Row, Jimmy, Row

Last February, Jimmy Carter took body blows from the right-wing media (I know, it's redundant), for saying that there never was an exit plan for Iraq because the neocon game plan called for a permanent occupation in Iraq serving as our base of power in the middle east.

The bases we are building there are the largest we would have anywhere in the world. Airstrips a mile long to accommodate the largest military craft. The largest embassy compound of any nation any where.

What Jimmy Carter was saying was that every time President Bush said that American troops would be in Iraq as long as it took to get the job done and not a moment longer, Bush was lying.

Bush lied?

Imagine that.

On May 26, the New York Times reported that Bush was looking to the Korean example as a way to keep a military presence in Iraq for a moment or too longer than it takes to get the job done: "[T]he proposals being developed envision a far smaller but long-term American presence, centering on three or four large bases around Iraq. Mr. Bush has told recent visitors to the White House that he was seeking a model similar to the American presence in South Korea."

A few days ago, more of the truth began to dribble out. Tony Snow, answering Helen Thomas's inquiry at the gaggle, confirmed that the cabal was planning on a continuing American military presence in Iraq on the so-called "Korean Model".

A few days later, on June 1, General Gates confirmed that President Bush favored a "Korean Model" for the future of Iraq -- one in which the American military will "have a long and enduring presence" in Iraq.

One might recall here the recommendation of the Iraq Study Group on this topic:

RECOMMENDATION 22: The President should state that the United States does not seek permanent military bases in Iraq. If the Iraqi government were to request a temporary base or bases, then the U.S. government could consider that request as it would in the case of any other government.

The establishment of a permanent US presence in Iraq is not something that just happened to occur to these neocon incompetents over the last couple of weeks. It is a policy long in the planning. It is a policy which can do no good to our already decomposing reputation in the region and in the sane world. It is a plan long and stealthily carried on, obscured by the incessant promises to stand down when they stand up.

And, despite that I always knew better, I still get annoyed, disappointed, and mad as hell each time it is confirmed that the President has been lying to me all along.

That's the way it's been in town ever since they tore the juke box down . . . . Seems a common way to go . . . .

So, Jimmy was right -- he didn't lie to us.