The same media that is playing up the story about President Bush indicating that he expects some American troops to remain in Iraq beyond 2008 (i.e., 5 years after the ground invasion and the complete overthrow of the Saddam regime) was curiously incurious about the announcement last week of the imminent U.S. withdrawal from Iceland (remarked upon previously here).

U.S. troops have been in Iceland for over 50 years, and, if you look closely at the report of the “withdrawal,” perhaps the most striking thing is the realization that this is not, in fact, a total withdrawal. The great bulk of American troops and hardware will leave, but a small U.S. military presence will actually remain.

What’s going on here? Over 50 years in Iceland, and it’s still not enough? What I say is, “End the occupation! Let them work out their own problems! Leave Iceland for the Icelish!”

And of-course don’t even talk to me about the thousands of American service people still in Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, England, South Korea and on and on and on. So many protests to organize; so little time.

Lefty blogs are doubtless buzzing today about Bushitler’s secret plan for long-term military bases in Iraq, as if having a long-term base in Iraq is not a good thing, and the very least the U.S. deserves. Is it always wrong and impossible for some people to think about U.S. self-interest? Having an additional base or bases in a part of the world that will remain, shall we way, interesting for a very long time to come is inherently a good thing because it gives U.S. forces additional options in a crisis. That means being able to carry out operations more efficiently and safely, which means less American casualties and easier successes. Is it so evil to think that might actually be a good thing?

Silly question, I know.

At any rate, as President Bush pointed out yesterday, such decisions will be made by future presidents and future Iraqi governments, based on future circumstances. I just wouldn’t be expecting the final withdrawal of Americans from Iraq anytime much sooner than the last man leaves Iceland.

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