Blackmailing Iraq into Letting Us Stay

After 7½ years highlighted by abuse of power, incompetence and fraud, many Americans think there’s little more damage that George W. Bush can do before he leaves office on Jan. 20.

Think again.

As has become common since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the British media has broken yet another story about the backroom dealings of the U.S. government in foreign policy. This time, The Independent of London is reporting about a Bush administration ploy to pressure Iraqi leaders into letting the U.S. military maintain an indefinite presence in their nation.

The U.S. government is refusing to release about $50 billion of Iraq’s money held in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to force the Iraqi government into signing an agreement that many Iraqis believe will prolong the U.S. occupation indefinitely, according to information leaked to The Independent.

U.S. negotiators are using the existence of $20 billion in outstanding judgments against Iraq in the American court system to pressure their Iraqi counterparts into accepting the terms of the military deal, the newspaper reported Thursday.

Bush wants the pact approved by July 31. Despite the administration’s past claims to the contrary, the deal’s approval would mean the United States could keep dozens of military bases in the nation and American troops would be able arrest Iraqi citizens and conduct military campaigns without consulting the Iraqi government. Also, U.S. soldiers and contractors would have legal immunity for their conduct. Talk about a recipe for disaster.

Congressional Democrats and independent-minded Republicans need to keep the pressure on Bush during the next several weeks, and not let themselves be distracted by the high drama of the presidential race.

— Kevin Osborne

Comments

[David E. Gallaher]

After Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon, he used the famous phrase: "Our long national nightmare is over." Well, Watergate and Nixon were sweet dreams compared to what Dubya Bush has done to Iraq and the world. Because of the discomfort and embarrassment, most of us want to forget Iraq and move on. I assume that's why I'm the only one commenting here.

I have high hopes that President Obama will be able to explain to Amurika how it has run off the track, way off. I see his first term as primarily and most importantly a series of seminars for the people. They need to be, as we used to say, "snapped out of their shit" for putting up with Dubya this long.

A President McCain, by the way, with his military background will only be on the lookout for more big wars to fight. Peace is the answer. Taking a chance for peace offers much more favorable odds than wars for empire-building. Look for war, you will find it. Look for peace, you will find it. Peace is better.
But don't take my word. President Obama will be explaining it.

[Not the Mamma Cass!]

Any idea why BushCo would want this and if a future President could reverse the deal?