US seeks Permanent Bases, Karzai Confirms

By Steve Hynd

If you ever wondered whether the talk of a complete withdrawal by 2015 was honest...

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Tuesday that he was in talks with the United States about the possible establishment of permanent US military bases in his war-ravaged country.

"From the statements made by US officials, US senators to the media and from what they have told us, yes, they have this desire," he said.

"This is an issue that we're in talks with them about."

Then no, it isn't. To save careers, save face and avoid the word "defeat" the U.S. will be propping up the winners it picked for Afghanistan's corruption and drug-running race for decades to come.

Comments

[geoff]

The idea of permanent bases in far away places with tenuous supply connections and that are likely to remain hostel to the USA strikes me as completely irrational. It's a bit like setting up isolated forts in Indian Territory while assuming you're surrounded by simple minded benign "heathens" all waiting for the shiny trinkets you hand out when you dare to step outside. Talk about giving hostages to the fates