# House votes to ban permanent U.S. bases in Iraq **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 26, 2007, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202 "2007-07-26T08:03:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/1 "2007-07-26T08:03:44Z")
From [The Gavel:](http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?p=621) > [@](#): > > Today, the House passed H.R. 2929, Banning Permanent U.S. Bases in Iraq. This bill states that it is the policy of the United States not to establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing a permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq. It also states that it is the policy of the United States not to exercise U.S. control of the oil resources of Iraq. The measure bars the use of any funds provided by any law from being used to carry out any policy that contradicts these statements of policy. > > While the Bush Administration has indicated it would not seek permanent bases in Iraq, Administration officials have recently remarked that the President envisioned a continued military presence in Iraq similar to our presence in Korea, where U.S. forces have been stationed for more than 50 years. Speaker Pelosi explained that “today’s vote can again make clear to the President, to the Administration, to the American people, to the people in the Middle East, to the people in Iraq — that the American people are opposed to a permanent military presence in Iraq.” Will this pass the Senate? Will the Pubs filibuster? If so, will the Admin dare to veto it? If it passes, do we have to give up that [enormous fortified embassy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embassy_of_the_United_States_in_Baghdad#New_embassy) too? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/2 "2007-07-26T08:50:52Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Will this pass the Senate? Will the Pubs filibuster? If so, will the Admin dare to veto it? [/QUOTE] I doubt it, I expect so, and they’d dare anything. Assuming that they don’t just decide to ignore what Congress says. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/3 "2007-07-26T12:32:10Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] I doubt it, I expect so, and they’d dare anything. Assuming that they don’t just decide to ignore what Congress says. [/QUOTE] He’ll probably sign the bill, and attach a signing statement nullifying what the bill says. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/4 "2007-07-26T18:00:12Z")
It’s silliness. According to John Boehner, that’s been the policy [all along.](http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aiUkVW3zCPcg&refer=politics) So basically, this bill just affirms what is being planned anyway. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/5 "2007-07-26T18:05:02Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] It’s silliness. According to John Boehner, that’s been the policy [all along.](http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aiUkVW3zCPcg&refer=politics) So basically, this bill just affirms what is being planned anyway. [/QUOTE] But it has simultaneously been policy to plan for a long-term American military presence as in South Korea. This bill is meant to block that. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/6 "2007-07-26T18:05:25Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] It’s silliness. According to John Boehner, that’s been the policy [all along.](http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aiUkVW3zCPcg&refer=politics) So basically, this bill just affirms what is being planned anyway. [/QUOTE] Perhaps the old saying should now be “Trust, but legislate”. ---
**Author:** ![Zahava424](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/76d3ee/32.png) [@Zahava424](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zahava424)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/7 "2007-07-26T18:14:07Z")
[QUOTE=Richard Parker] Perhaps the old saying should now be “Trust, but legislate”. [/QUOTE] I’m with you on that. I think it will pass the Senate-- after all, it needed a 2/3 majority to pass the House, and got more than that. And a veto would make no sense if it was passed with a 2/3 majority, because that’s all that’s required to override a veto. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/8 "2007-07-26T18:15:27Z")
Let’s look at the text of the House-passed bill: > [@](#): > > SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS. > No funds made available by any Act of Congress shall be obligated or expended for a purpose as follows: > (1) To establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq. > (2) To exercise United States economic control of the oil resources of Iraq. Now let’s look at the war funding bill signed by Bush in May: > [@](#): > > SEC. 3301. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this or any other Act shall be obligated or expended by the United States Government for a purpose as follows: > (1) To establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq. > (2) To exercise United States control over any oil resource of Iraq. It’s a very good law. It’s also already on the books. How many times does it have to be passed? ---
**Author:** ![Kokopilau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Kokopilau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kokopilau)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/9 "2007-07-26T18:28:34Z")
Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/10 "2007-07-26T18:42:40Z")
[QUOTE=Ravenman] Let’s look at the text of the House-passed bill: Now let’s look at the war funding bill signed by Bush in May: It’s a very good law. It’s also already on the books. How many times does it have to be passed? [/QUOTE] Ooh! Wonder if W read that part?! 🙂 Well, then, he has no excuse for vetoing this reaffirmation of same, does he? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/11 "2007-07-26T19:01:07Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Well, then, he has no excuse for vetoing this reaffirmation of same, does he? [/QUOTE] According to **ivylass** ’s link: > [@](#): > > White House spokesman Tony Snow said that the administration isn’t opposing the measure. > > ``We don’t believe in permanent bases in Iraq,‘’ he said at a White House briefing. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/12 "2007-07-26T19:11:50Z")
Members of the administration have already suggested that American forces will be involved with Iraq for fifty years. From a practical standpoint, that might as well be permanent. Odd that Tony Snow would claim that White House supports something that they’ve already debated violating. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/13 "2007-07-26T19:17:51Z")
[QUOTE=ITR champion] Members of the administration have already suggested that American forces will be involved with Iraq for fifty years. From a practical standpoint, that might as well be permanent. Odd that Tony Snow would claim that White House supports something that they’ve already debated violating. [/QUOTE] In another 18 months this administration will no longer exist. So, at most, they can support bases in Iraq lasting 18 months. The can say 50 years all they want, but that’s absolutely meaningless unless the next 10 or so administrations agree. Somehow, I’m having difficulty getting worked up about this issue. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/14 "2007-07-26T19:26:31Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] In another 18 months this administration will no longer exist. So, at most, they can support bases in Iraq lasting 18 months. The can say 50 years all they want, but that’s absolutely meaningless unless the next 10 or so administrations agree. Somehow, I’m having difficulty getting worked up about this issue. [/QUOTE] Unfortunately, the next Administration **might** agree, especially if it is Republican. So we might keep a troop presence in Iraq for another 5-1/2 years at least, unless Congress makes very clear that is not an option. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/15 "2007-07-26T19:36:56Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Unfortunately, the next Administration **might** agree, especially if it is Republican. So we might keep a troop presence in Iraq for another 5-1/2 years at least, unless Congress makes very clear that is not an option. [/QUOTE] I would bet money that we will still have troops in Iraq 5 1/2 years hence, no matter which party wins the WH in '08. But the language in that bill is ludicrous. All anyone has to do is say that the bases aren’t meant to be permanent. I believe the only rational explanation for this bill is to send a message to the Iraqis themselves that it is not our intent to have a permanent presence in Iraq. However, I don’t see that it will affect policy one way or another. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-votes-to-ban-permanent-u-s-bases-in-iraq/413202/16 "2007-07-26T21:42:05Z")
Are our bases in South Korea and Germany and South America considered “permanent”? I mean, they won’t be around when the sun goes red giant, so…