[Rictor]

ionia, I'll put it to you as simply as I can. The US has of power, which they are using for whatever purposes, but in the process it harms others. Thats the basic jist of it.

Because of their foreign policy, as you said yourself, and because of their economic polilicy, a ****ing lot of people are suffering. Thats one aspect. The other aspect is that no one likes anyone else to have so much power. Its understandable. If everyone in your school is a normal kid, and then there's this one giant, 7' and 300 pounds, obviously people are not going to like that. Even if he's nice and gentle, knowing that you are at someone else's mercy is no way to live.

But you speak as if though America can do no wrong. I am of course working under the assumption that war and death are viewed as "bad things". So, starting wars ever few years, thats not a good thing. And the fact that its mostly (and by this I mean 99.99%) the innocents that suffer.

There are some other things which I would like to mention, but maybe later on. Basically, too much power, and using that power to inflict harm on others. Until the latter stops, there is a legimitate reason to strongly dislike American foreign policy.

[Knight Templar]

Meh. Not gonna' happen. Just like it hasn't happened to any of the other countries we've taken over in the last 200 hundred years. Apparently, it's the Middle East's turn now.

[Bobboau]

so the Iraqis want to be totaly defenceles from Iran, Syria, and (to a lesser extent) Turkey?
(I doubt Jordan or Saudi Arabia would do any sort of overt action, but I could see Iran Syria or Turkey invadeing parts or going in and killing people)
I think it's less of a "get the hell out" and more of a "get the hell out of my way", as in they don't want us running there country, wich we still are doing and seem as though we will be doing for the forseable future.

[Rictor]

well, ask yourself a question. Would you ever feel free with 150,000 foreign troops in country, armed to the teeth and operating independently of any local government?

I think that handing back political power is a step in the right direction, but I'm afaid that I just can't force myself to believe that that is what has happened a day ago.

As for enemies, I think Iraq is pretty well covered. Any nation that attacks it now, with or without US troops stationed there, is just asking for trouble. Iraq has plenty of able-bodied men to defend it, and plenty of oil to pay for the military hardware. Plus, if it got attacked any time within the next decade, the "international community" would quickly jump to its defence. In short, I think the chances of a foreign power invading Iraq are almost non-existant, present company exluded of course

 Now the Kurds, thats a different story. Israel is supporting (financing, training etc) the Kurds to take power if need be, and also to attack Syria and Iran across the border. Needless to say, there is of bad blood between the Kurds and the Shia/Sunnis. And before anyone starts yelling anti-Semite or whatever, this has been confirmed by high ranking Israeli military officials, so...

[Bobboau]

well ask someone in germany how free they feel, we have a signifigant military presence there as well as many other places, and as far as I know, most people in most of these places couldn't be asked to give a ****. though I'm sure there are some exeptions to this.
the impression that I've got is that they don't want us running through there streets shooting people. wich I am perfictly inclined to aford them.
the way I see this going down is the Iraqis take over one thing at a time untill it seems like they've got it under controle then we start moveing troops out (I'm thinking this will start sometime around one or two years from now), leaveing a few at first just in case someone decides to take the opertunity to set up another dictatorship, eventualy we'll probly end up with a token base with 1 or 2 thosand people there in the middle of the desert.

[Rictor]

Not to be a pessimist, but I doubt it. The bases that are being built are huge, made to accomodate tens of thousands. I somehow doubt they're building them with the intention of only stationing a few soldiers here and there. Iraq is smack dab in the middle of the Middle East. The US could strike at any of the nieghboring countries from there. In addition, the US embassy in Baghdad in the largest in the world, with a staff of over 4000 people. All signs point to a large and extended  military presence.

I think that Germany is the exception to the rule, for two reasons. One, they are quite capable of telling the US to **** off if they so wish, with no fear of retribution. They a powerful nation that can stand up to the US. This is not the case for the vast majority of countries in which US military bases are stationed. Outside of Western Europe, Japan and a few Asian nations, no country can step out of line without the dear or retaliation, be it economic or political or even military.

The second reason why I would consider Germany unique is that the bases have been there since WW2. And especially during the Cold War, I think people just got used to them. They don't affect the day-to-day lives of Germans, so why worry. And again, this is not the case for a great many nations abroad.

What it comes down to is, most of the nations in which bases are housed are too weak to act against Washington. Don't think that just because they (the bases) are there, that they're welcome. Even in powerful nations, specifically reffering to Japan, the US bases are a pretty big issue. Pressure is being put of Koiuzumi (Japanese PM) to reduce the size and number of US bases. From what I know, rape  and a general lack of respect for the local law is prevalent in US bases abroad. I've got some quote by mikhael regarding this, can't be bothered to look for it now. In addition to that, the environmental damage that is being left behind by the bases is, from what I know, pretty extensive. And when the US decides to move its bases, the host country get stuck with the bill, which is equally extensive.

err, I rant too much. The best book that I know of regarding US military bases around the world is Sorrows of Empire by Chalmers Johnson. Imperial overextension, and the bases are a huge part of that, is one of the central themes in the book AFAIK, though I have not as of yet read it myslef.

ok,I talk to much. I'll shut up now.

[Bobboau]

you're looseing your touch, 5 paragraphs and not once was I filled with an intinite abyss of rage,
you just arn't trying tonight are you?

interesting semi-off topic thing I've mentioned a few times, I work and live right near a rather large military base. not sure how I'd feel if it was another nation's military there, supose it would depend on how I felt about that nation, they mostly keep to themselves, evey now and then the place I work at will get buzzed by a wing of f 14s or 18s, more oftine one of the giant cargo planes. I once saw an AWACs.
I ride by it all the time on my bike,
have yet to get stopped by the MPs