House Resolution Rejects Permanent Bases in Iraq

It was the whole purpose of the invasion--a permanent occupation of the country. This is a war of conquest. It is why Bush never talks about leaving Iraq:

The House voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to bar permanent United States military installations in Iraq as lawmakers readied for yet another clash over a Democratic demand to withdraw combat troops from the conflict.

The vote is overwhelming, which is a slap at the neocons and their fellow travelers. The Congress obviously is on to Bush and his Iraq adventure:

By a vote of 399 to 24, the House adopted a resolution that would limit federal spending intended “to establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq or to exercise United States economic control of the oil resources of Iraq.”

Democrats said the measure, the latest in a series of politically tinged war votes, was needed to make it clear that America had no plan for a permanent military presence in Iraq — a fear they said was fueling some attacks on American troops and building the insurgent resistance.

Meanwhile Bush keeps trying to convince America that the reason we are in Iraq is to fight al Qaeda:

Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the House speaker, said lawmakers should expect repeated votes on Iraq policy, and she criticized Mr. Bush for citing, in a speech on Tuesday, Al Qaeda as the chief reason for keeping troops there.

“Just when you think you have seen it all, just when you think you have heard it all, the president mentioned Al Qaeda nearly 100 times to justify his course of action in Iraq,” said Ms. Pelosi, who said Democrats were prepared to vote every day on Iraq policy if necessary.