US and British bases in Iraq look long term

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has revealed that coalition forces are spending millions of dollars establishing at least six "enduring" bases in Iraq.

Major Joseph Breasseale, a senior spokesman for the coalition forces' headquarters in Iraq, said: "The current plan is to reduce the coalition footprint into six consolidation bases - four of which are US."

The Pentagon says it has already reduced the number of US bases from 110 a year ago to around 75. But at the same time it is expanding a number of vast, highly defended bases, some in the desert away from large population areas.

More than US$280 million has already been spent on building up Al Asad air base, Balad air base, Camp Taji and Tallil air base, and the Bush Administration has this year requested another US$175 million to enlarge them.

These bases, which currently house more than 55,000 troops, have their own bus routes, pizza restaurants and supermarkets.

Some analysts believe the desire to establish a long-term US military presence in Iraq was always one of the reasons behind the 2003 invasion.

- INDEPENDENT