The invasion of Iraq achieved what might be its primary purpose: a chain of bases from which America can project power throughout the Middle East (see links at the end for more about this). Now the colonization of Afghanistan begins (the past 7 years, Operation Enduring Freedom, being just a holding action). Across Afghanistan a chain of bases rises. Such as Camp Leatherneck. Any bets on how long we’ll be there?
“Huge U.S. camp arises in Afghan Desert of Death“, Reuters, 7 May 2009 — Excerpt:
A huge U.S. military camp is taking shape in the baking heat of southern Afghanistan for thousands of extra U.S. troops charged with defeating a resurgent Taliban. “This place was desert at the end of January. I mean: nothing, said Navy Captain Jeff Borowy,” the top U.S. military engineer in southern Afghanistan. “Now you’ve got a 443-acre secure facility,” he told reporters traveling with Gates.
Miles of sand walls topped with coils of barbed wire line the roads at the camp, linked to its British neighbor by a street nicknamed Atlantic Way. If placed end to end the sand walls at Leatherneck and 8 other sites being built for the troop influx in southern Afghanistan would stretch for a distance of 175 km (110 miles).
The marines at Camp Leatherneck are also building a giant parking area for helicopters and airplanes by laying down a mat of metal alloy on the desert floor. With a length of 4,860 feet a width of 318 feet, the mat will be the second largest of its kind in the world and the biggest in a combat zone, said Marine Lieutenant Colonel David Jones, commander of the Marine Wing Support Squadron 371, based in Yuma, Arizona.
… Even before {Obama} completed a review of Afghanistan and Pakistan strategy, he ordered 17,000 extra U.S. troops to Afghanistan, including the 12,000 Marines.
As America’s foreign policy becomes increasingly defined by our hubris and paranoia — seeing a world filled with nothing but client states, rivals, and enemies — we construct something almost unique in history: an Empire with no economic basis. Costing much, built with borrowed money, and providing no economic benefit to America (although enriching powerful special interests). A monument to folly.
Other articles about our bases in Afghanistan
- Wikipedia entries about Helmand Province and Camp Bastion.
- “Building Camp Bastion“, Channel 4 News, 24 February 2006 — Britain builds one of its biggest overseas military base in remote Afghanistan.
- “Photos from Camp Bastion“, Michael Yon at his online magazine, 4 May 2006
- “Meet the air-conditioned Marines at camp-do-nothing in Afganistan“, London Evening Standard, 29 October 2006
- “Camp Bastion: Welcome to Helmand“, The Independent, 3 December 2006 — Tony Blair says it holds the key to future global security; a report from the surreal £1bn Camp Bastion.
- “Gates: Afghan-bound US troops outpacing equipment“, AP, 7 May 2009
- Pictures from Camp Leatherneck and elsewhere in Afghanistan, The War Scribe
- Orangekite1’s Weblog says “I read the US signed a 50 year lease to stay there.” Has anyone seen information about this?
Articles about our bases in Iraq
- If the U.S. is ultimately leaving Iraq, why is the military building ‘permanent’ bases?, Friends Committee on National Legislation
- Iraq Facilities, Global Security.org
- “Pentagon Expects Long-Term Access to Four Key Bases in Iraq“, New York Times, 20 April 2003
- A Permanent Basis for Withdrawal?, Tom Engelhardt , 14 February 2006
- How Permanent Are Those Bases?, Tom Engelhardt. 7 June 2007
- Baseless Considerations, Tom Engelhardt, 4 November 2007
- A Basis for Enduring Relationships in Iraq, Tom Engelhardt, 2 December 2007
- Stratfor’s analysis of US reasons for invading and occupying Iraq, FM site, 4 March 2008
- The Greatest Story Never Told, Tom Engelhardt, TomDispatch, 15 June 2008 — “Finally, the U.S. Mega-Bases in Iraq Make the News”
Afterword
Please share your comments by posting below. Per the FM site’s Comment Policy, please make them civil and relevant to this post. Or email me at fabmaximus at hotmail dot com (note the spam-protected spelling). Posts over 250 words will have a fold inserted (putting a “more” button in the comment), so make the opening text an interesting summary of your comment.
For information about this site see the About page, at the top of the right-side menu bar.
For more information from the FM site
To read other articles about these things, see the FM reference page on the right side menu bar. Of esp interest these days:
- About America’s national defence strategy and machinery
- About Iraq & Sub-continent Wars – my articles
- About Iraq & Sub-continent Wars – studies & reports
Posts about our wars in Afghanistan:
- Scorecard #2: How well are we doing in Iraq? Afghanistan?, 31 October 2003
- Quote of the day: this is America’s geopolitical strategy in action, 26 February 2008 — George Friedman of Statfor on the Afghanistan War.
- Another perspective on Afghanistan, a reply to George Friedman, 27 February 2008
- How long will all American Presidents be War Presidents?, 21 March 2008
- Why are we are fighting in Afghanistan?, 9 April 2008 — A debate with Joshua Foust.
- We are withdrawing from Afghanistan, too (eventually), 21 April 2008
- Roads in Afghanistan, a new weapon to win 4GW’s?, 26 April 2008
- A powerful weapon, at the sight of which we should tremble and our enemies rejoice, 2 June 2008
- Brilliant, insightful articles about the Afghanistan War, 8 June 2008
- The good news about COIN in Afghanistan is really bad news, 20 August 2008
- Stratfor says that our war in Pakistan grows hotter; Palin seems OK with that, 12 September 2008
- Pakistan warns America about their borders, and their sovereignty, 14 September 2008
- Weekend reading about … foreign affairs, 19 October 2008
- “Strategic Divergence: The War Against the Taliban and the War Against Al Qaeda” by George Friedman, 31 January 2009
- America sends forth its privateers to pillage, bold corsairs stealing from you and I, 9 February 2009
