President Bush, April 13, 2004
“Intense opposition to U.S. plans to establish long-term military bases in Iraq is one of the most passionate motivations behind the insurgency. …Neutralizing this anti-imperial passion — by clearly stating that we do not intend to remain in Iraq indefinitely — is essential to winding down the insurgency.” Larry Diamond, Senior Adviser to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad from January to April 2004, August 15, 2005
“Nothing could be worse than trying to maintain bases in a country with Iraq’